From risk to resilience: Unlocking SDG progress through DRR

Organizers

 Co-chairs of the Group of Friends of Disaster Risk Reduction (Permanent Missions of Australia, Indonesia, Norway and Peru), the Permanent Mission of Switzerland and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Time

1:15 - 2:45pm

Background

As the 2030 Agenda enters the final stretch for implementation with only 17% of the SDGs on track, the escalating impact of disasters continues to jeopardize progress, and threatens to reverse hard-won development gains. From 2015 to 2023, direct economic loss worldwide has been reported to exceed US$ 1.1 trillion in total1, with an even higher toll in terms of human lives as well as economic, social and environmental impacts. Recent Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), have highlighted both the obstacles and opportunities for a risk-informed approach to sustainable development.

This side event will delve into the key takeaways from the Global Platform for DRR, revealing priorities for the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Using insights from the VNRs, the event will also explore practical ways to strengthen the coherence between sustainable development and disaster risk reduction.

The discussion will focus on advancing next steps to strengthen national and international disaster risk reduction efforts in an evolving risk landscape. It will spotlight transformative actions and accelerated solutions, building on the main findings and calls to action from the Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction and the 2025 ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum.

Join us for a dynamic and insightful session to contribute to and learn from the global efforts to build resilience and achieve the SDGs.

Programme

Moderator: Ms. Laurel Patterson, Strategic Partnerships and Communications Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau

Fireside chat: Learnings from the Global Platform
Key takeaways from Global Platform to accelerate SDG implementation

• H.E. Mr. Christian Frutiger, Assistant Director General and Head of Thematic Cooperation, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Switzerland
• Mr. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR

Special remarks

• Ms. Fatou Jeng, Former Youth Climate Advisor to the UN Secretary-General and Member of the Early Warnings for All Advisory Panel

Panel: Building a strong evidence base for DRR and resilience (25 min) 
Insights from VNRs and VLRs and future pathways for implementation

• Ms. Elizabeth Bradley, Permanent Secretary of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation, Suriname
• Mr. Antônio da Costa e Silva, Chief International Advisor, Ministry of Cities, Brazil
• Ms. Sukaina Al Nasrawi, Lead of Sustainable Urban Development Portfolio, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

Interactive Discussion, starting with

• H.E. Ms. Dragana Radulovic, Permanent Representative of Montenegro to the United Nations

Closing Remarks 

• Mr. Pungkas Bahjuri Ali, Head of National Secretariat for SDGs, Indonesia

This event is open to all participants registered for the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF 2025) and to those holding a valid UN grounds pass.