22^nd AFRICA WORKING GROUP MEETING FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION (AWGDRR)

Theme: “To move from commitments to action to deliver on the Windhoek Declaration”. 

15-17 APRIL  2025

Kampala, UGANDA

DRAFT TALKING POINTS

ON BEHALF OF

DIRECTOR FOR SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT AND BLUE ECONOMY

HARSEN NYAMBE

Honorable Representative of the Government of The Republic of UGANDA H.E……………

Distinguished Delegates from African Union Member States and Regional Economic Communities,

Mr. Huw Beynon, Deputy Chief, UNDRR Regional Office for Africa

Dear Partners of European Union and OACPS,

Representatives of Regional Climate Centers, and Partners

Distinguished Members of the Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction,

Dear colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

All protocol duly observed

Good morning.

1. Allow me first and foremost to welcome you to the 22^nd Africa Working Group Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the beautiful city of Kampala in UGANDA;
2. I’d like to take the opportunity to convey, the warm greetings from the new elected Commissioner H.E Moses Vilakati Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) and and H.E Mamoud Ali Youssouf Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
3. On behalf of the African Union Commission, I would also like to express my thanks and deep gratitude to the Government and the people of the Republic of Uganda for accepting to host this important Meeting and for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to all the participants at this 22^nd Africa Working Group meeting for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Distinguished Delegates,Ladies and gentlemen,

4. The 22nd Session of the African Working Group on DRR is being held after the 9^th  Session of the Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 8^th  High-Level Meeting of Ministers in charge of Disaster Risk Management of Africa held in Windhoek, Namibia in October 2024 which resulted in the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction by the Africa Ministers in charge of Disaster Risk Management.
5. The theme of the 22^nd Session of the AWGDRR "To move from commitments to action to deliver on the Windhoek Declaration" is timely and is in line with the priorities set out in the Windhoek Declaration highlighted above.
6. This theme once again invites us to redouble  efforts to implement the Programme of Action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa 2015-2030, which provides guidance on priority strategies and actions from the continental to the national level to reduce disaster risk in Africa.
7. As you are aware, ladies and gentlemen, efforts are being made to reduce disasters in Africa, but we must recognize that DRR targets are far from being met as evidenced by the mid-term evaluation for the implementation of the Sendai Framework on DRR 2015-2030. This situation invites us to further arm ourselves in order to achieve the objectives of the PoA for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction by 2030.
8. Each actor, regardless of its institution and geographical level of intervention (continental, regional, national or sub-national) must play its full role in helping the continent move towards responsible and risk-sensitive development.
9. The African Union Commission, in collaboration with partners, is playing its part with the implementation of a set of projects for governance and resilience to disaster risks on the continent. To enable better preparedness for disaster response, a functional situation room has been set up and is working with ACMAD in Niamey and ICPAC in Nairobi to provide advisories to African Union Member States. Similar rooms are being set up in various African countries.
10. But these efforts will be in vain if the momentum at the regional and national levels does not follow. This leads us to call on the Regional Economic Communities and the AU Member States to take ownership of the various initiatives being implemented at the continental level, which will certainly contribute to the achievement of the common objective, that of Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa.
11. The efforts of partners are salutary and deserve to be multiplied in order to boost the achievement of the objectives of the Windhoek Declaration aligned with those of the Programme of Action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa.
12. At this stage, I would like to remind you that working in synergy should be the key word in order to avoid counterproductive competition between actors. The strong involvement of the private sector is more than necessary so that together, we can contribute to accelerating the achievement of the objectives set out in the Windhoek Declaration and in the Programme of Action for inclusive and responsible development.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Participants,

13. During this 22nd Session of AWGDRR, we will discuss various interesting themes, including:

• Multi hazard early warning and early action system, with a focus on leveraging technologies to move from early warning to early action;
• Financing for Disaster Risk Reduction, with a focus on paving the way for implementing the financing aspects of the Windhoek Declaration, including through establishing and operationalizing a DRR financing facility for Africa, facilitating financing for risk-informed investment, developing tools and products to finance DRR, creating an enabling policy and regulatory environment for private sector investment in DRR, and enhancing the role and participation of civil society organizations in resource mobilization in support of DRR for resilience at all levels; and
• The stakeholders’ voluntary commitments presented at the 9^th session of the Africa Regional Platform for DRR, with a focus on identifying viable mechanisms and the best way forward to ensure their implementation

14. The diversity and relevance of the themes to be addressed will allow experts from different fields to contribute to Disaster Risk Management on our dear continent. At the end of this meeting, we will each have to contribute to strengthening the coherence of DRR interventions on the continent.
15. This will undoubtedly enable us to mobilize and rationally manage adequate resources for the effective implementation of targeted actions for risk-sensitive development.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Distinguished participants

16. Before I conclude, I’d like to thank Partners European Union, UNDRR, the Government of the Republic of Italy, and GIZ for their valuable contribution in the organization of the 22^nd AWGDRR meeting and express the will of African Union Commission for cooperation and collaboration that contribute to the achievement of its objectives, a prosperous and peaceful Africa for the well-being of its peoples.

17. I thank you for your kind attention and wish you a fruitful deliberation.