Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
The increasing frequency and intensity of disasters, exacerbated by climate change, highlight the urgent need to strengthen risk reduction and preparedness within humanitarian action. However, financing these critical interventions remains a challenge, as humanitarian funding cycles often prioritize short-term response over long-term resilience.
Designed for Signatories of the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations, this webinar will explore opportunities for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction (DRR) into humanitarian programming and identify financing mechanisms for DRR, early warning (EW) and anticipatory action (AA). Through expert discussions and real-world case studies, participants will gain insights into practical approaches for securing funding and addressing systemic barriers to resource mobilization.
This event is co-convened by the Secretariat for the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Risk-Informed Early Action Partnership (REAP).
Session Objectives
The outcomes of this session will contribute to global discussions at key events in 2025, including the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Week (HNPW), the European Humanitarian Forum (EHF) and the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025).
The webinar further aims to:
- Enhance awareness of opportunities to integrate and finance long-term preparedness, DRR and climate adaptation within humanitarian action.
- Introduce financing mechanisms available for DRR and EW/early action, supported by case studies and best practices.
- Share technical expertise and resources for mainstreaming DRR into humanitarian programming.
- Identify barriers and support needs for securing funding for climate, environment and DRR activities.
- Synthesize key financing challenges faced by humanitarian actors to inform global policy discussions on resource mobilization.
Speakers
- Emilia Wahlstrom, Programme Management Officer, UNDRR
- Ben Webster, Head of Secretariat, REAP
- Sandra Ruiz Romero, Policy Officer, Disaster Preparedness, DG ECHO
- Natasha Westheimer, Co-Coordinator, Climate and Environment Charter Secretariat
- Paul Moyo, Disaster Management Coordinator, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society
- Nick Ireland, Director of Climate Change, Save the Children
- Sam Abdo, Environment Protection Specialist, Yemen Family Care Association (YFCA)
- Casmiri Djoko, National Coordinator, Humanitarian Action for Africa (HAA)