UN-Backed Disaster Risk Reduction Workshop Empowers African Nations to Address Loss and Damage

Strategic Insights -

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Santiago network Secretariat co-hosted a regional workshop in Senegal, from 22 to 24 July 2025, to equip developing countries to access technical assistance for averting, minimizing, and addressing loss and damage associated with climate change. Representatives from 34 national governments, including least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from Africa, attended the workshop to identify loss and damage priorities and prepare tailored requests for technical assistance under the Santiago network.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Santiago network is a key mechanism established in 2019 under the climate change global treaties to facilitate technical assistance in vulnerable developing countries.
  • The three-day workshop was attended by over 60 representatives from 34 national governments, supporting national liaisons to the Santiago network Secretariat, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) National Focal Points, and disaster risk reduction focal points in identifying loss and damage priorities.
  • Colonel Pape Assane Ndour, First Technical Advisor to the Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition of Senegal, highlighted the importance of the workshop for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in Africa, emphasizing the need for technical assistance to address loss and damage associated with climate change.
  • The workshop followed a participatory write-shop format, allowing countries to reflect on their national contexts, map capacity gaps, and articulate specific technical assistance needs.
  • Sessions addressed the importance of comprehensive risk management, transboundary cooperation, and inclusive approaches.
  • Christopher Bartlett, national liaison to the Santiago network Secretariat of Vanuatu, pointed out the importance of the network, highlighting its responsive support in translating high-level goals into a concrete, tailored technical assistance plan.
  • Members of the Santiago network include local, national, and international organizations, bodies, networks, and experts (OBNEs) with diverse expertise and experience, providing services such as climate risk modeling, policy advisory, early warning systems development, nature-based solutions, and institutional capacity-building.

Statistics:

  • Over 60 representatives from 34 national governments attended the workshop.
  • The Santiago network was established in 2019.
  • The workshop was held from 22 to 24 July 2025.
  • The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Santiago network Secretariat co-hosted the workshop.
  • The Santiago network has Members from local, national, and international organizations, bodies, networks, and experts (OBNEs) with diverse expertise and experience.

Sources:

  • UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction Regional workshop in Senegal equips developing countries to access technical assistance for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage.
  • MIL OSI United Nations News (http://milnz.co.nz/mil-osi-aggregation/)
  • Contify.com