The theme of the 6th session of Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) is ‘Resilience Dividend: Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Societies’. We are co-organising, participating and speaking at many sessions there, and sharing our ideas about Nature Based Solutions (NBS) and ecosystem based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR). So, please block the time for the events below and join us!

Wednesday, 15 May

Partners for Resilience networking event
We bend, we do not break: Integrated approaches to building resilience

When: 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Where: Forum Genève, 11-19 Rue de Lausanne, #12011201 Genève, Switzerland

Synopsis: Partners for Resilience (PfR), together with the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), The Nature Conservancy, and the Partnership for Environment and Disaster Risk Reduction (PEDDR) is organising an exclusive networking event, that will present integrated approaches to building disaster risk reduction and resilience. The work of these organisations will be showcased to enable multi-stakeholder dialogue and programs that build and strengthen community resilience by integrating climate risks and ecosystem solutions. We, as a part of Partners for Resilience, welcome both attendees of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) and the general public to attend this engaging evening.

Click here to download Partners for Resilience Policy Recommendations for GPDRR.

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Thursday, 16 May

High Level Dialogue 4
Leaving no one behind– investing in local action and empowering those most at risk

When: 14:30 –16:00
Where: Room 1

Synopsis: This session will share examples of how local level vulnerable group mapping, the use of disaggregated data by gender, age, disabilities and other relevant attributes can helpfully guide decision-making for more inclusive DRR. It will also demonstrate the benefits of engaging the poorest, most marginalised and vulnerable groups in designing and implementing disaster risk reduction strategies and plans that aim to reach every person at risk of, or impacted by disasters. The session will advocate for the need for more attention to DRR in fragile and conflict-affected countries and regions, where many of the poorest and most marginalised people live.

Side Event
Do’s and don’ts of disaster risk reduction strategy development

When: 12:30 –14:00
Where: Room Lausanne

Synopsis: Organised by Capacity for Disaster Reduction Initiative (CADRI), this fireside discussion on the practical lessons aims to design a people centred DRR strategy. This dialogue brings together four countries to showcase the progress made towards the achievement of Sendai Framework global target (e) and share their experience about the do’s and don’ts of DRR strategy development. Government and non-state actors will reflect on challenges of facilitating multi-sectoral approaches, localising national DRR strategies or integrating DRR in national and local plans.

Friday, 17 May

High Level Plenary Session
The role of green, blue and grey infrastructure in reducing disaster risk

When: 11:00 –12:30
Where: Room 4

Synopsis: This working session will promote an informed dialogue on ways to better align or complement green, blue and grey infrastructure investments. Participants will discuss comparative advantages of evenly developing these infrastructure components through concrete examples, and explore optimal benefits. Monitoring of their role and status, using Sendai Framework targets (c) and (d), and different means to overcome the lack of data and feasibility perceptions will be discussed.

Click here to download the issue brief for this event. 

High Level Plenary Session
Integrated risk management, ecosystems and water-related risks

When: 14:30 –16:00
Where: Room 3

Synopsis: The session will discuss the wide range of water risk and complexity of the challenge, showcase good examples of integrated risk management and set out the key areas where substantial policy improvements and investments could be made. The session will also highlight the key policy measures across different water risks and sectors, and demonstrate practical examples of replicable and scale-able ecosystem-based approaches, particularly in the water sector. Perspectives of different stakeholders, engineers, policymakers, investors and donors will be shared. Our CEO, Jane Madgwick will speak in this Plenary Session.

Click here to download the full detail of this event.

Click here to download the issue brief of this event.

High Level Plenary Session
Cities on the forefront of achieving inclusive climate and disaster resilience

When: 14:30– 16:00
Where: Room 2

Synopsis: This working session presents an opportunity to showcase the experience of local actors and stakeholders in achieving the vision for resilient and sustainable cities through these partnerships. It aims to demonstrate the practical ‘how to’ examples and innovative ideas from a diverse range of cities, not only on what was done right, but also what may have been wrong and what we can learn from this. The session will discuss current bottlenecks as well as gaps and needs for action to step up city-level action for disaster and climate resilience.

High Level Plenary Session
Ensuring coordination in the development and implementation of National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)

When: 11:00– 12:30
Where: Room 3

Synopsis: Putting climate and disaster risk management at the heart of development requires long term vision, political and stakeholder support, as well as governance capacity. Increasingly, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) are integral to development approaches. The working session will showcase how a coordinated approach to the development and implementation of National DRR Strategies and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) can help build on progress and overcome challenges in terms of strengthening local and national resilience.

IGNITE stage presentation

Inclusive blue-green flood risk infrastructure in cities

Date and time: 16 May, 16:15 -16:30

Synopsis: In many cities, urban planning of water infrastructure is a top-down process that largely focuses on conventional “grey” measures of concrete, channelisation of rivers and drainage canals and pipes. Vulnerable communities are often heavily affected by these infrastructural works but not involved in planning, design and decision making, potentially even worsening their living conditions and increasing vulnerability to risks. Our examples show how an inclusive approach that brings the affected communities on board and incorporates nature-based solutions for Green-Blue Infrastructure reduce flood risk in cities from different continents. This approach allows for locally supported disaster risk reduction solutions that provide important co-benefits for people and nature.