UNICEF and UNITAR have partnered to develop a subnational Children’s Climate and Disaster Risk Index (CCDRI) for Malaysia and Timor-Leste. To support this process, a two-day workshop will convene key government focal points and UNICEF Country Office staff who will be directly involved in developing the CCDRI model. The workshop will introduce participants to the overall process, methodology and technical elements, while fostering peer-to-peer learning and exchange. It also aims to strengthen government engagement, commitment and capacities, ensuring successful implementation and effective use of the risk model once finalized and launched.

The Children’s Climate and Disaster Risk Index (CCDRI) is a tool developed by UNICEF to measure children’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards. The risk model, based on the inter-agency Index for Risk Management (INFORM) methodology, applies a geospatial, data-driven methodology that combines hazard exposure and child-focused vulnerability indicators at sub-national levels. Unlike general risk indices, CCDRI places children at the centre of analysis, recognizing that they are disproportionately affected during disasters due to their higher dependence, developmental needs, and limited capacity to cope with hazards. The model supports in identify geographic hotspots where children face the highest levels of risk, supporting more targeted and equitable disaster-risk planning and investment.

To ensure the Index reflects local realities, UNICEF and UNOSAT will work with national stakeholders ensure that the CCDRI framework reflects the  local contexts. This includes adapting datasets, refining indicators, validating hazard layers, and developing interactive dashboards that national stakeholders can use in preparedness, planning, and policy formulation. As countries move toward adapting CCDRI to their country context, it is essential that end users and partners understand both the technical foundation of the index and the practical steps involved in calculating exposure and vulnerability. This two-day training has been designed to build that capacity.