Khemraj Servansingh, Mauritius, presented the Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030 in Africa to the High-Level Meeting.

The Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction themed “Towards Disaster Risk Informed and Inclusive Sustainable Development” took place from 9-13 October in Tunis, Tunisia.

The meeting consisted of the 7thAfrica Regional Platform and the 6thHigh-level Meeting and the 4thArab Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in collaboration with the League of Arab States and the African Union Commission will organize the meeting, which is hosted by the government of Tunisia.

The Platform will provided an opportunity for governments and stakeholders to assess the progress and reaffirm commitment towards the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in the two regions. The Platform also enabled stakeholders and partners to foster cooperation across the regions towards disaster risk informed and inclusive sustainable development; while enabling them to share knowledge, experiences and best practices in advancing disaster risk reduction. The Platform was expected to yield increased commitments of countries to enhance attention to risk sensitive investments, increase national and local strategies, by 2020 in line with Sendai Framework targets. It will also seek to increase cooperation among countries on water related hazards, and enhance engagement of stakeholders with shared responsibility to implement regional strategies. The outcomes of the event will also inform the 2019 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The Platform was inclusive, innovative and interactive and took into account gender considerations in line the Sendai Framework principle of an “all-of-the-society approach.”

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction recognizes the global and regional platforms for disaster risk reduction as key mediums for its implementation, building on the pivotal role that they have played in supporting the Hyogo Framework for Action.