Geneva: The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) welcomed Kamal Kishore as the new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR on May 20.
Kishore succeeds Mami Mizutori of Japan, according to UNDRR. His appointment, announced by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on March 27, underscores his extensive experience spanning nearly 30 years in disaster risk reduction at various levels.
Having served as the Head of India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) since 2015, Kishore brings a wealth of knowledge from government, UNDP, and civil society roles. Notably, he led the Group of 20 (G20) Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction during India’s G20 presidency.
UNDRR welcomes Kamal Kishore, who starts this week as SRSG. He looks forward to building on UNDRR’s progress in drawing together global efforts to reduce global disaster risks.
“UNDRR’s ambition matches the scale of the problem,” he says.
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His tenure with UNDP, spanning over a decade, saw him spearhead global advocacy efforts to integrate disaster resilience into Sustainable Development Goals. Before this, he directed disaster-focused initiatives at the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre in Bangkok and engaged in post-earthquake reconstruction projects in New Delhi.
Kishore’s arrival heralds a continuation of UNDRR’s crucial mission to unify global endeavors in mitigating disaster risks amidst escalating vulnerabilities. He acknowledges the monumental task at hand, expressing determination to further advance the progress already achieved under UNDRR’s ambit.
