The Windhoek Declaration, adopted by the Ministers and Heads of Delegation, recognizes the need to have all hands on deck in implementing disaster risk reduction (DRR). It therefore calls on stakeholders from all spheres of society, from the continental to the local, to support the development and implementation of coherent, risk-informed, people-centered, gender-responsive, and disability-inclusive strategies and programmes.
The Eighth High-Level Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction took place on Thursday, 24 October, bringing together African Ministers and Heads of Delegations to consider and adopt the outcomes of the Ninth Session of the Africa Regional Platform for DRR (AfRP-9), particularly the Windhoek Declaration. In opening the meeting, Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for DRR, highlighted that DRR is not a “side story” but is central for the development of Africa. He said the Windhoek Declaration aims to provide clear guidance regarding where to focus efforts in the next few years.
Harold Saffa, Chair, Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) Sub-Committee on Environmental Issues, African Union (AU), underscored that disasters have no respect for anyone, striking everywhere from the most powerful to the weakest. He said the ability to respond to disasters is what makes the difference, pointing to the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme as an example of proactive action.
John Mutorwa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport, Namibia, called for a paradigm shift, from being reactive to being proactive in commitments towards addressing disaster risk. He said the Windhoek Declaration is a comprehensive roadmap to guide a collective strategic and programmatic approach towards reducing disaster impacts, building resilience to protect communities, and ensuring Africa’s developmental aspirations are not derailed.
In parallel with the High-Level Meeting, AfRP-9 continued with participants gathering in a series of sessions to consider: the role of nature in addressing climate change; the impacts of the ongoing El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO); and the unique challenges that African Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) face in DRR.
In the ENSO session, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Zambia lamented the unprecedented cyclones, droughts, floods, and food insecurity that their countries are facing. They outlined several proactive measures being implemented to mitigate the impacts of disasters before they strike, including: harnessing science to predict climate shocks before they occur; strengthening infrastructure and building codes; and implementing smart agriculture techniques.
Thursday also saw the launch of the ARISE (Act now, be Resilient, create Impact, help Societies, Expand your Network) Africa Network, which aims to empower the private sector to collaborate with the public sector and other stakeholders on DRR efforts. Two related networks, ARISE Kenya and ARISE West Africa, were also launched.
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All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For AfRP-9, please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth.
Eighth High-Level Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction
Delegates stand for the Namibian national anthem as the High-Level Meeting begins
I-Ben Natangwe Nashandi, Executive Director, Office of the Prime Minister, Namibia
Thulisile Dladla, Deputy Prime Minister, Eswatini
Duncan Ochieng, National Disaster Management Unit, Kenya
Anderson Banda, Director, Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre, Southern African Development Community (SADC)
Harold Saffa, Chair, PRC, Sub Committee on Environmental Issues, AU
Josefa Sacko, Commissioner, Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission (AUC)
Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for DRR, and Head, UN Office for DRR (UNDRR)
Duncan Ochieng, National Disaster Management Unit, Kenya (right), hands over the chairmanship of the AfRP Bureau to John Mutorwa, Deputy Prime Minister, Namibia (left)
Delegates turn their attention to considering and adopting the Windhoek Declaration
Delegates review the Windhoek Declaration
John Mutorwa, Deputy Prime Minister, Namibia, considering the amendments
Delegates applaud the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration
Special Session: Launch of the ARISE Africa Network
Delegates gather for the special session to launch the ARISE Africa Network
A slide highlights the aspirations and targets of ARISE Africa
Terry Kinyua, Co-Chair, UNDRR ARISE Global Board
As part of the launch of the ARISE Kenya, ARISE West Africa, and ARISE Africa Networks, terms of reference are signed to formalize the ARISE Africa network
Participants engage from the floor
Family photo of the ARISE Africa participants
Special Session: G20 Working Lunch
South Africa hosts a special session with G20 members and non-members to discuss how to advance DRR within the global agenda
Velenkosini Hlabisa, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, South Africa
Harsen Nyambe, Director of Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, AUC
Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for DRR, and Head, UNDRR, consults with delegates during the session
Jurgens Dyssel, Chief Director, Disaster Risk Reduction and Capacity Management, South Africa
Virender K Jatav, Head of Chancery, High Commission of India, Namibia
High-Level Event: The EL Niño Southern Oscillation
Zeynu Ummer, Director, UNDP Resilience Hub for Africa, moderated the high-level event on the El Niño Southern Oscillation
Reena Ghelani, UN Climate Crisis Coordinator for El Niño/La Niña
Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Nesibu Yasin, Deputy Commissioner, National Disaster Risk Management Commission, Ethiopia
Reatile Elias, CEO, Disaster Management Authority, Lesotho
Delegates listen to the interventions
High-Level Event: DRR in Landlocked Developing Countries
Rabab Fatima, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), delivers a keynote address via video message
Huw Beynon, UNDRR
Thomas Djimassé, Manager, Civil Protection, Central African Republic
Ummy Hamisi Nderiananga, Deputy Minister, Office of the Prime Minister, Tanzania
Albino Akol, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, South Sudan
Parliamentary Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction
Boemo Sekgoma, Secretary General, SADC Parliamentary Forum, speaks during the Parliamentary Forum on DRR
Amjad Abbashar, UNDRR
A slide highlights the role parliamentarians can play in the upcoming climate negotiations
Working Session: Is Nature Africa’s Secret Weapon in the Fight Against Climate Change?
Delegates gather for the working session
Gina Bonne, Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)
Fruzsina Straus, Head, DRR Unit, Disaster and Conflicts Branch, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
Florian Waldschmidt, Project Manager, Climate Risk Analytics, UN University
Tadesse Gebre Desta, Nature-based Solutions, Disasters, Climate and Crisis, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Delegates break out into groups to share ideas and perspectives
Closing Ceremony
Traditional dancers perform at the start of the closing ceremony
Harold Bundu Saffa, Ambassador, Chair of the PRC Subcommittee on Environmental Issues, AUC
Hellen Likando, Director, Directorate Disaster Risk Management, Office of the Prime Minister, Namibia
Amjad Abbashar, UNDRR
I-Ben Natangwe Nashandi, Executive Director, Office of the Prime Minister, Namibia
Delegates applaud the work done at AfRP-9
Around the Venue
The IISD/ENB team covering AfRP-9: Nadia Sohier Zaman, Canada; Tomilola Ankale Eni-ibukun, Nigeria; Deborah Davenport, US; and Kiara Worth, South Africa
Delegates meet informally between sessions
Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General, WMO
Information booths around the venue
