Overview

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Regional Office for Africa (UNDRR-Africa) based in Nairobi, Kenya coordinates DRR initiatives in support of 44 Member States in Sub-Saharan Africa. UNDRR-Africa has as solid partnership with the African Union Commission, five Regional Economic Communities (RECs) regional UN entities and other development partners. It also engages stakeholders such as  science and technology consortia, youth representatives, media and civil society members and groups.

The UNDRR-Africa Liaison Office, based in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, provides support to the African Union Commission to implement the Programme of Action (POA) for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in Africa. The UNDRR-Ethiopia office also organizes the biannual meetings of the Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (AWGDRR) jointly with the AUC. The AWGDRR is chaireda  by the AUC while UNDRR is the Secretariat. It is the primary  body for continental coordination of DRR in Africa. The AWGDRR meetings bring together regional and national DRR focal points alongside  key DRR actors to implement the POA.

Within the context of the EU-ACP Programme “Building Disaster Resilience to Natural Hazards in Sub-Saharan African Regions, Countries and Communities”, Country Risk Profiles for floods and droughts were elaborated for 16 countries of the region. In addition, the data catalog which was developed contains a series of geographic layers which can be freely accessed and downloaded.

Cities becoming more resilient in Africa

These statistics show live data about municipalities in Africa that have joined the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative. The villages, towns, and cities have made a commitment to move along the resilience roadmap to better protect their citizens.

 

 

Contact us

United Nations Complex
Block N
Level 2
Gigiri
PO Box 47074
00100
Nairobi, Kenya

Phone: +254 207626719
UNDRR-Africa@un.org 
 

Countries

Country Sendai Focal Point National Platform Country on PreventionWeb
Angola Country resources
Burundi Burundi - government National Platform Country resources
Benin Direction de la Prévention et de la Protection Civile National Platform Country resources
Burkina Faso Burkina Faso - government National Platform Country resources
Botswana National Disaster Management Office, Office of the President National Platform Country resources
Central African Republic Country resources
Côte d'Ivoire Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests National Platform Country resources
Cameroon Country resources
Congo, Dem Rep of the Min de l'Intérieur National Platform Country resources
Congo, Rep of the Ministère de l'Économie Forestière et de l'Environnement National Platform Country resources
Cabo Verde Serviço Nacional de Protecção Civil National Platform Country resources
Eritrea Country resources
Ethiopia Country resources
Gabon Ministere de l'Interieur,de la Sécurité Publique, de l'Immigration et de la Décentralisation National Platform Country resources
Ghana National Disaster Management Organization (Ghana) National Platform Country resources
Guinea Ministère de l'Environnement et du Developpement Durable National Platform Country resources
Gambia National Platform Country resources
Guinea-Bissau National Service of Civil Protection (Guinea-Bissau) National Platform Country resources
Equatorial Guinea Country resources
Kenya Ministry of Devolution and Planning, State department of devolution, Directorate of special programmes National Platform Country resources
Liberia Country resources
Lesotho Disaster Management Authority National Platform Country resources
Madagascar Country resources
Mali Country resources
Mozambique Country resources
Mauritius Country resources
Malawi Country resources
Mayotte Country resources
Namibia Office of the Prime (Namibia) National Platform Country resources
Niger Office of the Prime Minister (Niger) National Platform Country resources
Nigeria National Emergency Management Agency (Nigeria) National Platform Country resources
Reunion Country resources
Rwanda Country resources
Senegal Direction de la Protection Civile, Ministère de l'Intérieur (Senegal) National Platform Country resources
Sierra Leone Disaster Management Department, Office of National Security National Platform Country resources
South Sudan Country resources
Sao Tome and Principe Country resources
Eswatini Country resources
Seychelles Division of Risk and Disaster Management National Platform Country resources
Chad Country resources
Togo Ministère de l'Environnement et des Ressources Forestières National Platform Country resources
Tanzania, United Rep of Office of the Prime Minister (Tanzania, United Rep of) National Platform Country resources
Uganda Office of the Prime Minister (Uganda) National Platform Country resources
South Africa Department of Water Affairs and Forestry National Platform Country resources
Zambia Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit National Platform Country resources
Zimbabwe Country resources

News and events

Climate and disaster risk management workshop
Hot on the heels of COP27, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has brought together ten of Africa’s most disaster-prone nations who want to accelerate climate action through better management of disaster and climate risks.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Juba
Through a new Risk Information Exchange (RiX) platform, UNDRR is helping to bring humanitarian and development partners together to analyse and address risk factors that would impact relief and development operations.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Africa
Nairobi, Kenya
On 30 November 2022, UNDRR Regional Office for Africa, held a consultative meeting on the Private Sector ARISE to discuss and gather ideas and good practices to support an ARISE pilot study in Kenya.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Africa UNDRR Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE)
Toliara, Madagascar, Antoine Tardy/UNDRR
On 15-17 November 2022, UNDRR, in partnership with the UN Resident Coordinator Office & the national strategic entity (CPGU) and operational entity (BNGRC) for disaster management hosted the first Disaster Risk Reduction Retreat in Madagascar.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Africa
Doppler radar
While in Mauritius for National Tsunami Awareness Day, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) took the opportunity to learn about the country’s Disaster Risk Reduction efforts.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Africa
UNDRR GRAF training in Eswatini
After tropical cyclone Eloise hit Eswatini in 2021, the country’s National Disaster Management Agency’s (NDMA) ‘Build Back Better’ program kicked in to help build nearly 800 homes over the next year.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Africa National Disaster Management Agency (Eswatini)
CADRI team in Tanzania/RCO
Climate and disaster risk are intrinsically linked across Africa, including in Tanzania and Madagascar, which recently carried out Capacity for Disaster Reduction Initiative (CADRI) country diagnoses.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Africa Capacity for Disaster Reduction Initiative
MCR2030 Climate Risk to Resilience webinar
Two city leaders on the frontline of efforts to reduce climate and disaster risk firmly believe that building resilience is ‘absolutely doable and achievable’ even in such a period of unprecedented uncertainty.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Office in Incheon for Northeast Asia and Global Education and Training Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) Kampala Capital City Authority
South Sudan man sweeping dry streets
A new initiative to improve the understanding of climate and disaster risk in humanitarian and fragile contexts, was announced today at COP27 in Egypt at a side event organized by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Early Warning-Niger
In March 2022, United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, announced the UN would spearhead new action to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems within five years.
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Africa African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development
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Publications

Cover
This report documents the assessment of the status of national disaster loss databases in 13 countries and presents lessons to guide the next generation of disaster loss accounting systems (DLAS).
UNDRR Africa SFM cover page
This issue provides information on the International Day for DRR 2022, update on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework, outcome of the GP2022 as well as information on upcoming events and some resources that may be of interest.
Cover and title of publication
This contributing paper aims to investigate the extent to which community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) in practice really takes into account local knowledge (LK).
Brief: RDRM IO cover page
Resilience Building and Disaster Response Management in the Indian Ocean (RDRM-IO) programme, UNDRR component is to improve Disaster Risk Reduction understanding and governance capacities of Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
Niger cover photo
In response to the need to support efficient implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sendai Framework in sub-Saharan Africa, UNDRR is supporting closer engagement of DRR and CCA practices, communities, and institutions.
Benin cover
In response to the need to support efficient implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sendai Framework in sub-Saharan Africa, UNDRR is supporting closer engagement of DRR and CCA practices, communities, and institutions.
Malawi cover photo
In response to the need to support efficient implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sendai Framework in sub-Saharan Africa, UNDRR is supporting closer engagement of DRR and CCA practices, communities, and institutions.
Cover
The case study aims to enhance the understanding of policy design and implementation practices in support of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) in Uganda.
16th AWGDRR cover page
The Sixteenth Session of the Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction session was held in a hybrid format, under the theme “Accelerating action to deliver on the Sendai Framework in Africa”.
policy brief: Ethiopia risk sensitive budget review cover
In compliance with target F and Additional Target 2 and Additional Target 3, the report provides information on the estimated amount of national DRR and CCA expenditures from both internal and external sources.

Regional platform

About the Africa Regional Platform

 

The biennial Africa Regional Platform has established itself as a critical mechanism that brings together Member States, Regional Economic Communities, development partners and other disaster risk reduction stakeholders to review progress, share experiences, good practices and lessons learned on disaster risk reduction at the regional level.

The Platform seeks to build a consensus on the way forward to enable Member States to deliver on their commitments to the Sendai Framework and the African Union’s Programme of Action for its implementation in Africa, thereby contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the ‘Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want’.

 

Sessions of the Africa Regional Platform

 

8th Africa Regional Platform: 16-19 November 2021, Nairobi, Kenya
Theme: Towards Disaster Risk-Informed Development for a Resilient Africa in a COVID-19 Transformed World

The Government of the Republic of Kenya hosted the Eighth Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Seventh High-Level Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction on 16-19 November, 2021. The events were organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). The Africa Regional Platform was held under the over-arching theme: “Towards Disaster Risk-Informed Development for a Resilient Africa in a COVID-19 Transformed World”. The events on 16-18 November were held virtually, while the High-level/Ministerial session on 19 November was in hybrid format in Nairobi, Kenya.
[Consult the official website of the event]

 

7th Africa Regional Platform: 9-13 october 2018, Tunis, Tunisia
Theme: Towards Disaster Risk Informed and inclusive sustainable development

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in collaboration with the League of Arab States and the African Union Commission and hosted by the government of Tunisia, organized the Africa-Arab Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, which comprised of the 7th Africa Regional Platform and 6th High-Level Meeting and the 4th Arab Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. The Platform provided an opportunity for governments and all stakeholders to assess the progress and reaffirm commitment towards 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. [read more...]

 

6th Africa Regional Platform: 22-25 November 2016, Mauritius

Representatives of African countries, stakeholder groups and development and humanitarian partners gathered in Mauritius, 22-25 November 2016, for the 6th Session of the Africa Regional Platform, and the 5th High Level Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction. The Platform and High Level Meeting were hosted by the Government of Mauritius, in cooperation with the African Union Commission, the SADC Secretariat and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Some of the objectives of the event were to review progress in the implementation of Sendai Framework in Africa and to discuss and agree on the Africa Programme of Action aligned with the Sendai Framework. [read more...]

 

5th Africa Regional Platform: 13-16 May 2014, Abuja, Nigeria
Theme: Prevent risk: build resilience

The Fifth Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Third Ministerial Meeting was organised, under the leadership of the African Union Commission to develop the Africa contribution to the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (the Sendai Framework for DRR) to be considered at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and its Preparatory Committee meetings. It adopted a declaration which is a key instrument to frame the overall outcome of the African Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, including the validation of core elements of the Post-2015 Framework for DRR. [read more...]

 

4th Africa Regional Platform: 13-15 February 2013, Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania
Theme: Protect development gains and build resilience of African Nations

Over 250 participants from 45 African countries and partners gathered in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, 13-15 February 2013 for the 4th Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. Stakeholders from governments, intergovernmental regional organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors, United Nations, academic and technical institutions, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Government Organizations were joined by mayors and 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. [read more...]

 

More about Global and Regional Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction

 

Regional Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction are multi-stakeholder forums that were developed incrementally after the Kobe Conference 2005. While they have varying characteristics, they all share the same traits as dynamic forums for policy-makers, partners, experts and practitioners to announce initiatives, launch products, share information, promote campaigns, monitor progress and provide evidence about disaster risk reduction.

The Sendai Framework recognises 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 implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action. The Sendai Framework also underscores the need for the Global Platform and Regional Platforms to function as a coherent system of mechanisms in order to fully leverage the potential of collaboration across all stakeholders and sectors to provide guidance and support in implementation.

The function of the Global and Regional Platforms is identified in the Sendai Framework’s paragraphs 28 (c) and 49. In particular, they are expected to serve as instruments to:

  • Forge partnerships;
  • Periodically assess progress on implementation,
  • Share practice and knowledge on disaster risk-informed policies, programmes and investments, including on development and climate issues;
  • Promote the integration of disaster risk management in other relevant sectors;
  • Contribute to the integrated and coordinated follow-up processes to United Nations conferences and summits.

 

Key documents

 

Africa and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

 

  • Africa Common Position to the 2019 Global Platform for DRR, 2019 [EN]
  • The Programme of Action(PoA) for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030 in Africa, 2017 [EN]
  • Africa Status Report for DRR, 2014 [EN] [FR]
  • Africa Regional Strategy for DRR, 2004 [EN] [FR]
  • Extended Programme of Action for the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR (2006-2015) [EN] [FR]

 

Disaster Risk Reduction Frameworks