The CDMP is a collaborative effort by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB), United Nations Development Programme UNDP), Department for International Development (DFID) and a host of disaster management stakeholders. The programme is designed to build upon critical lessons learned over the past decade. Following the devastating flood of 1988 and the most destructive cyclone associated with very high sea surges in 1991, Bangladesh decided to set up more elaborate and institutional arrangements for disaster management in a more coordinated manner at apex, regional and local level. To date, the activities of the Ministry of Food and Disaster Management (MoFDM) have been focused on short-term preparedness, public awareness, response, and recovery. These activities are valuable in responding to the immediate crisis needs of the population. But it is now being acknowledged that these initiatives are not able to satisfy demands for reducing vulnerability. What is needed in Bangladesh is a more holistic and comprehensive approach, wherein the processes of hazards identification, vulnerability analysis, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, coordinated response and recovery efforts are planned and undertaken contiguously within a risk management context to address the underlying causes of vulnerability. The approach also requires considering the importance of disaster risk management in poverty reduction, particularly the most vulnerable sector among women, and others who have limited access to productive resources. The CDMP adopts a programme approach that encompasses all aspects of risk management that aims to build upon the ongoing trend in Bangladesh, which is shifting away from a response and relief oriented system to a broad multi-sectoral strategy