DECLARATION OF THE FIFTH HIGH LEVEL MEETING ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION, MAURITIUS ON 25 NOVEMBER 2016

Mauritius Declaration on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework in Africa

We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegations responsible for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa having met in Mauritius on 25 November 2016 on the occasion of the Fifth High Level Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction, following the Sixth Session of the Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, 22 – 24 November 2016:

Appreciate the hospitality and warm welcome accorded to the conference delegates by the Government and the people of the Republic of Mauritius and commend them for their achievements towards disaster risk reduction;

Recognise the increasing impact of disasters and their complexity in Africa, exacerbated by climate change and variability, environmental degradation and unplanned urbanisation, and defined by growing vulnerabilities resulting in loss of life and livelihoods, which undermine efforts to achieve sustainable development;

Value the important role played by the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (2004), its Extended Programme of Action (2006-2015), the ‘Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters’, and other international frameworks in building a culture of safety and resilience;

Recall the decision of the African Union Executive Council at its 24th session, January 2015 [EX.CL/Dec.858 (XXVI)], requesting the African Union Commission to facilitate the review of the Extended Programme of Action for the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction in line with the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction;

Further recall the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (the Sendai Framework), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement on climate change, the New Urban Agenda and the outcomes of the World Humanitarian Summit, and their contribution in realisation of the ‘Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want’;

Note the recommendation of the United Nations General Assembly’s Open-ended Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Terminology and Indicators relating to Disaster Risk Reduction;

Build on the ‘Yaoundé Declaration on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework in Africa’, and the efforts undertaken for its implementation, including the resolve to align the Programme of Action for Implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction with the Sendai Framework;

Recognise the significance of global, continental, regional, national and local efforts to implement the Sendai Framework and its priorities for action to build and enhance resilience to disasters together with multiple stakeholders;

Emphasise the importance of the Africa Working Group and Africa Regional Platform, the sub-regional platforms and national platforms for disaster risk reduction in strengthening multi-sectoral disaster risk reduction, coordination and implementation;

Recognise the support provided by the European Union as part of cooperation with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and other Development Partners, UN agencies, and Financial Institutions;

Declare our determination to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.

Hereby:

Endorse the ‘Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030’ (Programme of Action) in Africa as recommended by the Sixth Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction;
Call upon all African States, Regional Economic Communities, Local Authorities, key stakeholders and all development partners to align their plans, strategies, programmes and actions with the Sendai Framework and the Programme of Action;
Commit to risk-informed development by preventing new and reducing existing disaster risk, through the implementation of integrated and inclusive measures that prevent and reduce hazard exposure and vulnerability to disasters and increase preparedness for response, recovery and reconstruction thereby strengthening resilience;
Further recommend to significantly increase the allocation of annual national budget for disaster risk reduction;
Promote integrated approaches for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation, including through facilitating access to climate financing mechanisms and adopting ecosystem-based approaches;
Promote south-south, north-south and triangular cooperation for enhancing and consolidating disaster resilience in Africa, including the cooperation among the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States;
Request the African Union Commission to widely disseminate and coordinate the implementation, monitoring and review of the Programme of Action with support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR);
Call upon African States to strengthen the monitoring of disaster risk reduction as guided by the Open-ended Inter-governmental Expert Working Group on Indicators and Terminology relating to Disaster Risk Reduction, coherent with the work of the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators;
Call upon UNISDR to continue providing institutional and policy support for the implementation, follow-up and review of disaster risk reduction in Africa, with the African Union Commission and Regional Economic Communities;
Request the United Nations and other international and regional organisations, international and regional financial institutions, and donor agencies to incorporate disaster risk reduction measures into multilateral and bilateral development assistance programmes, to enhance the coordination of their strategies;
Further request international financial institutions, including the African Development Bank and the World Bank, to consider the priorities of the Programme of Action when providing financial and technical support for integrated approaches to disaster risk reduction;
Reiterate the need for the African Union to ensure the implementation of disaster risk reduction efforts in Africa, inter-alia, by continuing to strengthen institutional and political commitment;
Mandate the Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction to coordinate the development of the Africa Position to be presented at the 2017 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction to be held in Cancun, Mexico from 22-26 May 2017, based on the outcomes of the Sixth Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction;
Submit the Mauritius Declaration and the Programme of Action to the African Union policy organs for endorsement.