Bahrain raises the bar on Sendai reporting and regional DRR leadership
Following its successful hosting of the Arab Coordination Mechanism on Disaster Risk Reduction (ACCM-DRR) meeting and the regional commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), the Kingdom of Bahrain has underscored its sustained commitment to the Sendai Framework at the international, regional, and national levels.
From commitment to delivery
Since nominating its official National Sendai Focal Point, the Government has moved quickly to operationalize Sendai implementation. A national Sendai Framework Monitor (SFM) training in January 2024 catalyzed whole-of-government engagement and set in motion institutional arrangements for official reporting against all seven global targets (A-G).
By the global milestone of 30 September 2025, Bahrain had completed SFM reporting for 2023 and 2024 across all targets. Official submissions identify priority hazards for the Kingdom as heavy rains, floods, volcanoes, earthquakes, and radiation leakage.
Results at a glance (2023-2024)
- Zero disaster-attributed losses reported on SFM.
- Multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) reported with 100% population coverage.
- International cooperation: Bahrain reports over USD 18 million annually in support to DRR efforts.
- Ongoing priorities: further aligning the national DRR strategy with the Sendai Framework and increasing the share of local governments with local DRR strategies.
These results complement Bahrain's recent convening role: the ACCM-DRR and IDDRR events in Manama amplified the region's 2025 message-"Fund Resilience, Not Disasters." Together, they showcased practical pathways to strengthen governance, financing, and people-centred early warning.
Why this reporting matters
SFM reporting is not just a compliance exercise; it feeds directly into global development tracking. Eleven of the 38 Sendai indicators are compatible with SDG indicators (notably SDG 1, 11, and 13). By reporting these through SFM, Bahrain strengthens the national contribution to SDG reporting, while creating a clearer evidence base for policy, investment, and accountability.
What's next
Building on this momentum, Bahrain aims to:
- Deepen alignment of the national DRR strategy to Sendai and expand local DRR strategies across municipalities.
- Leverage MHEWS coverage to sharpen impact-based forecasting, targeted warning messages, and last-mile communication.
- Continue championing regional cooperation, translating political commitments into measurable risk reduction outcomes.
Bahrain's trajectory host, convener, and consistent SFM reporter illustrates how data, governance, and strategic partnerships can accelerate resilience gains for people, services, and the economy.