The Asia Pacific Disaster Resilience Centre (APDRC) was launched in September 2016 as the very first Red Cross Reference Centre in the Asia Pacific, jointly initiated by the Republic of Korea National Red Cross (KNRC) and the IFRC.

The Red Cross Red Crescent network supported by the Secretariat has established a number of reference centres over the past two decades that work to strengthen National Society service delivery in specific thematic areas. The reference centres vary in their services, but most of them undertake activities such as technical assistance, knowledge management and facilitating cooperation amongst stakeholders. Although the details of what they do and how they conduct their activities differ, a constant theme across all Red Cross Red Crescent reference centres is that they contribute their expertise and resources to consolidating and disseminating knowledge contained within the Red Cross Red Crescent network for the benefit of all members.

Acknowledging an increasing number of natural disasters and emerging humanitarian issues in Asia and the Pacific, the Republic of Korea National Red Cross (KNRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Asia Pacific Regional Office have jointly initiated the establishment of the region’s first reference centre on disaster risk reduction and community resilience to provide an intermediary service as well as introduce innovation and technology to the 38 Asia Pacific National Societies.