UNDRR News

As climate and disaster risks multiply, building safer dwellings is the shared responsibility of governments, developers, engineers and communities. Together, let us commit to making every home a resilient one, now, and in the future.

In July 2026, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for Africa, co-organized three discussion-based exercises (DBXs) in Angola, Côte d'Ivoire and Zambia.

More than 20 representatives convened in São Tomé from 7 to 9 September 2026, for an assessment on Risk-Informed Urban Planning and Making Cities Resilient. The assessment was organised by the District of Água Grande in collaboration with UNDRR.

Housing recovery must be an inclusive process where people are able to express their aspirations. Experience shows that when homeowners are involved in their own recovery, it leads to better outcomes and greater resilience.

Making homes more resilient is about understanding the risks people face, working with communities and finding solutions that help people live safely, before disaster strikes, not simply rebuild afterwards.

This month's issue covers preparations for International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2026, SRSG Kamal Kishore's mission to Cuba, Colombia and Haiti, new data tracking progress under the Sendai Framework and more inside.

The national implementation plan for 2024–2027 covers the four pillars of early warning systems, under the coordination of the Directorate General of Civil Protection. Progress to date includes the first tests of mobile alerts.

The advisory note,“El Niño Is Strengthening. Is Your Business Ready?”, developed by CCRO Network members and contributors to help business leaders prepare for the growing risks associated with the strengthening El Niño event.

Under the theme “Translating Locally led Resilience into Action in the Age of Complex Risk and Digital Transformation”, IDRLF2026 addressed persistent implementation gaps for DRR with more than 350 stakeholders.

Civil Defence, meteorological and hydrological services, communications, and urban planning have operated for decades as an integrated system, with clearly defined roles and joint working mechanisms consolidated through practice.