Country: World Source: UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction New York, 18 July 2025 – Thirty-six UN entities met in New York and online for the 10th meeting of the United Nations Senior Leadership Group on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience (UN SLG). The discussion, chaired by Mr. Kamal Kishore, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), focused on concrete measures to further strengthen disaster risk reduction (DRR) and align coordinated UN support with country and local priorities.Mr. Kishore opened the meeting by emphasizing the need to collectively translate commitments into tangible results at all levels. He urged UN SLG members to empower countries and communities to lead on DRR.“Disaster risk reduction is an essential condition for making progress on Sustainable Development Goals, so it is not something which is optional”. (Kamal Kishore, SRSG)Resident Coordinators brought perspectives from the field, reflecting on both achievements and challenges on advancing DRR through UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks. Mr. Dirk Wagener, Resident Coordinator for Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu highlighted key achievements in the Pacific region, including anticipatory financing, parametric climate insurance, early warning systems and community-driven resilience programs, while calling for expanded DRR financing, better data and technology systems, integrated cross-sector planning and stronger local leadership aligned with the priority actions identified in the Geneva Call for DRR.“The Pacific may be small in landmass, but it is vast in leadership, innovation and resilience. As a UN system, our role is to amplify that leadership, support integrated solutions grounded in traditional knowledge, gender responsiveness, inclusiveness and human rights”. (Dirk Wagener, RC for Pacific Multi-Country Office)Ms. Parvathy Ramaswami, Resident Coordinator for Tajikistan, outlined the success of the country’s Early Warnings for All initiative, aligned with its national DRR strategy, in strengthening response and reducing hazards impacts, emphasizing “the importance of government ownership, as well as the convening power of the UN Resident Coordinator System and the UN Country Team to deliver at multiple levels.” Both made suggestions to tackle challenges, including the need for behavioral change at the community level and addressing resource and institutional constraints.“We have to address all of our activities in these multiple levels [national, sub-national and local] to really get the big impact and the change that we want”. (Parvathy Ramaswami, RC for Tajikistan)Following reflections from UN agencies collectively reinforced the Resident Coordinators’ call for joint action to strengthen resilience beyond national levels, through innovative financing, inclusive community leadership, stronger data systems and cross-sector approaches that address the root causes of risk.These priorities echo the 2024 Progress Report on the UN Plan of Action for Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience, which was launched during the meeting together with its multimedia page showcasing good practices and impact stories. the 2024 progress report reflects achievements from early 40 UN entities, including on supporting the development and implementation of DRR strategies in 106 countries and risk-informing all UN Cooperation Frameworks adopted in 2024. The report underscores the need for scaled-up DRR financing, embedding risk reduction across sectors, and strengthening inclusion and local-level implementation, including advancing the Sendai Gender Action Plan.The UN SLG reaffirmed its role as a forum to align system-wide action and ensure mutual reinforcement in helping countries build resilience. The meeting’s outcomes will inform joint efforts to translate global commitments into country-level results and support communities most at risk.Editors' recommendationsSendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience2024 UN Plan of Action Progress ReportSendai Gender Action Plan