The Eighth Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction was held under the over-arching theme: Towards Disaster Risk-Informed Development for a Resilient Africa in a COVID-19 Transformed World. The meeting aimed to build consensus on the way forward for Member States to deliver on their commitments to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and to the African Union’s Programme of Action for its implementation in Africa, and thereby contributed to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

The meeting also included the Seventh High-Level Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction where Ministers responsible for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and Member States’ Heads of Delegations considered and adopted the outcomes of the Regional Platform.

The Africa Regional Platform takes place every two years and brings together Member States, regional economic communities, development partners and other DRR stakeholders to review progress, and share experiences, good practices and lessons learned on DRR at the regional level.

The technical segment of the Platform resulted in key recommendations and guidance on the way forward including stakeholders’ voluntary commitments. The high-level segment adopted the implementation matrix for the Programme of Action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework in Africa for the period 2021-2025, as well as a declaration in support of Member States’ commitments to accelerate implementation of the Sendai Framework and Programme of Action in the region.

The Government of Kenya hosted the Eighth Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction from 16-19 November 2021. The meeting was organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. The events on 16-18 November were held virtually, while the High-Level Meeting on 19 November was in hybrid format in Nairobi, Kenya.

Funding for IISD’s Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage of this meeting has been provided by UNDRR.