SDPI, NIDM to conduct joint research on climate modeling, DRR

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Apr, 2026) Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) signed a Letter of Agreement (LoA) to promote joint research initiatives in the realm of disaster risk reduction, climate disaster prediction models and anticipatory actions aimed at institutional collaboration and strengthening national disaster management capacity through research, training, and knowledge sharing.

The signing ceremony was held at National Disaster Management Authority here on Wednesday. SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri and NIDM Executive Director Air Commodore (retd) Tanveer Piracha signed the agreement.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt-Gen. Inam Haider Malik, the Chairman of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), said the intensity and exposure of disasters are widening with every passing year, therefore, the NDMA is introducing innovative disaster risk reduction interventions, which would be provided at grass roots level throughout the year.

He said the NDMA has connected global think tanks, international non-governmental organizations to make synergized disaster resilience efforts and concerted efforts are going on to integrate more technology for innovative solutions.

He also briefed the participants on the Authority’s initiatives, including technical innovation leading to National Emergencies Operation Center as well as complete disaster projections at regional and global level with promising accuracy. He also briefed the participants about the Pakistan Disaster Lens 2026 and Global Disaster Lens 2026, proactive disaster projection models highlighting upcoming natural disaster risks to the country, and the region beyond.

Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri termed the NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center a rich data and evidence repository, which he said, is helpful in guiding the policy makers at the national, provincial and international level to enact legislation ensuring improved disaster management.

He went on to say that given the magnanimous scale of prevailing disasters, it demands collective actions by multi-stakeholders beyond a single government to ensure resilience and risk management.

He proposed that the SDPI faculty and alumni would be open to serve as visiting faculty members at the NIDM to impart knowledge on multiple issues related to the subject domain.

Dr. Suleri highlighted that internal resource mobilization is critical to tackle increasing scale of disasters in the country as mere reliance on global and donor funding cannot help manage galloping magnitude of disaster recurring in the country. The provincial and Federal governments would have to allocate dedicated resources in their annual development plans and public sector development programme for disaster management, he added.

Air Commodore (retd), Tanveer Piracha, termed the LoA a milestone for both the institutions that will flourish beyond the agreement as an enduring knowledge partnership addressing trigger-based anticipatory actions as a high-priority agenda in research initiatives guiding disaster resilience efforts.

He underlined that the kinetic conflicts have increased donor fatigue amid shrinking funding and financing streams that demanded institutions like NDMA and SDPI to work out-of-the-box collaborative, and innovative bilateral cooperations for mutually beneficial partnerships.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation between the two institutions to promote innovation, resilience, and proactive strategies in addressing both natural and human-induced disasters. Operating under the umbrella of the National Disaster Management Authority, NIDM will partner with SDPI to bridge knowledge gaps and enhance technical expertise in disaster risk reduction.

Under the LoA, the partnership will focus on joint research and development initiatives, co-publication of policy briefs and training materials, and the organization of workshops, conferences, and simulation exercises. Both institutions will also collaborate on capacity-building programmes, including internships and professional exchanges involving researchers, faculty, and practitioners.