Report of the 4th Africa regional platform on disaster risk reduction: protect development gains and build resilience of African nations

This report covers the proceedings of the 4th Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (AfRP) from 13 to 15 February, 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania hosted by The African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Regional Office for Africa. The 4th AfRP focused on the progress made at the national, sub-regional, and regional levels in the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and its Programme of Action, and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). The theme of the 4th AfRP was ‘protecting development gains and building resilience of African countries’.

The three-day meeting focused on six thematic areas. Session 1 centred on strengthening DRR at the regional level while Session 2 outlined the achievements made and challenges faced at sub-regional levels in Africa, ranging from policy formulation and coordination to comprehensive disaster risk reduction implementation. Session 3 focused on concrete examples of disaster risk reduction investment and the shift in focus from response and relief to resilience building, and Session 4 dealt with risk identification, monitoring and early warning. Session 5 highlighted initiatives undertaken and recommendations for the future to address urban risks in the region by building urban resilience. Lastly, Session 6 aimed to identify and assess the challenges and opportunities for integrating climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Africa.

Over 250 participants from 45 African countries and partner organisations attended the meeting with representation from governments, intergovernmental regional organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors, United Nations, academic and technical institutions, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, civil society and non-government organizations. Among participants were mayors and representatives of local governments, community leaders, parliamentarians, youth, media and the private sector, all sharing a common commitment to build the resilience of African communities and nations to disaster risk and adapt to a changing climate.