Risk governance for resilient development in the Pacific – workshop report

This report summarizes a series of workshops and meetings that were held for Pacific policy makers, disaster risk management practitioners and development partners in October 2019. Pacific small island states are among the most exposed and vulnerable in the world to disaster and climate risk. Five of the ten most at-risk countries are in the Pacific. This reflects the region’s isolation, limited economic diversification and extreme exposure levels. Better understanding and stronger governance of disaster and climate risk is the foundation of resilient and sustainable development. In this regard, Pacific small island states have led the world by adopting regional governance arrangements to strengthen a risk-informed approach to national development. Initially in terms of policy, and now increasingly in terms of legislation, Pacific small island states are looking at how to better integrate their approach to disaster and climate risk management to ensure more resilient development.

Key activities included the Pacific Resilience Partnership hosted workshop “legislating and policy making for climate smart DRM”, a pre youth forum and the first Pacific Resilience Partnership Technical Working Group on Risk Governance for Resilient Development was held. A number of recommendations resulted from the workshop which will be taken forward through the newly established Pacific Resilience Partnership Technical Working Group on Risk Governance for Resilient Development. In addition, the youth champions network will continue to be supported to ensure that their voice and active participation on risk governance matters is maximised.