Regional leaders drive resilience with action-oriented disaster risk commitments

The Sixth High-Level Meeting on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 concluded today during the 13th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management (#CDM13), with regional ministers and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) at the forefront of efforts to advance resilience across the Americas and the Caribbean.

This pivotal meeting, chaired by his Excellency Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and co-hosted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and CDEMA, brought together ministers, high-level authorities, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) experts from 27 countries and 3 overseas territories to review progress, address challenges, and outline priorities for the region as it moves toward the Eighth Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2025 (#GP2025). With climate change and systemic risk increasingly impacting the region, the meeting served as a critical platform to reaffirm political commitment and drive unified action.

During the session, regional ministers adopted a Regional Progress Review mechanism, a new framework to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Regional Action Plan (RAP) for the Sendai Framework, updated on March 2023 during the VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean in Punta del Este, Uruguay. This new mechanism will provide actionable insights to strengthen DRR efforts and ensure accountability across participating states.

The meeting also defined key regional priorities to guide discussions at #GP2025, focusing on:

• Systemic risk management, addressing the interconnected vulnerabilities amplified by climate change.
• Resilient financing mechanisms, aimed at securing sustainable funding for DRR initiatives.
• Inclusive strategies, ensuring that resilience efforts incorporate the needs of marginalized groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

In addition, the ministers reaffirmed their support for critical initiatives such as the Early Warnings for All initiative (#EW4All) and the Gender Action Plan. These initiatives align regional efforts with global frameworks and emphasize the importance of inclusivity and innovation in disaster risk reduction. As the coordinating agency for disaster management in the Caribbean, CDEMA played a central role in the discussions, emphasizing the need for collaboration and shared responsibility among all member states. 

"We must ensure that DRR investment addresses disparities within and among countries. This includes a call to the international community to continue supporting the regions efforts in building resilient societies", said Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of UNDRR. "Every day counts in our collective mission to build resilience and safeguard communities from escalating risks.  This moment calls us to come together with urgency and hope, turning risk into resilience to build a safer, more sustainable future for all", he added.

The outcomes of this high-level meeting will serve as a foundation for the region’s engagement at #GP2025, where the Americas and Caribbean will advocate for solutions tailored to their unique challenges. The unified voice of the region, shaped by the leadership of these ministers, underscores their commitment to building resilience and safeguarding its communities against future risks.

Held in Saint Kitts and Nevis, the 13th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management serves as a region’s premier event for advancing disaster risk reduction and resilience-building. The conference brings together stakeholders from across the globe to share knowledge, foster partnerships, and drive action toward a safer, more sustainable future. 

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This story was first published by UNDRR.

Attachments

• Outcome Document 1.2 MB, PDF, English
• Documento de Resultados 1.3 MB, PDF, Spanish