UAE Allocates US$10 Million to Boost Community Resilience to Natural Disasters Across Asia-Pacific
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates has announced the allocation of US$10 million to strengthen the resilience of communities across Asia and the Pacific in responding to natural disasters.
The initiative, launched through the UAE Aid Agency, will support the Emirates Nature Society, in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), to implement the Community Resilience to Natural Disasters Programme. The announcement was made on the fourth day of the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress hosted by Abu Dhabi.
A joint initiative between WWF and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the programme aims to harness nature-based solutions to help communities adapt to natural hazards, enhance disaster preparedness, and promote sustainable livelihoods.
The UAE’s contribution will fund the first phase of the programme, designed to attract additional co-financing from public and private partners and donor institutions, thereby expanding its reach and ensuring long-term sustainability through shared responsibility and collaboration.
Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, reaffirmed the UAE’s global leadership in advancing international cooperation for the benefit of both people and nature.
“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,” Dr. Al Ameri said. “The partnership between Emirates Nature and WWF reflects the UAE’s commitment to moving from crisis response to readiness and resilience, empowering communities to adapt and recover effectively.”
Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature–WWF, highlighted that the initiative reflects the UAE’s 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,” she said. “By leading this programme across Asia-Pacific, we aim to strengthen natural defences, secure livelihoods, and shape resilient, thriving futures together.”
WWF International Director-General Kirsten Schuijt noted that “nature is one of humanity’s strongest allies in reducing disaster risk,” adding that the initiative will help restore ecosystems such as mangroves and mountains, creating safer and more resilient societies.
Nena Stoiljkovic, IFRC Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalisation, emphasized the importance of preparedness. “As natural hazards become more frequent and intense, the best way to save lives is to build resilience before they strike,” she said. “By working with nature as our first line of defence, we can strengthen communities, safeguard livelihoods, and reduce the human and economic toll of future crises.”
The programme is built around three core pillars: restoring natural protective systems such as mangrove forests and coral reefs; promoting sustainable livelihoods through eco-tourism and income diversification; and enhancing community preparedness with early warning systems and risk reduction frameworks.
The first phase will be implemented in the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands, establishing a scalable model for future expansion across the Asia-Pacific region.
