Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD)

What Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD) does

The Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD) is the Colombian national government agency responsible for coordinating the country's disaster risk management system, operating under the direct authority of the Presidency of Colombia. Established by Law 1523 of 2012, UNGRD coordinates the Sistema Nacional de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (SNGRD) across all 32 departments and 1,102 municipalities, integrating 15 national ministries, the military, police, civil defense, Red Cross, and fire services into a unified emergency response architecture.

Its core technology stack centers on the Sistema Nacional de Información para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (SNIGRD) — an integrated platform aggregating territorial and national entity data for real-time situational awareness — alongside the Registro Único de Damnificados (RUD) for victim tracking, the Marco Estratégico MEGIR for capacity-building, and the Programa Nacional de Búsqueda y Rescate (USAR) with four specialized search-and-rescue teams. The agency administers the Fondo Nacional de Calamidades (National Disaster Fund), a state trust managed through La Previsora S.A., and operates several special programs including FonBuenaventura, Todos Somos Pazcífico, Construyendo Mocoa, and Protección Costera Cartagena.

UNGRD's business model is entirely government-funded through national budget allocations; it does not generate commercial revenue. Its value proposition is institutional coordination, technical guidance, and emergency financing across the disaster management cycle (knowledge, reduction, response, recovery). Following the August 10, 2026 magnitude 7.4 earthquake — the strongest recorded in Colombia in 25 years — UNGRD is managing the country's largest reconstruction program, with estimated total costs of approximately $30 trillion COP across 15 affected departments and 471 municipalities.

Name

Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD)

Legal name

Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres

Website

https://portal.gestiondelriesgo.gov.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

UNGRD is Colombia's national disaster risk management agency, coordinating the SNGRD system across 32 departments and 1,102 municipalities via SNIGRD data platforms, USAR rescue teams, the MEGIR framework, and the Fondo Nacional de Calamidades. It serves territorial government entities and Colombian citizens during emergencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Disaster Risk Management

NAICS

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Fire Protection (92216), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAAAE

Humanitarian Coordination & Disaster Risk Reduction IGOs

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Multilateral & Intergovernmental Organizations

SECONDARYBPADADAK

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Preparedness

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Humanitarian Relief & Emergency Response

SECONDARYBPADADAA

Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Humanitarian Relief & Emergency Response

SECONDARYBPADADAL

Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management & Needs Assessment

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Humanitarian Relief & Emergency Response

SECONDARYBPABANAI

Natural Disaster Preparedness & Recovery (Storm/Flood/Wildfire)

Business & Public Services/Facilities Management & Building Services/Emergency Preparedness and Response Services

Keywords

• Disaster risk management
• Emergency response coordination
• National contingency planning
• Search and rescue operations
• Post-disaster reconstruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UNGRD coordinates Colombia's national disaster risk management through the SNGRD system, spanning all 32 departments and 1,102 municipalities. It administers the Fondo Nacional de Calamidades (National Disaster Fund) for disaster financing, operates the SNIGRD information platform for real-time situational awareness, manages the Registro Único de Damnificados for victim tracking, and deploys the USAR national search-and-rescue program during major emergencies such as the August 10, 2026 magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Chocó.

Product overview

UNGRD operates as Colombia's national disaster risk management agency, coordinating the Sistema Nacional de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (SNGRD) through a multi-platform approach. The core infrastructure consists of the SNGRD coordination system, the National Disaster Fund (Fondo Nacional de Calamidades) for financial response mechanisms, and the Sistema Nacional de Información (SNIGRD) for data consolidation. Key platforms include the Plataforma Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres, the Marco Estratégico para la Gestión Integral del Riesgo (MEGIR) with its territorial dashboards, the Registro Único de Damnificados for affected population tracking, and the Programa Nacional de Búsqueda y Rescate (USAR) for emergency operations. Specialized programs such as FonBuenaventura address specific regional development needs, while educational initiatives like MAGMA promote risk awareness. The agency also maintains the Plan Nacional de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres 2015-2030 as its overarching strategic planning framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sistema Nacional de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (SNGRD) National coordination system for disaster risk management in Colombia, integrating knowledge, risk reduction, and disaster response capabilities across national and territorial levels, comprising 32 departmental risk management offices, 1,102 municipal offices, national ministries, the military, police, civil defense, Red Cross, and fire services.
• Fondo Nacional de Calamidades (National Disaster Fund) National disaster fund created as a state trust administered by La Previsora S.A. to finance disaster response, knowledge, and risk reduction activities, with all fund ordering authority resting with the UNGRD Director.
• Registro Único de Damnificados (RUD) Unified registry system for displaced and affected populations following disasters, enabling targeted aid distribution and coordinated delivery of economic aid and humanitarian support.
• Marco Estratégico para la Gestión Integral del Riesgo de Desastres (MEGIR) Strategic framework for developing capacities at departmental and sectoral levels to plan, organize, execute, and evaluate disaster risk management actions and climate adaptation.
• Plataforma Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres National platform providing access to public and specialized information generated from disaster risk knowledge, reduction, and management operations.
• Programa Nacional de Búsqueda y Rescate (USAR) National search and rescue program with specialized teams deployed for disaster response operations, with teams from Bogotá, Envigado, Yopal, and Medellín activated within hours of the August 10, 2026 magnitude 7.4 earthquake.
• Sistema Nacional de Información para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (SNIGRD) National information system consolidating disaster risk data, emergency reports, and situational awareness for coordinated decision-making across national and territorial entities.
• Fondo para el Desarrollo Integral del Distrito Especial de Buenaventura (FonBuenaventura) Special fund for comprehensive development of the special district of Buenaventura, executed by UNGRD in coordination with AECID as international cooperation partner.
• Plan Nacional de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (PNGRD) National plan for disaster risk management 2015-2030 establishing policy guidelines for risk reduction and disaster response across Colombia.
• MAGMA - Museo de Gestión del Riesgo Digital museum platform for disaster risk education and awareness, promoting cultural change in how communities understand and respond to natural phenomena.
• National Contingency Plans Pre-established national response plans for volcanic activity, tropical cyclones, seasonal rains, hydrocarbon spills, and other major hazard scenarios.
• Rental Subsidy Program for Disaster Victims UNGRD-allocated rental subsidies for families displaced by disasters, distributed through regional government damage diagnostics; $100 billion COP was allocated following the August 10 earthquake.
• Two-Phase Building Assessment Methodology (Traffic Light System) Standardized color-coded (green/yellow/red) traffic-light inspection protocol for assessing safety and habitability of earthquake-affected buildings, with priority given to vital infrastructure (hospitals, schools).

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of Colombia's 32 departments actively reporting minimum disaster risk management capacities through MEGIR framework as of 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AECID (Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026AECID collaborates with UNGRD as implementing entity for the Fondo para el Desarrollo Integral del Distrito Especial de Buenaventura (Fonbuenaventura), providing development funding and technical cooperation. Multiple contracting processes (FONBUEAECID-R4003-2026 and others) are executed under this partnership for capacity building and infrastructure projects.
• Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)coreTechnology or IntegrationSGC operates the national seismic network providing real-time earthquake detection. Following the August 10, 2026 magnitude 7.4 earthquake, the SGC provided epicenter and magnitude data (San José del Palmar, Chocó) used to coordinate UNGRD's national response.
• NASAcoreTechnology or IntegrationNASA participates in the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters, activated by UNGRD on August 13, 2026 to obtain satellite imagery for earthquake damage assessment across Valle del Cauca and Risaralda departments.
• Airbus (and INDRA)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical alliance partners providing satellite imagery through the International Charter activation for post-earthquake damage assessment operations.
• Colombian Military Forces (Ejército, Armada, Fuerza Aérea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Military forces are integral members of the SNGRD, providing ground operations, air support (helicopters with Bambi Bucket systems), and logistical deployment during disasters including forest fires and earthquakes.
• Defensa Civil ColombianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Colombian Civil Defense is a key operational member of the SNGRD, providing volunteer search and rescue teams deployed during the August 10, 2026 earthquake response.
• Cruz Roja ColombianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Colombian Red Cross is an operational member of SNGRD, activating volunteers for humanitarian assistance during the August 2026 earthquake relief efforts.
• Dirección Nacional de BomberoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Firefighting Directorate coordinates with UNGRD during national emergencies. During the 2026 forest fire crisis, additional fire units from Bogotá were deployed to support Tolima alongside 40 local firefighters.
• Policía Nacional de ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Police is an operational member of SNGRD, providing security during emergencies, investigations into arson during forest fires, and humanitarian convoy protection.
• IDEAM (Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales)coreTechnology or IntegrationIDEAM provides hydrological and meteorological data including El Niño forecasts, temperature alerts, and weather predictions used by UNGRD for disaster risk monitoring and emergency preparedness during the 2026 drought season.
• China (National Pharmaceutical Foreign Trade Corporation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerChina delivered 77.6 tons of humanitarian aid including thermal blankets, tents, water purification plants, and generators following the August 10 earthquake. UNGRD coordinated distribution to Valle del Cauca.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SENAPRED (Servicio Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres, Chile): Chile's SENAPRED (formerly ONEMI) coordinates national disaster prevention, response, and recovery across Chile's 16 regions. Comparable in mandate, scale, and operating model to UNGRD, with shared seismic hazard exposure and similar constitutional/legal authority structure.
• Cabinet Office Disaster Management (Japan): Japan's Cabinet Office manages national disaster preparedness and response with one of the world's most advanced systems. Comparable in mandate, seismic-hazard focus, and integrated early-warning and response architecture, serving as a model peer for technical and institutional best practices.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA is the United States' national coordinating agency for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation — the closest direct functional analogue to UNGRD. Both entities serve as the legally designated coordinator of a national disaster management system, operate grant/fund mechanisms, and deploy federal resources during declared emergencies.
• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA, India): India's NDMA is the apex body for disaster management policy and response, coordinating across federal, state, and district levels. Comparable in scale, legal mandate, and multi-hazard (earthquakes, floods, cyclones) remit to UNGRD, though operating in a much larger and more federated context.
• INDECI (Instituto Nacional de Defensa Civil, Peru): Peru's INDECI is the national disaster management agency coordinating preparedness, response, and rehabilitation across all regions. It shares UNGRD's Spanish-language institutional context, comparable seismic and climate hazards, and similar legal framework for national disaster coordination.
• Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF): SCDF is Singapore's national agency coordinating disaster preparedness, firefighting, search and rescue, and emergency medical services. Comparable in coordinating mandate and operational scope, though operating at city-state scale rather than national-territorial scale.
• Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil (CNPC, Mexico): Mexico's CNPC coordinates national civil protection and disaster response across federal, state, and municipal levels, mirroring UNGRD's SNGRD structure. It is the most directly comparable Latin American peer given shared Spanish-language institutional design, similar hazard profile (earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes), and comparable constitutional/legal mandate.
• Defesa Civil Nacional (Brazil): Brazil's National Civil Defense coordinates disaster preparedness and response across all 26 states and ~5,500 municipalities. It is directly comparable in mandate, scale, and territorial structure to UNGRD, and serves as a regional benchmark for unified national disaster coordination systems in Latin America.

Broad incumbents

• European Commission DG ECHO (Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid): DG ECHO coordinates EU civil protection and humanitarian aid operations across member states. Comparable as a coordinating disaster response body, though supranational in scope; UNGRD engaged with ECHO-equivalent mechanisms via the International Charter activation.
• UN OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs): UN OCHA coordinates international humanitarian response across disasters globally, including supporting national disaster management agencies like UNGRD. It is comparable as a coordination body but operates internationally and does not perform direct domestic response like UNGRD.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/UNGRD
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/UNGRDGestióndelRiesgodeDesastres
• Facebookfacebook.com/GestionUNGRD
• Instagraminstagram.com/ungrd_oficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ungrd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD)