Thematic Session: Advancing DRR localization through South-South and triangular cooperation, peer-to-peer exchange, and international partnership

Target F of the Sendai Framework calls for enhanced global support through sustainable financing, technology transfer and capacity-building to complement national and local efforts. Despite this emphasis, it remains the least reported among all Sendai global targets. The session will explore how international cooperation can be strengthened to accelerate localized DRR actions. It will highlight innovative and scalable DRR initiatives, particularly non-traditional mechanisms such as South-South and triangular cooperation, with an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning, city-to-city partnerships and the engagement of at-risk communities. Drawing from the perspectives of DRR policymakers and practitioners from the global South and North, the session will offer actionable recommendations for scaling up international cooperation, enhancing coordination across stakeholders at all levels and expanding partnerships to engage new actors.

UNDRR Focal Points

• Luis Bonilla Ortiz-Arrieta
• Mutarika (Mai) Pruksapong

Organizing Team experts

• Dr. Satoru Nishikawa, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
• Ms. Lolly Boye, Ministry of Health of the Gambia
• Mr. Kombate Yendoube Nawanti, National Civil Protection Agency of Togo
• Ms. Veronica Nzioki, Permanent Mission of Kenya in Geneva  
• Ms. Rebecca Murphy, Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR)  
• Mr. Noble Kofi Avettey, Ghana Red Cross society  
• Ms. Miki Kodama, Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) (Also joined by Akio Sasahara, Executive Director of ADRC)
• Ms. Ria Hidajat, GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (Also joined by Sophia Wambui Kamau, GIZ Advisor)
• Dr. Namrata Bhattacharya Mis, University of Chester

Also joined by the following as a consortium:

• Nidhi Nagabhatla, UNU CRIS Belgium, Senior Fellow and Cluster Coordinator -Nature, Climate and Health
• Hemu Kafle, Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences, Scientist, Extreme Climatic Condition, and Head of Center for Water and Atmospheric Research
• Rashid Sohail Khan, Ghent University, PhD Scholar,
• Padmi Ranasinghe, University of Texas at Arlington, PhD Student in the College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington, USA and a virtual PhD fellow at UNU-CRIS

Moderator:

• Ms. Anita Erskine, Executive Director, Erskine Global Communications

Speakers:

• Ms. Margareta Wahlstrom, Former SRSG for DRR and the current honorary President of the Swedish Red Cross
• Mr. Gerard Howe, Deputy Director, Climate Resilience Department, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, United Kingdom
• Mr. Takeya Kimio, Professor / Distinguished Technical Advisor on Disaster Risk Reduction, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
• Ms. Astrid Furaha Matendo, Project Coordinator, Association des Femmes pour la Promotion et le Développement, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Virtual)
• Ms. María Alexandra Pacheco, Secretary of Disaster Risk Management, Cali City, Colombia
• Ms. Liza Velle B. Ramos, Head of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Division, Makati City, the Philippines
• Dr. Nabil Mekaoui, Lecturer and Researcher, Civil Engineering Department, Mohammed V University in Rabat (UMS) & Mohamadia School of Engineers (EMS), Morocco

Location

Plenary C
CICG