Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction
As part of its continued commitment to strengthening disaster resilience in the Arab region, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Regional Office for Arab States (UNDRR ROAS) hosted a half-day online training on financing disaster risk reduction (DRR), gathering national DRR focal points, government officials, and technical experts from across the region.
The training aimed to enhance capacity in assessing disaster costs, resilience benefits, and investment needs, while building awareness on how to mobilize financing for DRR and climate adaptation through public, private, and international sources.
Strengthening Capacity to Finance Resilience
Opening the session, Ms. Nora Achkar, Chief of UNDRR ROAS, emphasized the importance of integrating DRR into economic planning and investment decisions. “Investing in disaster risk reduction is not just a moral obligation – it is a smart financial decision that safeguards development gains and builds resilience against future shocks,” Ms. Achkar stated.
The training built on UNDRR’s innovative five-step approach to DRR financing, which is being rolled out globally to help countries:
- Understand the financial consequences of disasters
- Track climate adaptation and DRR financing flows
- Identify investment needs
- Match needs with financing options
- Develop a DRR financing strategy
Expert Insights and Regional Perspectives
Participants benefited from a rich agenda featuring expert-led modules on understanding the financial consequences of disasters, tracking financing flows, assessing financial landscapes, identifying investment needs, and developing DRR financing strategies. The training also included insights on linking DRR financing to global processes such as G20 outcomes and international financing for development frameworks, as well as regional case studies showcasing innovative funding mechanisms to build national resilience.
Mohammed Jarefa, Head of Planning and Cooperation at Morocco’s Ministry of Interior, presented Morocco’s journey in DRR financing, highlighting innovative funding mechanisms to build national resilience.
The Urgency of Financing DRR
The training contextualized DRR financing within rising global disaster costs, with 2023 disaster losses estimated at over $250 billion, surpassing total official development assistance for that year. Participants discussed how current financing only meets 10–25% of DRR and climate adaptation investment needs in most countries, underlining the urgency to shift from reactive post-disaster spending to proactive risk reduction investments.
Key Outcomes and the Way Forward
The training concluded with an engaging discussion on:
- Barriers preventing increased DRR financing, including institutional challenges and limited policy incentives.
- Opportunities to optimize existing resources, integrate DRR into economic policy, and engage the private sector and capital markets in financing resilience solutions.
- The five-step approach in the national contexts and strengthening collaboration with UNDRR to bridge financing gaps for DRR and climate adaptation, ensuring a safer and more resilient Arab region.
Key Takeaways:
- Over 50 participants from Arab states enhanced their understanding of DRR financing strategies.
- The training built capacity to assess disaster costs and mobilize resources for resilience investments.
- Regional case studies, including Morocco’s financing journey, provided practical insights for implementation.
UNDRR ROAS will continue to support Arab states in developing integrated national financing frameworks that prioritize DRR, climate adaptation, and resilient infrastructure to protect lives and development gains in an era of increasing risk.