The African Union Commission (AUC), through the Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE), participated in the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Midterm Review of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (HLM). The meeting, which took place on 18 and 19 May 2023, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, was convened by the President of the United Nations General Assembly and brought together leaders from all parts of the world to assess progress in the implementation of the framework, since its adoption in 2015. The review also discussed actions to accelerate the implementation of the framework in the lead-up to 2030.

Mr Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE), led the AUC delegation to the high-level meeting and presented the AU official statement to the General Assembly. He was accompanied by Mr Gatkuoth Kai, Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction and Ms Leah Wanambwa, Senior Policy Officer in charge of Climate Change. Mr Nyambe highlighted the progress made by the African Continent in the implementation of the Sendai Framework. He reminded the audience that Africa was the first region to domesticate the Sendai Framework by adopting the Africa Programme of Action to implement it till 2030. He added that the African Union has made great strides towards the realisation of the targets of the Sendai Framework as demonstrated through the following:

In 2022, H.E. President Filipe Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, was appointed the AU Champion of Disaster Risk Management, in order to strengthen advocacy - a remarkable show of political will by the AU. Multiple programmes have been developed and currently being implemented:

• The Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for Resilience in African Regions and Countries, supported by the European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), works towards strengthening political will and commitment.
• The Africa Multi-hazard Early Warning and Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme is supported by the Government of Italy, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the CIMA Research Foundation, the Government of Luxembourg, the Government of Denmark, and Norway. 
• The Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP) details the AU's ambition to build resilience and make African cities and urban centres more livable and thriving economic hubs. The AURP was developed with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and its operationalisation of the AURP is being undertaken with support from German Development Cooperation (GIZ).
• The (GRAP) which provides a strategic path for building back better and greener from the impacts of COVID-19 developed with the support of the UK Government, and being implemented with assistance from Sweden, UK, NDC Partnership.
• In tandem, the AUC also developed the COVID-19 Recovery Framework  with the support of UNDP and the Government of Sweden.
• The Sahel Resilience Project which aims to strengthen resilience to complex risk-underpinning development in the Sahel. The Government of Sweden and UNDP support the project. 

Ongoing implementation of the AU Climate Change and Resilient Development and Action Plan 2022-2032, the Revised Africa Strategy for Meteorology (Weather and Climate Services), the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), and the Great Green Wall Initiative, are among other frameworks and programmes being implemented to mainstream risk and strengthen resilience across the continent.

During the HLM, the AUC participated in several sessions including one on synergies between climate change and DRR, and the Risk Reduction Hub events. At the Early Warnings for All: Closing the Gap and scaling up good practices panel, the AUC detailed the establishment of the Africa Multi-hazard Early Warning and Action System (AMHEWAS) programme. Mr Gatkuoth Kai, Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction, underscored that AMHEWAS has already recorded remarkable achievements within the two years of its establishment. Three situation rooms in Addis Ababa (Continental), Nairobi (Regional) and Niamey (for climate advisories) have been established. The AU's ambition is to ensure all the AU Member States have similar situation rooms that will be interoperable with the Continental and regional situation rooms. This interoperability will then provide a seamless exchange of data, which remains a critical challenge in the implementation of AMHEWAS.

The AUC delegation also undertook a series of bilateral engagements with key partners. On 17 May 2023, Mr Nyambe led the AUC delegation in a meeting with the Head of Italian Civil Protection. Other Italian delegates, including the Ambassador of Italy to the United Nations, a representative of the Italian Agency for International Development (AICS), and the President of the CIMA Research Foundation, also attended the bilateral meeting. The Italian Government reaffirmed its commitment to support the AMHEWAS programme.

A side meeting was also held on 18 May 2023 between the AUC delegation and Carabinieri Italy to strengthen collaboration in the area of biodiversity and environment at large. This meeting was attended by Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, head of delegation and Ms Leah Wanambwa who also doubles as Head of Biodiversity and Wildlife. The meeting agreed to explore collaboration in the areas of forestry, environmental management, wildlife, law enforcement and climate change. Training of experts from AU member states and staff of the AUC was also identified for future engagement.

On the last day of the meeting, the AUC joined the Risk-informed Early Warning Early Action Partnership (REAP), the Government of the United Arab Emirates, the Chair of the 28th Conference of Party (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and UNDRR in a side event entitled "Financing Early Warnings and Early Action in Contexts of Protracted Humanitarian Crises". Representing the AUC, Mr Kai made an opening remark and emphasised the need to increase financing for anticipatory action. He urged the UAE, the chair of the COP28, to assert pressure on the parties to expedite the implementation of the Loss and Damage Agreement and financing for early warning systems and anticipatory action.

There was also a meeting held with the Director of the UNDRR to discuss the coordinated implementation of the Sendai Framework and the need to mobilise additional financing for developing countries. The meeting also covered the plan to ensure that the implementation of the UN Secretary-General's call for the provision of early warning to all builds of the existing foundation in Africa. Both UNDRR and AUC recognised the traction achieved by the AU in the area of early warning and concur to avoid duplication of efforts at all costs.

The meeting between AUC and the Assistant Secretary General of the Organisation of Africa Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) on 19 May 2023, focused on the need to provide support for DRR to Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa. The ASG reassured the AUC delegation of their commitment to continue engaging with the EU, in order to find a solution to enhanced support to RECs in Africa. The meeting also considered the proposed Agenda for the upcoming Africa, Caribbean and Pacific High Level Conference on the outcomes of the CBD COP15 and CITES COP19, scheduled for 30 May to 2 June 2023 at the AU Headquarters, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Assembly unanimously endorsed the "Political Declaration of the high-level meeting on the midterm review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030".

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Gatkuoth Kai| Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction| Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, | E-mail: KaiG@africa-union.org | WhatsApp: +251 909537884

For media enquiry:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Media Center Coordinator, Information and Communication Directorate; E-mail: Molalett@africa-union.org,  WhatsApp: +251-911-630-63.

Ms. Maryanne Muriuki, Communication Specialist, Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, AU Commission. Email: MuriukiM@africa-union.org

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