Disaster Risk Reduction Champions

Senator Loren Legarda, who comes from a country often affected by typhoons, floods, landslides and volcanic eruptions, accepted her appointment as the Asia-Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction during the Third Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. As a DRR Champion Senator Legarda will help UNISDR promote the benefits of disaster risk reduction policies in countries and communities of the region that are most vulnerable to disasters.

DRR Champion, 2012-2014: As member of the UNISDR Advisory Group for Parliamentarians, Abdi delivered a speech on behalf of Margareta Wahlström, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction at the 2nd session of the African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology (AMCOMET) in Zimbabwe.

DRR Champion, 2012-2014: Mr Abdou Sané was first appointed as UNISDR's Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Champion for West Africa in 2010. Due to his continuous commitment to DRR at the national and regional level, UNISDR extended his appointment last year. As a DRR champion, Sane is advocating for the integration of disaster risk reduction in national budgets and promotes the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action in Africa.

DRR Champion, 2012-2014: Tioulong Saumura is currently a Member of Parliament for the Sam Rainsey Party, representing Phnom Penh and has been Vice-President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Standing Committee on Sustainable Development, Finance and Trade since 2007. She was invited to speak at a 2011 UN informal thematic debate on disaster risk reduction.

DRR Champion, 2012-2014: Alex Byarugaba Bakunda is a member of the Ugandan parliament, representing the Isingiro District. He also serves as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Member of the Public Accounts Committee and Member of the Forum on Climate Change Uganda. He created a DRR Forum which lobbies for implementation of the National Policy for Disaster Preparedness and Management and the development of a legal framework for DRR.

DRR Champion, 2012-2014: Saber Hossain Chowdhury currently chairs the Bangladesh Parliament’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change and Environment and is an active and influential Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Forests and Environment. He is also a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union’s Task Force on Climate Change. He is also a founder member of UNISDR's Parliamentarian Advisory Group for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Since 2010, UNISDR has begun recognizing individuals as "Making Cities Resilient" Champions, for using their political influence to lobby for disaster risk reduction in cities throughout their country or region. Their motivation often goes beyond professional interest, spurred by a passion for public service and an abiding commitment to build community resilience. This is a non-remunerated honorary position.