Both as a national Centre and then as the national Institute, NIDM has performed a crucial role in bringing disaster risk reduction to the forefront of the national agenda. The Institute believes that disaster risk reduction is possible only through promotion of a "Culture of Prevention" involving all stakeholders. The Institute works through strategic partnerships with various ministries and departments of the central, state and local governments, academic, research and technical organizations in India and abroad and other bi-lateral and multi-lateral international agencies.

NIDM is proud to have a multi-disciplinary core team of professionals working in various aspects of disaster management. In its endeavour to facilitate training and capacity development, the Institute has state-of-the-art facilities like class rooms, seminar hall and video-conferencing facilities etc. The Institute has a well-stocked library exclusively on the theme of disaster management and mitigation. The Institute provides training in face-to-face, on-line and self-learning mode as well as satellite based training. In-house and off-campus face-to-face training to the officials of the state governments is provided free of charge including modest boarding and lodging facilities.

NIDM provides Capacity Building support to various National and State level agencies in the field of Disaster Management & Disaster Risk Reduction. The Institute's vision is to create a Disaster Resilient India by building the capacity at all levels for disaster prevention and preparedness.