ICDO's main activities are in the following fields: 1. National Civil Defence Structures Capacity Building: Training of civil defence personnel, Advisory services and donation, conception of elements of doctrine 2. International Cooperation in Civil Protection matters: Establishment of a Framework Convention on Civil Protection Assistance, the Promotion of International Humanitarian Law relating to Civil Defence, Creation of an International Civil Defence Directory 3. Promotion of Prevention: Training courses, World Civil Defence Day, International Civil Defence Journal.
ICDO's objective is to contribute to the development by States of structures ensuring the protection and assistance of population and safeguarding property and the environment from natural or man-made disasters.
The Permanent Secretariat of the ICDO is to organise and perform secretariat duties at sessions of the Assembly, the Executive Council and its programme of activities, to carry out the administrative work and preparation of documents for meetings, to maintain liaison with its Members and to act as representative in negotiations with all authorities or to attend meetings of other international organisations, to prepare or edit, arrange for the publication and distribute the approved publications of the organisation.