Abu Dhabi [UAE], October 14 (ANI/WAM): Under the directives of President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates has announced the allocation of USD 10 million to bolster the resilience of communities across Asia and the Pacific against natural disasters.
The initiative, launched through the UAE Aid Agency, will support Emirates Nature–WWF, in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), to implement the Community Resilience to Natural Disasters Programme. The announcement was made during the fourth day of the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress, hosted in Abu Dhabi.
A joint effort between WWF and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the programme seeks to harness nature-based solutions to strengthen communities’ capacity to withstand and adapt to natural hazards. It will focus on improving disaster preparedness and promoting sustainable livelihoods to enhance long-term resilience.
The UAE’s USD 10 million contribution will fund the programme’s first phase, which aims to attract additional co-financing from public and private partners and donor institutions. The goal is to scale the initiative and ensure its sustainability through shared international cooperation.
Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, reaffirmed the UAE’s global leadership in promoting international collaboration for the welfare of both people and the planet.
“This initiative embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to invest in preventive action and enhance the adaptive capacities of local communities in facing natural disasters,” Al Ameri said. “The strategic partnership between Emirates Nature and WWF reflects the UAE’s commitment to move from crisis response to readiness and resilience, empowering communities to adapt and recover effectively.”
Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature–WWF, stated that the UAE’s commitment underscores its belief that “resilience begins within communities.”
“For 25 years, Emirates Nature–WWF has worked hand in hand with the nation’s leadership and local partners to empower people and protect nature. Extending this ethos across Asia and the Pacific allows us to collaborate with communities in strengthening natural defences, securing livelihoods, and shaping resilient, thriving futures together,” Abdullatif said.
Kirsten Schuijt, Director-General of WWF International, emphasized that “nature is one of humanity’s strongest allies in reducing disaster risk.” She added, “Through this initiative, partners will help communities restore and protect ecosystems—from mangroves to mountains—laying the foundation for safer, more resilient societies. This is a collective investment in both environmental integrity and human security.”
Nena Stoiljkovic, IFRC Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalisation, noted that as natural hazards become more frequent and intense, preparedness is the most effective form of protection.
“This initiative focuses on preparedness, adaptation, and mitigation of disaster risks—ensuring that hazards do not become disasters. By working with nature as our first line of defence, together with WWF, we can safeguard lives and livelihoods and reduce the human and economic cost of future crises,” she said.
The Community Resilience to Natural Disasters Programme focuses on three main pillars: restoring natural protective systems such as mangrove forests and coral reefs; promoting sustainable livelihoods through eco-tourism, farming, and fishing initiatives; and enhancing community preparedness with early warning systems and locally developed risk reduction frameworks.
The programme’s first phase will be implemented in the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands, establishing a scalable model for future regional expansion. (ANI)
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