As disaster risks become more complex and interconnected, communities on the frontline are facing increasing impacts from climate-related and natural hazards. Yet access to disaster risk financing at the local level remains limited. Too often, funding does not reach communities in time to reduce risk, support early action, or enable effective response and recovery.
To help address this gap, GNDR is launching a new project on Localised Disaster Risk Financing, in partnership with the Centre for Disaster Protection (CDP). The project will centre the voices of local civil society organisations (CSOs) and at-risk communities, generating evidence and recommendations to strengthen access to finance for locally led disaster risk reduction (DRR).
What is disaster risk financing?
Disaster risk financing refers to the strategies, policies and financial instruments that help governments, organisations and communities manage the financial impacts of disasters. This includes funding to reduce risk before disasters occur, finance early action and preparedness, and support rapid response and recovery after shocks.
When disaster risk financing is accessible at the local level, it strengthens and enables communities to act early, reduce losses, and prevent hazards from escalating into disasters. However, many local actors face significant barriers in accessing and influencing these financial mechanisms.
Why localised disaster risk financing matters
Local civil society organisations play a critical role in identifying risks, supporting preparedness, and leading community-based DRR. Despite this, local actors are often excluded from decision-making and lack access to flexible, timely financing.
This project responds directly to priorities raised by GNDR members, who have identified access to finance for local DRR action as a key advocacy focus. Strengthening localised disaster risk financing is essential to advancing inclusive governance, local DRR actions and accelerating implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
What this project will do
Over seven months, the project will engage GNDR members and other local CSOs through surveys, regional discussions and global dialogue. We will capture local experiences of disaster risk financing, identify common challenges and gaps, and explore practical solutions that work across different contexts.
Insights from the project will be synthesised into evidence-based recommendations to support the institutionalisation of localised disaster risk financing. Findings will inform regional and global advocacy efforts, helping to ensure that finance reaches communities when and where it is needed most.
By amplifying frontline perspectives and connecting them to policy processes, this project aims to strengthen more equitable, timely and effective disaster risk financing – supporting communities to reduce risk, prepare for hazards, and protect lives and livelihoods.