OSDMA signs MoUs with UNDP and CivicDataLab to strengthen data-driven disaster management in Odisha

 

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 2, 2026

 “Advanced digital systems will contribute to building a safer and more disaster-resilient Odisha,” Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said on Wednesday as the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) signed two significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CivicDataLab to strengthen data-driven disaster management in the state.

The partnerships, signed at the Lok Seva Bhawan Convention Centre, seek to transform Odisha’s disaster management framework into a more scientific, technology-enabled and data-driven system, with a focus on disaster risk assessment, preparedness, anticipatory action and faster decision-making at the grassroots level.

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. OSDMA Executive Director Susmita Behera signed the agreements on behalf of the state authority.

Speaking on the occasion, Pujari said disaster management must move beyond merely responding after a calamity strikes and instead focus on anticipatory action, preparedness and risk assessment backed by accurate and timely data.

“Data-driven decision-making is critical for saving lives and protecting property while also enabling more effective and far-reaching development planning,” he said.

The Minister said the new partnerships would further strengthen Odisha’s position at the national and international levels in disaster management, while enhancing the state’s ability to anticipate risks and take timely decisions.

Under the OSDMA-UNDP partnership, a comprehensive Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (HRVA) will be carried out across all 30 districts of Odisha.

Data will be collected at the village level in 10 coastal districts that are particularly vulnerable to cyclones and floods, while the assessment in the remaining 20 districts will be undertaken at the Gram Panchayat level.

The data generated through the exercise will form the foundation of a dynamic, GIS-enabled digital platform that can be periodically updated to reflect changing climate and disaster risk patterns.

The platform will support the preparation of district-level risk atlases and facilitate evidence-based policymaking, disaster mitigation and preparedness.

The digital HRVA system is expected to provide a scientific and reliable evidence base for climate resilience, disaster risk reduction and long-term sustainable development planning across Odisha.

Pujari said UNDP’s extensive national and global experience in disaster management, community resilience, preparedness and capacity building would provide valuable support in further strengthening Odisha’s disaster management ecosystem.

The non-financial MoU with CivicDataLab will facilitate the development of dedicated Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Disaster Risk Reduction in Odisha.

Through its Intelligent Data Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDS-DRR) platform, CivicDataLab will integrate data from multiple government departments and provide real-time dashboards and analytical insights to OSDMA and all District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs).

In its initial phase, the platform will focus on riverine floods, coastal flooding and heatwave-related risks.

The system is expected to enable more accurate risk assessment and forecasting while supporting faster and evidence-based decisions before, during and after disasters.

It will bring together data from different departments and sources, harmonise it and make it available in a standardised format, thereby improving coordination, analysis and informed action among various stakeholders.

The two MoUs mark a significant shift from conventional disaster management practices towards a scientific, data-driven and digitally empowered ecosystem.

Pujari said the initiatives would significantly enhance Odisha’s capacity to anticipate disasters, strengthen preparedness and take timely decisions based on reliable data.

Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, he said, the initiatives would serve as an important step towards achieving Odisha’s ‘Zero Casualty’ goal and building a safer, more resilient and climate-ready state.

Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee; Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil; OSDMA Advisor Dr Kamal Lochan Mishra; OSDMA Executive Director Susmita Behera; senior departmental officials and officers from the Agriculture, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Housing and Urban Development, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Mission Shakti and Water Resources departments, among others, were present at the event.