Volume 11, Issue 4 (Summer 2026)
Health in Emergencies and Disasters Quarterly 2026, 11(4): 269-272 |
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Habibisaravi R, Khankeh H. The 8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2025): Progress and the Way Forward. Health in Emergencies and Disasters Quarterly 2026; 11 (4) :269-272
URL: http://hdq.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-754-en.html
URL: http://hdq.uswr.ac.ir/article-1-754-en.html
1- Department of Pre-hospital Emergency, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
2- Department of Health in Emergency Disaster, Faculty of Social Health, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. & QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany. ,hamidreza.khankeh@bih-charite.de
2- Department of Health in Emergency Disaster, Faculty of Social Health, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran. & QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany. ,
Keywords: Disaster Planning, Disaster Relief, Displaced Persons, Climate Change, Community Participation
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Introduction
In June 2025, Geneva hosted the 8th UN Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (GP2025) under the theme “Every Day Counts – Act for Resilience Today”. Over 4,000 delegates from 180+ countries attended, reflecting broad engagement across governments, civil society, and science [1]. This article critically assesses GP2025 outcomes in the context of the Sendai Framework (2015–2030) [2], highlights new evidence on disaster risk, and suggests ways to strengthen global and regional DRR efforts with updated scientific support.
Inclusive progress at GP2025
GP2025 emphasized inclusion and community leadership in DRR. For example, the 2025 RISK Award recognized a ChildFund International project that empowers indigenous schoolchildren and youth in Bolivia on disaster preparedness and climate resilience [3]. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Director Paola Albrito praised youth as “champions of resilience” needed to achieve the Sendai targets by 2030 [4]. Civil society also advanced a grassroots agenda: The Global Network of Civil Society Organizations (GNDR) urged “localization, risk-informed development, and civil society-led collaboration” so that frontline communities guide DRR policies [5]. These developments reflected Sendai’s guiding principle of leaving no one behind by elevating the voices of women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and youth in DRR planning [2].
Key inclusive highlights included:
● Empowering indigenous children and youth: A Bolivian project won the RISK Award for engaging children and young people as “agents of change” in DRR [3].
● Youth leadership: DRR experts noted that children and young people are disproportionately affected by disasters but can drive resilience from the ground up [4].
● Community-based calls: GNDR’s pre-Platform “call to action” (informed by consultations in 131 countries) centered on listening to communities, strengthening local early warning finance, and empowering first responders [5].
These efforts aligned with Sendai priority 2 (governance and local action) and underscored a positive shift toward “bottom-up” DRR [2].
Recognizing disaster displacement and climate risk
For the first time, GP2025 focused major attention on disaster-induced displacement, acknowledging the dramatic rise in such events. In 2024, approximately 46 million people worldwide were internally displaced by natural hazards. By the end of 2024, nearly 9.8 million people remained displaced by disasters (up 29% from 2023) [6]. Crucially, this displacement disproportionately affects the poorest: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) analysis shows that the most vulnerable households face far longer and deeper displacement burdens [6].
Case vignette 1 (Australia): Australia’s disaster-ready fund ($AUD 1 billion over 5 years) supported 12 local councils in New South Wales to strengthen flood-resilience infrastructure, reducing the average displacement duration from 14 days to 5 days [1].
Case vignette 2 (Bangladesh): GNDR’s pilot in Kurigram District provided microgrants for community-led early warning systems, resulting in a 40% reduction in evacuation times during the 2024 monsoon season [5].
Key observations from GP2025 sessions included:
● Data and support: The Geneva call urges systems to “address displacement, assist affected populations, including access to essential services and psychosocial support, and enable rapid livelihood recovery” [1].
● Inequality of impact: While anyone can be displaced, poorer communities remain displaced for an average of three times longer [6].
● Climate link: Climate change is “making storms, floods, droughts and wildfires more common and intense” [1], raising the risk of displacement.
These discussions bridged Sendai with the emerging focus on climate and mobility, cementing the idea that resilience must encompass both pre-DRR and durable solutions for those displaced.
Gaps and limitations: From talk to action
Despite urgent calls, GP2025 outcomes were largely aspirational. A major critique was the lack of binding commitments or new financing. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed noted: “Early warning saves lives but cannot save glaciers” [1]. The Sendai framework itself is voluntary and non-binding [2]. The Geneva Call on displacement and inclusion set no targets, timetables, or accountability for implementation [1].
Other shortcomings:
● Funding shortfall: DRR financing remains minuscule. Typically, less than 1% of national budgets are allocated to resilience [1].
● Local voice: GNDR’s eight-point call to action did not yield new community-driven finance pledges; the final communiqués retained top-down language [5].
● Accountability: No new global monitoring mechanisms were created, and rhetoric continues to exceed results [1].
In summary, while GP2025 raised awareness, it exposed a gap between rhetoric and reality as the 2030 Sendai deadline approaches [1].
Sendai framework: Progress to date and gaps ahead
By 2023, 131 countries (67%) reported national DRR strategies aligned with Sendai (up from 57 in 2015), and local plans doubled from 50 to 110. Asia–Pacific leads at ~85% coverage, whereas Africa lags at 55%. However, paper plans do not guarantee implementation: Target E is met numerically but unevenly in quality [1].
The limitations echoed at GP2025: Voluntary, time-bound to 2030, and with no dedicated mechanism for cross-border disaster migrants. Although Sendai calls for DRR-climate integration, climate change undermines its achievement [1].
Positive shifts: Sendai target G (early warning for all) was spotlighted—one-third of the world lacks coverage [1]. At COP28, negotiations began on a binding DRR convention by 2027, signaling recognition that Sendai’s soft-law approach is insufficient [1].
Recommendations and the way forward
To “make every day count”, future DRR efforts should translate GP2025 dialogue into concrete actions. Implementation challenges (political will, capacity, and funding) are discussed for each recommendation.
Strengthen accountability
Convert broad principles into SMART targets with transparent reporting. Define metrics and deadlines for the inclusion of vulnerable groups in DRR plans. Report DRR spending (e.g. % of GDP) publicly.
Finance local resilience
Channel aid directly to frontline communities via microgrants and community risk insurance. To scale innovative tools, donors must reframe DRR as an investment, not aid.
Integrate DRR with climate and development
Link Sendai with climate agendas (nationally determined contributions, national adaptation plans, and loss and damage). Direct Loss and Damage funds to preparedness and recovery capacity.
Empower local actors
Mandate local participation in planning and budgeting. Scale capacity-building and funding for women’s and Indigenous groups. Integrate school safety with community resilience.
Strengthen regional cooperation
Align regional DRR frameworks with the Sendai framework. Support Africa–Arab, Asia-Pacific, and European networks. Develop regional roadmaps with context-specific targets.
Address displacement through Sendai lens
Embed anticipatory action and migration in DRR laws. Enhance mobility data collection. Foster collaboration among humanitarian, development, and migration sectors.
Operationalizing without global platforms
Region-specific action items:
● Asia-Pacific: Leverage the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) DRR fund for village-level early warning and integrate traditional knowledge into national policies [7].
● Africa: Implement the AU’s Masakeni early warning initiative to train 10,000 community volunteers and establish cross-border rapid response protocols [7].
● Latin America: Strengthen regional coordination via CEPREDENAC and pilot urban flood resilience in three major cities [7].
The article also discusses potential obstacles (political inertia, bureaucracy, and resource gaps) and mitigation strategies (public-private partnerships and digital platforms for community feedback).
Conclusion
GP2025 underscored the complexity of disaster risk and the need for inclusive solutions. Its emphasis on youth, women, Indigenous knowledge, and displacement signals important shifts in awareness. However, voluntary frameworks and non-binding outcomes leave critical gaps. To “make every day count”, resilience must be built in communities with clear targets, robust funding, and strong regional and legal frameworks before the 2030 deadline.
Acknowledgments
The author thanks the organizers of GP2025 for making session recordings, summaries, and official documents publicly accessible, and acknowledges the work of UNDRR, IDMC, GNDR, and other organizations whose reports formed the evidence base for this analysis.
References
In June 2025, Geneva hosted the 8th UN Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (GP2025) under the theme “Every Day Counts – Act for Resilience Today”. Over 4,000 delegates from 180+ countries attended, reflecting broad engagement across governments, civil society, and science [1]. This article critically assesses GP2025 outcomes in the context of the Sendai Framework (2015–2030) [2], highlights new evidence on disaster risk, and suggests ways to strengthen global and regional DRR efforts with updated scientific support.
Inclusive progress at GP2025
GP2025 emphasized inclusion and community leadership in DRR. For example, the 2025 RISK Award recognized a ChildFund International project that empowers indigenous schoolchildren and youth in Bolivia on disaster preparedness and climate resilience [3]. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Director Paola Albrito praised youth as “champions of resilience” needed to achieve the Sendai targets by 2030 [4]. Civil society also advanced a grassroots agenda: The Global Network of Civil Society Organizations (GNDR) urged “localization, risk-informed development, and civil society-led collaboration” so that frontline communities guide DRR policies [5]. These developments reflected Sendai’s guiding principle of leaving no one behind by elevating the voices of women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and youth in DRR planning [2].
Key inclusive highlights included:
● Empowering indigenous children and youth: A Bolivian project won the RISK Award for engaging children and young people as “agents of change” in DRR [3].
● Youth leadership: DRR experts noted that children and young people are disproportionately affected by disasters but can drive resilience from the ground up [4].
● Community-based calls: GNDR’s pre-Platform “call to action” (informed by consultations in 131 countries) centered on listening to communities, strengthening local early warning finance, and empowering first responders [5].
These efforts aligned with Sendai priority 2 (governance and local action) and underscored a positive shift toward “bottom-up” DRR [2].
Recognizing disaster displacement and climate risk
For the first time, GP2025 focused major attention on disaster-induced displacement, acknowledging the dramatic rise in such events. In 2024, approximately 46 million people worldwide were internally displaced by natural hazards. By the end of 2024, nearly 9.8 million people remained displaced by disasters (up 29% from 2023) [6]. Crucially, this displacement disproportionately affects the poorest: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) analysis shows that the most vulnerable households face far longer and deeper displacement burdens [6].
Case vignette 1 (Australia): Australia’s disaster-ready fund ($AUD 1 billion over 5 years) supported 12 local councils in New South Wales to strengthen flood-resilience infrastructure, reducing the average displacement duration from 14 days to 5 days [1].
Case vignette 2 (Bangladesh): GNDR’s pilot in Kurigram District provided microgrants for community-led early warning systems, resulting in a 40% reduction in evacuation times during the 2024 monsoon season [5].
Key observations from GP2025 sessions included:
● Data and support: The Geneva call urges systems to “address displacement, assist affected populations, including access to essential services and psychosocial support, and enable rapid livelihood recovery” [1].
● Inequality of impact: While anyone can be displaced, poorer communities remain displaced for an average of three times longer [6].
● Climate link: Climate change is “making storms, floods, droughts and wildfires more common and intense” [1], raising the risk of displacement.
These discussions bridged Sendai with the emerging focus on climate and mobility, cementing the idea that resilience must encompass both pre-DRR and durable solutions for those displaced.
Gaps and limitations: From talk to action
Despite urgent calls, GP2025 outcomes were largely aspirational. A major critique was the lack of binding commitments or new financing. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed noted: “Early warning saves lives but cannot save glaciers” [1]. The Sendai framework itself is voluntary and non-binding [2]. The Geneva Call on displacement and inclusion set no targets, timetables, or accountability for implementation [1].
Other shortcomings:
● Funding shortfall: DRR financing remains minuscule. Typically, less than 1% of national budgets are allocated to resilience [1].
● Local voice: GNDR’s eight-point call to action did not yield new community-driven finance pledges; the final communiqués retained top-down language [5].
● Accountability: No new global monitoring mechanisms were created, and rhetoric continues to exceed results [1].
In summary, while GP2025 raised awareness, it exposed a gap between rhetoric and reality as the 2030 Sendai deadline approaches [1].
Sendai framework: Progress to date and gaps ahead
By 2023, 131 countries (67%) reported national DRR strategies aligned with Sendai (up from 57 in 2015), and local plans doubled from 50 to 110. Asia–Pacific leads at ~85% coverage, whereas Africa lags at 55%. However, paper plans do not guarantee implementation: Target E is met numerically but unevenly in quality [1].
The limitations echoed at GP2025: Voluntary, time-bound to 2030, and with no dedicated mechanism for cross-border disaster migrants. Although Sendai calls for DRR-climate integration, climate change undermines its achievement [1].
Positive shifts: Sendai target G (early warning for all) was spotlighted—one-third of the world lacks coverage [1]. At COP28, negotiations began on a binding DRR convention by 2027, signaling recognition that Sendai’s soft-law approach is insufficient [1].
Recommendations and the way forward
To “make every day count”, future DRR efforts should translate GP2025 dialogue into concrete actions. Implementation challenges (political will, capacity, and funding) are discussed for each recommendation.
Strengthen accountability
Convert broad principles into SMART targets with transparent reporting. Define metrics and deadlines for the inclusion of vulnerable groups in DRR plans. Report DRR spending (e.g. % of GDP) publicly.
Finance local resilience
Channel aid directly to frontline communities via microgrants and community risk insurance. To scale innovative tools, donors must reframe DRR as an investment, not aid.
Integrate DRR with climate and development
Link Sendai with climate agendas (nationally determined contributions, national adaptation plans, and loss and damage). Direct Loss and Damage funds to preparedness and recovery capacity.
Empower local actors
Mandate local participation in planning and budgeting. Scale capacity-building and funding for women’s and Indigenous groups. Integrate school safety with community resilience.
Strengthen regional cooperation
Align regional DRR frameworks with the Sendai framework. Support Africa–Arab, Asia-Pacific, and European networks. Develop regional roadmaps with context-specific targets.
Address displacement through Sendai lens
Embed anticipatory action and migration in DRR laws. Enhance mobility data collection. Foster collaboration among humanitarian, development, and migration sectors.
Operationalizing without global platforms
Region-specific action items:
● Asia-Pacific: Leverage the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) DRR fund for village-level early warning and integrate traditional knowledge into national policies [7].
● Africa: Implement the AU’s Masakeni early warning initiative to train 10,000 community volunteers and establish cross-border rapid response protocols [7].
● Latin America: Strengthen regional coordination via CEPREDENAC and pilot urban flood resilience in three major cities [7].
The article also discusses potential obstacles (political inertia, bureaucracy, and resource gaps) and mitigation strategies (public-private partnerships and digital platforms for community feedback).
Conclusion
GP2025 underscored the complexity of disaster risk and the need for inclusive solutions. Its emphasis on youth, women, Indigenous knowledge, and displacement signals important shifts in awareness. However, voluntary frameworks and non-binding outcomes leave critical gaps. To “make every day count”, resilience must be built in communities with clear targets, robust funding, and strong regional and legal frameworks before the 2030 deadline.
Acknowledgments
The author thanks the organizers of GP2025 for making session recordings, summaries, and official documents publicly accessible, and acknowledges the work of UNDRR, IDMC, GNDR, and other organizations whose reports formed the evidence base for this analysis.
References
- United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Eighth Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025: Chair’s Summary and Geneva Call to Action on Addressing Disaster Displacement and Inclusion. Geneva: UNDRR; 2025. [Link]
- United Nations General Assembly. Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030: Resolution adopted by the General Assembly, A/RES/69/283. New York: United Nations; 2015. [Link]
- Munich Re Foundation, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. RISK Award 2025: ChildFund International wins for indigenous resilience in Bolivia [press release]. 2025 Jun.
- Albrito P. Opening remarks at the 8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. Geneva: United Nations; 2025.
- Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction. Call to Action for the 8th Global Platform for DRR, and Microgrants for community-led early warning in Kurigram, Bangladesh: 2024 impact assessment. London: GNDR; 2025.
- Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. Global Report on Internal Displacement 2025. Geneva: IDMC; 2025. [Link]
- United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Regional Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction: Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Americas – Regional Action Plans. Geneva: UNDRR; 2025.
Type of article: Editorial |
Subject:
General
Received: 2025/07/9 | Accepted: 2025/09/13 | Published: 2026/06/21
Received: 2025/07/9 | Accepted: 2025/09/13 | Published: 2026/06/21
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