Africa Needs to Shift to Multi-Hazard Governance and Coordination Approach to Disasters: “Towards Disaster Risk-Informed Development for a Resilient Africa in a COVID-19 Transformed World”.
Africa Needs to Shift to Multi-Hazard Governance and Coordination Approach to Disasters: “Towards Disaster Risk-Informed Development for a Resilient Africa in a COVID-19 Transformed World”.
Governments need to implement multi hazard governance and coordination pathways towards reducing disaster risk. This was the prominent key message coming out from the 8th Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (AfRP). The virtual event took place 16-18th November 2021at the senior officials level. The
Platform was followed by the 7th High Level/Ministerial Session that took place on 19th November in Nairobi, Kenya.
Delegates exchanged best practices, challenges and possible recommendations moving forward towards the 2023 mid-term review of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction. The event was inclusive, and there was representation by Persons Living with Disability and Indigenous People.
The African Union recognises the vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19, and it is working towards inclusive recovery. Currently, the AUC is working with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and partners to implement several actions. These include the operationalisation of the Continental Disaster Operations Centre Situation Room, the development of the COVID-19 Recovery Framework and strengthening disaster risk governance for resilience in regions and countries.
Amb. Josefa Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) at the AU Commission said, “As we have seen with hazards, we must ensure a multi-hazard governance and coordination approach. We must ensure better and coordinated implementation of Agenda 2063, Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sendai Framework, Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals, global and regional health policies, new urban agenda, Kampala Convention, and Agenda for Humanity, to mention a few”.
2021 was the year when the world observed the International day for disaster risk reduction on Target F of the Sendai Framework. The Commissioner reiterated by saying “The African Union calls upon further collaborations and international cooperation to realise effective implementation and dividends arising from these actions at national and community levels”.
The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, Mami Mizutori, noted that there could be as many as 465 million
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people living in extreme poverty by the end of the year, almost 35% of the African population, referring to statistics by the African Development Bank.
In echoing the call for increased international cooperation in disaster risk reduction, Ms. Mizutori said, “International development cooperation and solidarity must be strengthened if we are to recover from the pandemic, fight climate change and address underlying drivers of disaster risk”.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Fred Matiang’i, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government urged all stakeholders to take into account inclusive recovery moving forward towards making Africa resilient.
He emphasised, “Let us all put the “theme” of our meeting at the back of our minds as we work on development matters, notwithstanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic”. Dr. Matiang’i further called for all to strive towards the implementation of the Sendai Framework, its priorities and targets, and also the African Union’s Programme of Action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The event brought together AU Member States, the African Union Commission (AUC), United Nations agencies and other stakeholders in disaster risk reduction. It was co-organized by the AUC, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN-DRR), the Intergovernmental Agency for Development (IGAD) and hosted by the Government of Kenya.
For further information please contact:
Mr. Gatkuoth Kai | Technical Coordinator of Disaster Risk Reduction, Department of Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment | AU Commission; E-mail: KaiG@africa-union.org
Media contact:
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke| Directorate of Information and Communication| African Union Commission |Tel:+251 (0)
911630631| E-mail: Molalett@africa-union.org
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