2nd Africa Regional Platform: Participants Accept Recommendations to the 2009 Global Platform

The event themed “Accelerate progress in implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) and the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR” was organized by the Commission of the African Union (AUC) and the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).

View the full IISD ARC briefing note on the second Africa regional platform for disaster risk reduction consultative meeting

Second Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction Consultative Meeting, 5-7 May 2009, Nairobi, Kenya

The African Union Commission (AUC) and the secretariat of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) have the pleasure to announce the Second Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction Consultative Meeting scheduled from 5 to 7 May 2009 at the United Nations Complex in Nairobi, Kenya.

For more information contact Géraldine Boezio at ISDR-Africa@unep.org or view full event information.

Preparatory Meeting for the Second Regional Platform Consultation and Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa Hilton Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya 1-5 December 2008

A five-day meeting was held from 1st to 5th of December in Nairobi, Kenya, - under the auspices of the African Union Commission (AUC) and with the support of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) - bringing together the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), National Focal Points on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), regional technical institutions, UN agencies and the World Bank.

For more information contact Géraldine Boezio at ISDR-Africa@unep.org or view full event information.

Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction and Assessing Disaster Damages and Losses in Development

A four day workshop was held between the 14 th and 17 th of April in Dakar, Senegal bringing together DRR focal points from over 30 countries in Sub Saharan Africa including government officials (National Platform/HFA Focal Points/Ministry of Finance senior members), World Bank and UNDP staff, African Union representatives, African Development Bank staff and DRR partner institutions/civil society/academic institutions.

The purpose of the training workshop was to expose participants to the conceptual framework aswell as the practical application of methodological tools for integrating DRR into development processes and for assessing disaster damage and loss. Participants were also better informed on FDRR Tracks II and III. The upcoming Regional Platform meeting planned for the second half of September, in conjunction with the second nisterial Council meeting for the African Strategy for DRR was cited as the next milestone event to review regional progress and to develop plans of action.

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UN/ISDR secretariat and WHO Launch the World Disaster Reduction Campaign 2008-2009 on 25 January 2008 in Davos

The World Disaster Reduction Campaign 2008-2009: 'Hospitals Safe from Disasters' is a global campaign being launched in Davos, Switzerland on 25 January, by the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) and the World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the World Bank.

The campaign will focus on structural safety of hospitals and health facilities, on keeping health facilities functioning during and after disasters, and on making sure health workers are prepared for natural hazards striking.

Press Release: English - French

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Stop Disasters Game

The secretariat of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction launches an on-line game aimed at teaching children how to build safer villages and cities against disasters. This initiative comes within the 2006-2007 World Disaster Reduction Campaign “Disaster Risk Reduction Begins at School”.

To access the game please visit: http://www.stopdisastersgame.org

ECOWAS Policy and Mechanisms for Disaster Risk Reduction

The 31th Summit of ECOWAS Heads of States held on 19 January 2007 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, adopted the ECOWAS Policy and Mechanisms for Disaster Risk Reduction. At the request of the ECOWAS Secretariat, UN/ISDR Africa provided its support in the development of the Policy framework, whose implementation would focus on areas of importance to the West African situation under the guidance of the Africa Union Strategy for disaster risk reduction and the Hyogo Framework for Action.

English - French