Partnerships and all-of-society approaches lie at the heart of effective disaster risk reduction. Building resilience and promoting risk-informed decision-making and investment are collective challenges and responsibilities, which call upon a collaboration between governments, the United Nations and other international organizations and stakeholder groups at large.
Aligned with the Sendai Framework and in coherence with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Paris Climate Agreement, cross-sectoral partnerships beyond the traditional disaster risk reduction community are important to successfully address the significantly broadened scope and complexity of today’s risk landscape.
As provided in the UNDRR Partnership Strategy, UNDRR works closely with other United Nations system entities, representatives of Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including; the private sector, the civil society and community-based organizations, the science and technology community, parliamentarians, children and youth, local authorities, media. UNDRR also contributes to Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives & Partnerships linked and engaged in the global risk and resilience discussions.
To convene stakeholders at all levels around the implementation and monitoring of the Sendai Framework, UNDRR leads and engages in various stakeholder initiatives. These include targeted partner networks and mechanisms, and UNDRR processes, such the Regional and Global DRR Platforms, as well as the Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments Online Platform.
Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism
To operationalize the all-of-society approach called for by the Sendai Framework in support of effective disaster risk reduction at all levels, in 2018 UNDRR established the Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism (SEM). Aligned with the UNDRR Partnership and Stakeholder Strategy, the UNDRR-SEM offers representational space for all ‘non-state’ Sendai stakeholders as set out in Paragraph (36) and (48) of the Sendai Framework.
SEM aims to leverage the voice and action of stakeholders in support of the implementation of the Sendai Framework and integration of disaster risk reduction into the broader 2030 Agenda.
As the main interlocutor between UNDRR and stakeholders, SEM works towards disaster risk reduction and resilience building through:
- global and regional advocacy and communication initiatives, including bringing case studies, lessons learned and expertise from the ground to the attention of global and regional policy processes;
- supporting cross-sectoral and transdisciplinary collaboration with stakeholders and CSO groups engaged in the 2030 agenda processes;
- strengthening citizen-led and social accountability mechanisms.
SEM is governed by its Advisory Group, which comprises of self-elected representatives from all UN Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS), Civil Society Organisation Groups focusing on specific 2030 Agenda policy processes, and UNDRR groups and stakeholders mentioned in the Sendai Framework and not covered by the Major Groups and other Stakeholders, (Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies [ARISE], Science and Technology Advisory Group [STAG], International Federation of the Red Cross [IFRC], and Media). The SEM Advisory Group acts as a key interlocutor with UNDRR, and enables, leads and supports an all-of-society engagement in the implementation of the Sendai Framework at the local, national, regional and global levels.
SEM Action Plan 2022-23 highlights the four Action Areas prioritized by SEM in 2022-23 to facilitate an all-of-society, people-centered, inclusive, accessible approach for risk informed development. Access the latest SEM resources, including policy briefs, event announcements, newsletters, and knowledge products.
