The joint CDRI-ADB Dialogue Series on the topic of Building Resilience of Infrastructure in Atoll Nations represents a collaborative initiative to address the most pressing infrastructure challenges in these Indo-Pacific atoll nations. The dialogue series supports and is informed by two key initiatives - the CDRI’s Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) initiative, which aspires to equip the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with the knowledge, tools and partnerships needed to achieve disaster and climate resilient infrastructure, and the ADB’s Triple A (Accelerating Atoll Adaptation) Initiative, designed to drive transformational adaptation—integrating risk-informed decisions with local knowledge and innovation, partnership, and capacity building to help mobilizing programmatic financing for long-term resilience.

The first dialogue of the series examined the topic of Strengthening Infrastructure Resilience to Climate Risks in Atoll Nations, the second dialogue took a deep dive concerning Financing and Insurance for Resilience of Critical Infrastructure.

Building on these discussions, the third dialogue will examine the enabling conditions needed for realistic and responsible private sector engagement in resilient infrastructure in atoll nations. The discussion will move beyond the broad question of “the role of the private sector” and focus on where private sector engagement may be feasible, what conditions need to be in place, and how risks should be allocated.