SHIMLA -10 January, 2025-The State Government today here signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the French Development Agency (AFD) to implement the Himachal Pradesh-Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness Project (HP-DRRRP). The agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena.

The MoU was signed by Additional Secretary and Project Director, PMU Nishant Thakur on behalf of Government of Himachal Pradesh and Deputy Director for India Camille Severac represented AFD.

The Chief Secretary said that HP-DRRRP was a flagship initiative of the Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (HPSDMA), aimed at reducing the vulnerability of the state to natural disasters. He said that with an external bilateral funding of 100 million Euros from AFD. This Project would focus on strengthening Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) capacities of the government and communities through a multi-sector and integrated approach.

Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma and Resilience DRR Sector Portfolio Manager (AFD) Anshula Menon were also present during the ceremony.