Africa Regional Platform for DRR: Adoption of the Windhoek Declaration

After three days of intense discussions, Ministers and Heads of delegations responsible for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa have adopted the Windhoek Declaration on advancing the program of action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

This was achieved after the presentation of and debate on the declaration at the Eight High Level Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction held alongside the 9th Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Windhoek, Namibia.

The declaration expresses the common commitment of African states to strengthen the resilience of African communities to natural disasters.

The members of the African Union, heads of international organizations and other delegates present in Windhoek consider the declaration a major success in the implementation of the Sendai Framework.

The Inter-Ministerial Commission chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister of Namibia, John MUTORWA called on Member States, Regional Economic Communities and the African Union Commission to proactively address disaster-induced displacement at all levels by integrating disaster risk reduction, climate change and environmental management into development strategies and plans.

The declaration urged Member States, Regional Economic Communities, the African Union Commission and other stakeholders to bolster and prioritize science-based approaches to disaster risk reduction.

It also mandates the African Union Commission to coordinate the development of the Africa Common Position to the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.