On the Global Seismic Hazard Map, Iran, which is crossed by two major fault lines, stands out as one of the most earthquake prone countries in the world. The country however, is not only exposed to earthquakes but also to frequent flash floods and recurrent drought.

Over the last decade, UN agencies in Iran have also worked on a wide range of longer-term disaster risk management initiatives, including:

• Preparation of national guidelines for earthquake disaster management: after the Manjil earthquake of 1990, UN-HABITAT and UNDP collaborated with the Housing Foundation of the Islamic Revolution to prepare detailed guidelines for earthquake disaster management. The guidelines include regional and urban planning and design; production of building materials; quality control; design and construction of engineered and non-engineered earthquake resistant buildings; and upgrading of existing and earthquake damaged buildings.
  
  
• The establishment of the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES): Based on the decision taken by the 24th Session of the UNESCO General Conference representing the will of the international community to build capacities in Iran and the region, UNDP and UNESCO launched a project (UNDP/IRA/90/009) to support the establishment of IIEES. The project included training of IIEES technical staff as well as provision of equipment for seismic monitoring and forced vibration testing of existing structures for research purposes.
  
  
• Development of an Integrated National Disaster Management Plan (INDMP): The objective of this project was to develop a plan that would provide a strong basis, at the national level, for the sustained protection of population, property and development achievements in Iran. The UNDP project emphasised need for improved organizational coordination mechanisms; disaster implication checklists for major development projects; establishment of effective communication and information systems; and the enhancement of earthquake awareness in urban areas. The project also introduced a coherent structure for emergency management at the national, provincial and local levels in preparedness, mitigation and recovery phases. The decree introducing the Plan was approved by the Council of Ministers on 6 April 2003
  
  
• Capacity development for national disaster response and coordination: The aim of this joint UNDP-Iranian Red Crescent Society project was to reduce the loss of lives from natural disasters by improving national disaster response capability and coordination.