CIFAL York is positioned to help achieve the UN’s sustainable development goals around emergency and disaster management, diversity and inclusion, economic development, health, and entrepreneurship. The centre is a catalyst for positive change and extend York’s global reach that already includes more than 300 university, industry, and NGO partners in over 70 countries.

In addition, CIFAL York provides a platform for dialogue and a forum for the development of new ideas by providing public servants, decision-makers, and academics in the Western Hemisphere learning opportunities that facilitate knowledge sharing and improve decision-making processes.

CIFAL York is one of 22 training centres for government authorities around the world and will facilitate face-to-face or online training activities such as seminars, courses, national, and international events. It will also seek to empower local, regional, and international authorities to promote intersectoral partnership and cooperation and improve the well-being of their citizens. Since its inception in 2003, the CIFAL network has reached more than 30,000 beneficiaries through over 400 learning events.

The centre develop a lecture series to bring together different experts to provide knowledge and raise awareness about the importance of systemic risk and emergency management.