DeftEdge presented findings and recommendations from its independent evaluation of the UN Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness to the 26th Advisory Council Meeting on June 19th. The comprehensive evaluation, commissioned by the Advisory Council and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, examined the Trust Fund’s 20-year impact. The Advisory Council, comprising governments from India, Italy, Japan, Thailand, Sweden, and Switzerland, reviewed the findings as part of their strategic planning process. The evaluation’s recommendations are now being directly incorporated into the Fund’s 2025-2030 strategy, which will guide future programming and resource allocation.
The Trust Fund
The Trust Fund, established in 2005 following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, has supported 23 countries across Asia-Pacific in building robust early warning systems for coastal hazards. As the Fund develops its 2025-2030 strategy, the evaluation examined its achievements and identified areas for continued improvement.
Key Findings:
- 96% of Indian Ocean countries now conduct tsunami hazard assessments
- 68% employ multi-hazard assessments addressing tsunamis, floods, cyclones, and earthquakes
- 91% of countries maintain 24/7 operation at warning centers
- First communities achieved “Tsunami Ready” status in India, with expansion to Pakistan and Iran underway
Notable Achievements: The Fund supported the creation of RIMES (Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System), now serving 62 countries, and facilitated South-South cooperation, enabling countries like India and the Philippines to become donors themselves.
Strategic Recommendations for 2025-2030: The evaluation recommended the DRR trust fund to:
- Strengthen community-level engagement beyond national institutions
- Diversify funding through private sector partnerships
- Apply tsunami preparedness frameworks to other coastal hazards
- Formalize South-South cooperation mechanisms
- Systematically integrate gender equality and disability inclusion
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