The second meeting of the G20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction concludes

The second meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group (DRRWG) of the Council of the G20 has concluded on May 25 in Mumbai, and technical and functional level officials have reached an understanding on the importance of disaster-resilient infrastructure and financing for disaster risk reduction as a central theme of any debate on disaster risk reduction.

Delegates deliberated on the desirability of an institutional framework that supports investments in infrastructure projects, avoids fragmentation and promotes the implementation of such infrastructure projects, and which should be fostered in the national legal framework of the G20 countries. In addition, the role of social protection systems in mitigating the impact of disasters on the most vulnerable population groups was a key topic of debate.

The exchange of good practices and case studies from G20 countries was also discussed. DRRWG (India) Chairman and Member-Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Shri Kamal Kishore, offered his support by collecting such data and jointly developing a compendium in the areas of Early Warning and Early Action, Resilient Infrastructures and Financing for Disaster Risk Reduction.

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Government delegates, DRR specialists, officials from UN agencies, representatives of community organizations, multilateral development banks and financial groups, as well as research organizations, formed the group of participants in the 2nd meeting of the DRRWG. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a major stakeholder, was also present at the deliberations.

The meeting concluded with an NDMA side event on green approaches to disaster risk reduction, organized in collaboration with knowledge partners such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the Major Group of the United Nations Committee on Children and Youth, UNEP and others.

parallel meetings

During the 2nd meeting of the DRRWG in Mumbai, which was attended by 122 delegates, a Private Sectors Roundtable focused on Disaster Risk Reduction Financing was held and attracted a large attendance. The discussion sought to understand the challenges that the private sector faces in finding the DRR space lucrative.

During the technical sessions, the G20 countries discussed a roadmap for the DRRWG for the next three years. The Indian Presidency believes that the troika countries and South Africa should take ownership of this initiative to carry it forward. It is hoped that disaster risk reduction will be mainstreamed into the policy space and that DRR financing instruments and mechanisms will help shift the paradigm of disaster response to one of anticipatory action and risk reduction.

The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, and Shri Kamal Kishore, Chairman of the Task Force and Member Secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

On the sidelines of the meeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Family Welfare launched a photo exhibition on “Safer and Future-proof Mumbai” organized by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Disaster Management Department. Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and Government of Maharashtra also attended. Mami Mizutori, Special Secretary to the United Nations Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction, was also present among the delegates.

DRRWG meeting

On the first day of the DRRWG meeting, discussions focused on the “Financing for Disaster Risk Reduction” priority, through a one-day side event that was further divided into sub-themes within the priority. . Delegates discussed various facets of city resilience, financing urban infrastructure, building future-proof urban infrastructure, etc.

Other important issues were also discussed at the meeting, such as the incentive for private investment, sectoral interventions, mechanisms related to insurance for reconstruction, and social protection mechanisms. This side event was attended by experts from key international organizations such as UNDP, OECD, IMF, ADB and EBRD.

the role of social protection systems in mitigating the impact of disasters on the most vulnerable population groups was a key topic of debate

The third and final meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction Task Force under the Indian G20 Chairmanship will be held in Chennai from 24-26 July 2023. The DRRWG is an initiative taken by India under its G20 Chairmanship. The first meeting of the DRRWG was held in Gandhinagar in March-April this year.

This initiative by India to include Disaster Risk Reduction in the G20 is part of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 to 2030 (Sendai Framework). This is the first major agreement to provide member states with a concrete action plan to protect development gains from catastrophic risk.