By Desmond Nleya
ABU DHABI: Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE has announced the allocation of US$10 million to strengthen the resilience of communities across Asia and the Pacific in the face of natural disasters.
The funding will support the launch of the “Community Resilience to Natural Disasters Programme”, implemented through UAE Aid Agency in partnership with Emirates Nature–WWF and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The announcement was made on the fourth day of the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress, hosted in Abu Dhabi.
The joint programme, developed by WWF and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), will harness nature-based solutions to help communities adapt to natural hazards, enhance disaster preparedness, and create sustainable sources of income.
The UAE’s contribution will fund the first phase of the initiative, which is designed to attract additional support from governments, the private sector, and donor institutions. This co-financing model aims to broaden the programme’s reach and ensure long-term sustainability.
Dr. Tareq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the UAE Aid Agency, emphasized the UAE’s global leadership in advancing international cooperation for people and nature.
“This initiative embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to invest in preventive action and enhance communities’ adaptive capacities,” Dr. Al Ameri said. “Our partnership with Emirates Nature and WWF reflects the UAE’s commitment to shifting from crisis response to proactive resilience.”
Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature–WWF, highlighted the UAE’s longstanding commitment to community-driven environmental action.
“For 25 years, we have worked alongside the nation’s leadership to protect nature and empower people. Extending this ethos to Asia-Pacific enables us to collaborate with communities to strengthen natural defences, secure livelihoods, and build thriving, resilient futures,” she said.
Kirsten Schuijt, Director-General of WWF International, stressed the critical role of nature in disaster risk reduction.
“Nature is one of humanity’s strongest allies in reducing disaster risk. By restoring and stewarding ecosystems, communities can lay the foundation for safer, more resilient societies,” Schuijt noted.
Nena Stoiljkovic, IFRC Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalisation, added:
“As natural hazards increase in frequency and intensity, preparedness and adaptation are essential. By working with nature as our first line of defence, we can protect lives, livelihoods, and reduce future economic losses.”
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, income diversification, and support for farmers, fishers, and small enterprises.
Strengthening community preparedness with early warning systems and risk reduction frameworks co-developed with local communities.
The first phase will be implemented in the Philippines, Indonesia, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands, establishing a scalable model for regional expansion in the years ahead.
Source: Emirates News Agency
