Africa is grappling with major challenges in managing disaster risks due to recurring droughts, severe flooding, and intense cyclones.
These issues have impacted the continent's economic development and hindered the achievement of various targeted goals.
The loss of lives, destruction of infrastructure, disruption of services, and the impact on livelihoods are just a few consequences of climate change.
This underscores the necessity to redefine development through a disaster risk reduction approach.
In Africa, nine percent of the national budget is allocated to respond to and recover from weather-related events, which undermines redress efforts.
Approximately 400 million people lack access to clean drinking water, 700 million lack proper sanitation, 54 million do not have electricity, and 800 million still rely on firewood for energy.
The 9th session of the Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction will reflect on the progress made in the implementation of the Nairobi Declaration to strengthen disaster risk reduction efforts.
This will be done by aligning them with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and regional development goals and promoting the integration and mainstreaming of disaster risk management within and across relevant sectors.
"The Nairobi Declaration of 2021 reiterated the importance of multi-hazard early warning systems and the need for Member States to prioritise early action in addressing disaster risks. In response to this call and in our endeavour to ensure that every person on earth is covered by multi-hazard early warning systems, Namibia is currently in the process of setting up an Emergency Operations Center that will eventually be linked to the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre and the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System," said Deputy Prime Minister John Mutorwa.
Africa faces severe impacts from disasters, with losses reaching 12.3 percent of its GDP.
This vulnerability is driven by systemic challenges such as rapid urbanisation, unsustainable land use, and weak infrastructure.
Additionally, poverty, environmental degradation, and conflict weaken community resilience amid a worsening climate crisis.
A key outcome will be the adoption of the Windhoek Declaration, a significant document that outlines Africa's disaster risk reduction priorities for the next three years.
Following the historic Pact for the Future adopted at the United Nations General Assembly, this declaration will reinforce Africa's dedication to enhancing resilience throughout the continent