OSDMA Signs MoUs with UNDP and CivicDataLab to Strengthen Risk-Informed and Data-Driven Disaster Risk Reduction in Odisha

Bhubaneswar | 2nd September 2026

The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) signed two significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CivicDataLab at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre, marking a major step towards strengthening data-driven, scientific and technology-enabled disaster management in Odisha.

The MoUs were signed in the presence of Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, UNDP India Resident Representative Angela Lusigi, and CivicDataLab Director and Co-founder Gaurav Godhwani. Executive Director, OSDMA, Susmita Behera signed the MoUs on behalf of OSDMA.

Under the OSDMA–UNDP partnership, a comprehensive Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA) will be undertaken across all 30 districts. Village-level data will be collected in 10 coastal districts, while Gram Panchayat-level assessment will cover the remaining 20 districts. The data will support a dynamic GIS-enabled platform, district-level risk atlases and evidence-based disaster risk reduction and climate resilience planning.

The OSDMA–CivicDataLab partnership will facilitate the development of a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Disaster Risk Reduction through the Intelligent Data Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDS-DRR) platform. The system will integrate and harmonise data from multiple departments and provide dashboards and analytical insights to support evidence-based decision-making. The initial focus will be on riverine floods, coastal flooding and heatwave risks.

These partnerships will further strengthen Odisha’s disaster preparedness, risk assessment, anticipatory action and resilience through technology and data-driven decision-making.