un-appoints-ndma-official-kamal-kishore-as-special-representative-for-disaster-risk-reduction

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has named Kamal Kishore, a distinguished figure from India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), as his special representative for disaster risk reduction.

Mr. Kamal Kishore of India has been appointed as the United Nations Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of the new head of UNDRR: https://t.co/bG86jSaWIq

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— UNDRR (@UNDRR) March 27, 2024

At the age of 55, Kishore assumes the role of assistant secretary-general and special representative of the secretary-general for disaster risk reduction at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), announced Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the secretary-general, during a daily press briefing in Geneva.

 

Stepping into his new role, Kishore succeeds Mami Mizutori of Japan and brings with him a wealth of experience garnered over nearly three decades in disaster risk reduction, climate action, and sustainable development, spanning various levels from local to global.

 

Prior to his appointment, Kishore served as a secretary to the government of India at NDMA, where he played a pivotal role in India's G20 presidency, leading the G20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction. 

 

Notably, he contributed significantly to the establishment of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Climate Action Summit in 2019.

 

Kishore's extensive professional journey includes a tenure of almost 13 years with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where he championed the integration of disaster resilience concerns into the Sustainable Development Goals. 

 

His leadership also extended to the development of disaster and climate risk management elements within the UNDP Strategic Plan.

 

With a solid foundation in architecture and urban planning, Kishore has made invaluable contributions to post-disaster reconstruction and resettlement efforts. 

 

His hands-on experience, particularly following major earthquakes in Uttarkashi and Latur, has equipped him with a unique perspective on disaster risk reduction and recovery.

 

In his role as UNDP's regional advisor for South and South-West Asia, Kishore provided strategic guidance and support to numerous countries, facilitating their adoption of risk-reduction tools and methodologies.

 

Kishore holds a Master of Science in Urban Planning, Land, and Housing Development from the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee.

 

As he steps into his new role, Kishore will spearhead efforts at the UNDRR, headquartered in Geneva, focusing on disaster risk reduction and ensuring the implementation of the Sendai Framework across the United Nations system. 

 

The Sendai Framework represents a crucial agreement within the post-2015 development agenda, offering concrete measures to safeguard development gains from the perils of disaster.