Droughts, floods, landslides, cyclones, earthquakes, and epidemics – the African region is beset with natural hazards and the threat of disasters, which are further exacerbated by the climate change. These hazards and disaster risks undermine sustainable development efforts within the region, thereby underscoring the urgent need to prioritize disaster risk reduction (DRR).

The Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030 was adopted in 2015 to reduce the risk of disasters, as well as the attendant loss of lives, livelihoods, health, and assets of persons, businesses, communities, and countries. To translate the global objectives set out in the Sendai Framework to the African regional context, the Programme of Action (PoA) for Implementation of the Sendai Framework was endorsed in 2017. The PoA contains region-specific targets and also sets out actionable steps for African nations to address disaster risk and build more resilient communities.

The Ninth Session of the Africa Regional Platform for DRR (AfRP-9) convened under the theme “Act Now for the Resilient Africa We Want” and reviewed progress towards implementation of the PoA. The meeting aimed to provide an opportunity to translate knowledge into action, build a more resilient Africa, and secure a future where no one is left behind.

AfRP-9 focused on three important issues: applying risk information for transformative governance; investing to reduce risk, by changing the way money is spent; and reducing loss and damage, by saving lives and protecting investments. It sought to:

• build consensus on the way forward to enable Member States to deliver on their commitments to the Sendai Framework and its PoA; and
• develop the African common position to be presented at the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction scheduled to take place from 2-6 June 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The meeting resulted in a political declaration, which was adopted by the Ministers and heads of delegations responsible for DRR in Africa at the Eighth High-Level meeting on DRR to be held back-to-back with AfRP-9.

The AfRP-9 and the Eighth High-Level Meeting on DRR were held from 21-24 October 2024 in Windhoek, Namibia. The two events were hosted by the Government of Namibia and organized by the UN Office for DRR and the African Union Commission, in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Tomilola Akanle Eni-ibukun, Ph.D.; Deborah Davenport, Ph.D.; and Patrick Toussaint. The Digital Editor was Kiara Worth, Ph.D. The Editor was Leila Mead.

Funding for ENB coverage of AfRP-9 was provided by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).