Germany National Platform
History
Following the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015 - 2030) the German Federal Government established an Interministerial Working Group for the implementation of the Sendai Framework (IMAG Sendai) (restructured in 2018). The IMAG Sendai steers all national activities related to the SFDRR and the German Resilience Strategy. All federal government ministries are involved in this working group.
An Authorities Working Group has been established in 2023 to provide technical support to the IMAG Sendai related to different sectors and various hazards. The IMAG Sendai as well as the Authorities Working Group are the institutional core of the German National Platform and meet bi-annually.
The National Focal Point (NFP) has been nominated in 2017 at the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK). The NFP has the role of a coordinating office for all joint meetings and activities of these groups and is mandated to act on behalf of the German Federal Government in various international processes related to the SFDRR. It is also the secretariat of the National Platform for Resilience.
Since 2016, the German Red Cross has been organizing the German Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office. The event's main focus is the dialogue on current topics, challenges and innovative approaches to enable synergies between international and national disaster risk reduction. This conference has provided the opportunity to record the overall progress in the implementation of the SFDRR and allowed public participation in the development of the German Resilience Strategy, the conceptualization of the National Platform for Resilience to Disasters in Germany or the Monitoring. Therefore, the conference is currently supported by the NFP in Germany, the DKKV and the Katastrophennetz e.V.
The German Webportal on Disaster Risk Management (KatRiMa.de) serves as a virtual information exchange platform since 2020. Every institution or organisation can participate and publish information on their mandate/activities, tools and good practices. Funding for this Webportal has been provided by the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development as well as the Ministry of Interior.
The German Resilience Strategy (2022) envisages the further development of a National Platform for Resilience to Disasters in Germany. Since 2024, the National Platform for Resilience to Disasters in Germany brings together government and non-government institutions fosters the exchange across sectors and levels and stakeholder groups to observe, support and improve the implementation of Germany's Resilience Strategy.
Structure
Currently the National Platform consist of more than 50 institutions. Many of them represent themselves networks or associations rather than single organisations or companies. The members of the National Platform are structured in five stakeholder networks. The five stakeholder networks are:
- state with representatives from the federal government, the states and municipalities
- civil society with representatives from relief and welfare organizations and other non-profit associations
- private sector with representatives from various critical infrastructure sectors and private associations
- science with representatives from leading research societies and institutions and
- public institutions representing media, culture and education.
An Implementation Advisory Board has been established, which consists of 3-4 elected representatives from each stakeholder group and works as a multiplier. The Implementation Advisory Board meets bi-annually in person and ensures a regular exchange with the stakeholder networks of the National Platform. The German Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction serves as the annual meeting of the National Platform in person. A second virtual meeting is hosted by the NFP.
In 2025 the National Platform for Resilience to Disasters will focus on the development of a joint report on the progress made and outline recommendations for action in the further implementation of the German Resilience Strategy.
Mandate
The NFP at the BBK was mandated to guide the establishment of the National Platform and foster stakeholder participation in the implementation process of the SFDRR in Germany. As such it serves as information hub for organizations and initiatives involved in disaster risk reduction.