The African Union Commission (AUC), with support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through the DRR Governance Programme, held the 2nd Africa Regional Programme Steering Committee (A-RPSC) meeting for the 11th EDF in Kampala, Uganda, on 14th April 2025. The meeting was on the margins of the 22nd session of the Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction, from 15 to 17 April 2025.

The meeting involved institutions implementing the 11th European Development Fund (EDF11) Intra-ACP Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (DRRP). Its purpose was to assess the Progress made in implementing the DRR Programme in Africa, identify key issues with synergies across the regions for intra- and inter-OACPS action promoting South-South/North-South cooperation, coordination, and visibility of the programme, and highlight successful outcomes and stories.

The occasion served as a forum for exchanging information and coordination amongst its members, and it seeks to mobilise additional resources necessary to reach the programme objectives. The platform oversees and validates the Programme's overall strategic direction and policy guidance, albeit at different levels. The ARPSC also reviews the performance, assesses and validates the monitoring and evaluation reports to facilitate coherence and consistency of strategic plans/activities/budgets between all programme components/results as well as complementarity of the Programme with other relevant DRR initiatives and projects financed by the EU and the major donors in this sector in Africa.

Ms Teresa Pinto, AUC Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction, opened the meeting on behalf of Mr Harsen Nyambe, AUC Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE). Ms. Pinto highlighted the importance and relevance of the Programme “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for Resilience in African Regions and Countries” being implemented by the AUC as part of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Intra-ACP Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (DRRP). Instrumental mechanisms have been established, and they facilitated the involvement of youth and scientists in DRR on the continent, the organisation of coordination meetings for Disaster Risk Reduction with stakeholders on the continent, the Africa Working Group on DRR Meeting, the Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, the 8th High-level meeting of Ministers in charge of Disaster Risk Management, among others.

Ms Pinto noted that the programme also supported adopting relevant decisions for implementing the DRR Agenda in Africa. Among them are the Action points from different AWGDRR meetings, the Nairobi and Windhoek Declarations, and the Legal instruments on the establishment of the Network of Centres of Excellence of DRR Africa and the Continental Civilian Capacity Mechanism for Disaster Preparedness and Response.

Ms Athena Koulouris, the European Union (EU) Representative, highlighted the programme's mid-term review's key outcomes, encouraged partners to accelerate the implementation of committed projects, and liaise with the secretariat for support on any identified administrative challenges. 

Dr Pendo Maro, the Team Leader of the Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Programme at OACPS, reiterated the programme's importance in reducing the impact of disasters, including those related to climate change and biological hazards, and increasing resilience in African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. She also highlighted the relevance of the meeting to examine progress and achievements since the first ARPSC was held two years ago and agreed on orientation and guidance for programme implementation.

Technical experts and representatives of various institutions participated in the event. They represented Regional Economic Communities, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Partners institutions represented in the meeting include the African Union, the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), the World Bank Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (WB/GFDRR), the World Food Programme (WFP)/African Risk Capacity (ARC), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

ABOUT The 11th EDF Intra-ACP Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (DRRP)

The 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Intra-ACP Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (DRRP) is a EUR 100.5 million programme for all Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) countries for six years. The European Union (EU) contribution was EUR 100 million, while the Financing Agreement between the European Commission and UNDP/UNDRR co-financed EUR 500,000. OACPS is the Contracting Authority. The objective of the DRRP is to contribute to reducing the impacts of disasters, including those related to climate change and biological hazards, and increase resilience in OACPS countries.

The DRRP is implemented through eight (8) components, including by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Pacific Community (SPC), United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDP/UNDRR), World Bank Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (WB/GFDRR), World Food Programme/African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group, African Union Commission (AUC), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Technical Assistance (TA) to the OACPS component, which is tasked to provide overall coordination, monitoring, reporting on the global DRRP, and Technical Assistance and Post-Disaster and Recovery support to OACPS countries.

The European Union's Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Programme also catalysed the African Union Commission's disaster risk reduction programmes, projects, and activities. 

For further information, please contact:

Ms Teresa Pinto, Technical Coordinator, Disaster Risk Reduction Unit | Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy | African Union Commission | E-mail: PintoT@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

For media enquiry:

Mr Molalet Tsedeke | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission
Tel: +251-911-630 631 | E-mail: MolaletT@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ms. Maryanne Muriuki, Communications Analyst – Disaster Risk Reduction | Disaster Risk Reduction Unit | African Union Commission | E-mail: MuriukiM@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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