Talking Points:

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, BLUE ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT

TALKING POINTS OF DR JIHANE EL GAOUZI

HEAD OF THE SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON THE AFRICA COMMON POSITION

Global Platform for DRR 2025

2^nd June 2025, 09 – 11 am

Geneva, Switzerland

• Hon. Natangwe Paulus Lithete, Deputy Prime Miniter and Minister of Industrialisation, Mines and Energy, Republic of Namibia - Chair of the Africa Regional Platform Bureau
• Mr. Amjad Abbashar, Chief of UNDRR Regional Office for Africa
• Ms. Jenty Kirsch-Wood, Head, Global Risk Analysis and Reporting Section, UNDRR
• Esteemed Representative of Member States and Regional Economic Communities
• Ladies and gentlemen
• All protocol respected

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I am truly honoured to join you today for this important regional consultation, held as part of Africa Day. This session marks a special milestone—an opportunity to share and discuss the draft Africa Common Position on Disaster Risk Reduction ahead of the Global Platform for DRR in 2025.

We are joined today by high-level delegations from our Member States, Regional Economic Communities, the African Union Commission, and key development partners. Your presence reflects our shared commitment to building resilience and reducing disaster risk across our continent.

On behalf of His Excellency Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, I wish to express the sincere appreciation of the African Union Commission for the outstanding mobilization of Member States and RECs. This is a powerful signal of our united determination to save lives and protect our economies and communities from the growing threat of disasters.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Despite significant progress in recent years, Africa remains the most vulnerable continent to disasters. These shocks, be they natural or human-induced, continue to cost lives, destroy livelihoods, and undermine development. They pose a serious threat to our social and economic stability.

In the face of these challenges, Africa has responded with determination and action. We have adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. We’ve put in place the Programme of Action to guide its implementation, and we have produced three biennial reports to measure our progress. Our frameworks are strong, and our resolve is clear.

Continental and regional platforms such as the Africa Working Group and the Africa Regional Platform for DRR play a vital role in monitoring the development and effectiveness of our policies. These platforms are helping us to ensure that our plans are aligned, our responses are effective, and our voices are heard.

Last year, from 21st to 24th October 2024, we convened the 9th Africa Regional Platform and the 8th High-Level Meeting on DRR in Windhoek, Namibia, under the theme: “Act Now for the Resilient Africa We Want.” These meetings led to the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration—a landmark in our collective journey.

The Windhoek Declaration reaffirmed our commitment to accelerating the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sendai Framework. It contains clear, actionable recommendations and was endorsed by the African Union Summit earlier this year.

As part of that Declaration, the African Union Commission was tasked with leading the development of Africa’s Common Position for the upcoming Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, to be held in Geneva this June.

To deliver on this mandate, and with support from the UNDRR Regional Office for Africa, we have undertaken an inclusive and participatory process. A survey was distributed to Member States to gather your views on themes, messages, and calls to action that should shape the Common Position. These inputs are built on the Windhoek Declaration, the 2022 Africa Common Position, and the current phase of the Programme of Action.

Following your contributions, the Draft Common Position was reviewed at the recent Africa Working Group meeting held in Kampala this past April. What we have today is a solid draft, reflecting our shared experiences, ambitions, and vision.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Your role in today’s consultation is critical. This is our chance to refine the draft and speak with one clear, united African voice. A voice that ensures our continent’s priorities are heard and acted upon at the Global Platform.

The African Union Commission will present the Draft Africa Common Position once again for your consideration, with particular attention to the continental commitments and priorities that must shape the global agenda.

In conclusion, let me express our deep gratitude to all the delegations represented here today. Your dedication and collaboration are the driving forces behind our progress. As we gather on this Africa Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to act together and to deliver together—for a resilient, safer, and more prosperous Africa.

Thank you.