Thematic Session: A world in crisis: Building resilience in complex settings

This session will explore how DRR can bridge the gap between humanitarian, development and peace efforts, particularly in regions facing multiple crises like climate change and conflict. Participants will learn from successful case studies, discuss the challenges of integrating DRR in these complex contexts, and identify strategies to scale up efforts. The session aims to drive greater coordination and innovation in DRR across sectors to build resilience and contribute to long-term peace and development.

UNDRR Focal Points

• Ms. Emilia Wahlström
• Mr. Marcus Elten
• Mr. Alf Blikberg

Organizing Team experts

• Mr. Abdulrazak Abubakar, ActionAID
• Mr. Bashir Abdi, African Solution
• Ms. Alessandra Lentini, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS)
• Ms. Radhana Devi Khedan, District Council of Savane
• Ms. Jana Junghardt, Swiss NGO DRR Platform, Helvetas
• Ms. Christelle Cazabat, Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC)
• Mr. Nelson Castano Henao, International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
• Ms. Louise Thaller, Impact Initiatives
• Mr. Jeremy Wetterwald, Impact Initiatives
• Ms. Katharina Lotzen, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
• Ms. Shivangi Chavda, Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR)
• Ms. Diana Ngure, NORCAP
• Ms. Marielle Pettersson, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)
• Mr. Karl Torring, Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB)
• Ms. Haya Al-kubati, United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY)
• Ms. Michelle Yonetani and Ms. Esme O’Keeffe, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• Ms. Maria Holtsberg, UN Women
• Ms. Asikaralu Okafor, Village Farmers Initiative (VFI)

Moderator:

• Ms. Aarathi Krishnan, CEO and Founder, Raksha Intelligence Futures

Speakers:

• Mr. Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
• H.E. Arlette Soudan-Nonault, Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development and the Congo Basin, Republic of Congo
• Ms. Deike Potzel, Director-General of Crisis Prevention, Stabilisation & Peacebuilding, German Federal Foreign Office, Germany
• Ms. Rania Sharshr, Climate Action Director, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• Ms. Aminata Monékata, Head of Action Aid, Mali

Location

Plenary C
CICG

Learn more

• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2024). Navigating Fragility, Conflict and Violence to Strengthen Community Resilience: A Handbook for Disaster Risk Reduction Practitioners.
• Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (2024). Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID)
• Overseas Development Institute (2013). When Disasters and Conflicts Collide: Improving Links Between Disaster Resilience and Conflict Prevention.
• Overseas Development Institute (2023). Exploring Systemic Risk Management as a Contribution to the HDP Nexus: A Focus on Disaster Risk Reduction and Peacebuilding.
• United Nations Development Programme (2015). Disaster-Conflict Interface: Comparative Experiences.
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (2023). Evidence of positive progress on Disaster Risk Reduction in the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus: Thematic report to inform the Mid-Term Review of the Sendai Framework.
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (2024). Financing Disaster Risk Reduction in Crisis Settings
• United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peacebuilding Support Office (2024). Disaster Risk Reduction: Building Resilience in Fragile and Conflict-affected Contexts – Input Paper.
• United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2024). Global Humanitarian Overview 2025
• UNHCR (2024), No escape – On the frontlines of climate change, conflict and forced displacement