Global Fund for Innovation & Resilience
Climate resilience, in the palm of a hand

Empower people to

Prepare

Respond

Recover

From Natural Disaster

GFIR empowers people in developing countries with mobile-based early warning system and immediate cash transfers. When climate-driven floods, heatwaves, or hurricanes hits, help is already on the way and delivered straight to the people who need it most.

Support a family →How it works
Pilot Project · South Asia/Caribbean

Protect 200 families from deadly climate extremes.

Across South Asia and the Caribbean, extreme heat and severe flooding are no longer rare events. They are becoming more frequent, more dangerous, and more deadly for households with the fewest resources. Our first deployment is a practical, mobile-based protection system built for real emergencies.

Donate to the pilot project →Read the approach
200
Vulnerable families supported in Phase 1.
2
Hazards covered today: extreme heat & severe flooding.
1st
GFIR deployment — proving a model we can scale.
📱
Mobile-first: alerts and cash, both on a phone.
What we do

Two pillars. One simple promise.

GFIR's mobile-based protection system rests on two pillars that work together — before, during, and after a disaster.

PILLAR I

Early Warning System

When climate-driven hazards are projected to affect a community, families and local agents receive disaster alerts in real time — directly on their phones.

  • Real-time alerts for heatwaves, floods & storms
  • Local-agent dashboard showing affected areas
  • Community preparedness guidance before crisis hits
PILLAR II

Emergency Financial Aid

Once a disaster affects a registered family's location, digital cash assistance is delivered immediately — usable for essentials like water, medicine, transport, or temporary shelter.

  • Immediate digital cash transfers to affected families
  • Withdraw or spend through trusted local agents
  • Verified delivery via secure, biometric-backed identity
How it works on a phone

Four steps, one continuous response.

A simple flow designed to get life-saving information and emergency support directly into the hands of the families who need them.

01 / REGISTER

Identify & enroll families

Families are registered into the system through trusted local agents, using biometric verification to make sure aid reaches the right households.

02 / ALERT

Real-time disaster warnings

When a hazard is projected to affect their area, families and agents receive alerts on their mobile phones, with simple guidance options on what to do next.

03 / TRANSFER

Immediate cash assistance

Once a disaster affects a registered family's location, digital cash assistance is delivered to them, the moment it's most useful.

04 / ACCESS

Withdraw or spend locally

Families visit a local agent to withdraw cash or purchase essentials like water, medicine, transport, or temporary shelter.

Climate context

A warming world means more frequent, faster, costlier disasters.

Floods, hurricanes, and heatwaves are no longer rare exceptions. Warmer oceans hold more energy, atmospheric rivers carry more water, and storms intensify in hours instead of days. The communities least responsible for emissions are absorbing the largest share of the impact.

GFIR exists because the people on the front lines of this shift deserve more than a slow response. We focus on getting alerts and cash into the hands of the families a disaster hits — quickly, dignifiedly, and on a device they already use.

Read our approach →
5×
Increase in weather-related disasters over the past 50 years, driven primarily by climate change.
3.3B
People living in contexts highly vulnerable to climate-driven flood and storm events.
1 in 3
Families displaced by a major disaster never fully recover their pre-disaster standard of living.
FAQ

Questions, answered.

Still curious? Reach out, we read every message.

Ask us directly →
What does GFIR actually do?
GFIR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helps families on the front lines of climate-driven disasters. We deliver mobile-based early warning alerts before disasters strike, and immediate cash transfers right after they hit, both through a simple system designed for real emergencies.
Where are you working right now?
Our first deployment supports approximately 200 vulnerable families across South Asia and the Caribbean facing extreme heat and severe flooding. It's a practical pilot that we'll use to prove a model, then scale.
What disasters do you cover?
Today, the system is built for climate-driven hazards, primarily floods, hurricanes, and extreme heat. As we grow, we'll expand to other event types and regions.
How does the cash actually reach families?
Digital cash transfers go directly to registered families through secure mobile channels. Families can then withdraw cash or purchase essentials through trusted local agents, local NGOs or merchants who serve their community.
How do you make sure the right people get help?
Families are pre-registered through trusted local agents, with biometric verification to ensure aid reaches the right households. No application is required at the moment of crisis, that's the point.
Are donations tax-deductible?
Yes. GFIR is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible in the United States to the extent permitted by law.
How can I help beyond donating?
Tell people about us, share our campaign, or reach out through our Contact page. If you work in disaster response, finance, technology, or community organizing, we'd love to hear from you.