The 12th Arab Partnership for Disaster Risk Reduction Meeting was held in Tunis on 11 October 2026, under the theme “From commitments to joint action: An open regional dialogue on risk-informed development and resilience, ” with the participation of representatives from Arab countries, the League of Arab States, United Nations entities, regional organizations, development partners, and Arab stakeholder groups. The meeting aimed to review progress in implementing the Arab Prioritized Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025–2027, discuss regional priorities, and identify opportunities for cooperation and joint actions to accelerate the implementation of the plan. The meeting featured four strategic dialogues, including presentations on progress achieved and regional priorities, interactive voting to identify priority actions, and open discussions between governments and stakeholders. Understanding disaster risk to make better decisions Participants identified three main priorities: conducting comprehensive risk assessments at the national and local levels, integrating disaster risk reduction concepts into educational curricula at all levels, and updating loss and damage data and ensuring its usability. Discussions addressed the experiences of Arab countries in risk assessment and data management. The representative of Lebanon referred to the use of artificial intelligence and satellite imagery, while the representative of Syria presented efforts to assess risks at the governorate level and consolidate data into a unified system. Contributions from Sudan, Iraq, and Yemen also addressed challenges related to data, communications, and early warning systems. The discussions emphasized the importance of moving beyond simply possessing data towards providing up-to-date and interconnected risk knowledge, as well as strengthening scientific and technical cooperation. Strengthening disaster risk governance The second dialogue focused on providing the resources necessary to implement disaster risk reduction responsibilities at the local level, developing or updating legislative frameworks, regulations, and procedures, and engaging stakeholders in legislative reviews. The representative of Jordan presented the country’s experience in developing its National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and National Risk Register, in cooperation with government institutions, the armed forces, and the private sector. Discussions also addressed the participation of persons with disabilities, youth, and the media in developing strategies and policies, as well as the importance of involving the media in the planning stages rather than limiting its role to disseminating information. Investing in resilience Participants identified three priorities: developing national disaster risk reduction financing strategies or integrating such financing into Integrated National Financing Frameworks, tracking investments and assessing their impact as a step towards budget tagging, and allocating innovative insurance instruments and green funds for disaster risk reduction. Discussions addressed the need to identify financing requirements, prioritize needs, and provide the information and studies necessary to secure funding. The representative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies also presented anticipatory financing instruments used before disasters occur, in coordination with local authorities. Strengthening preparedness, recovery, and early warning systems The fourth dialogue identified three priorities: expanding early warning system coverage to all at-risk areas, engaging stakeholders in national simulation exercises, and adopting the Common Alerting Protocol while transitioning towards multi-hazard early warning systems. The representative of Morocco presented the country’s experience in addressing flood risks through the activation of early warning systems, evacuations, and the provision of shelters. Discussions also addressed preparedness for better and faster recovery, challenges related to communications infrastructure, and the needs of persons with disabilities during evacuation operations. The representative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies emphasized the importance of involving stakeholders in simulation exercises and strengthening cooperation among different actors to benefit from their expertise. Stakeholder engagement and joint cooperation Discussions highlighted three cross-cutting issues across the strategic dialogues: institutionalizing inclusive stakeholder participation, improving risk assessments and loss and damage data through the use of technology, and prioritizing sustainable, risk-informed financing. During the session on stakeholder engagement, representatives of civil society, youth, women, persons with disabilities, the media, and the scientific community discussed ways to strengthen coordination, cooperation, and the exchange of knowledge and experiences. Proposed follow-up areas included holding quarterly meetings, developing a joint workplan, strengthening voluntary commitments, supporting resource mobilization, providing training and technical support, and promoting the use of PreventionWeb to exchange knowledge and information. Outcomes and next steps The priority actions discussed during the meeting are expected to be compiled into a follow-up document to be circulated among partners, with the aim of identifying actions for each stakeholder to accelerate the implementation of the Arab Prioritized Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025–2027 and contribute to the development of the next action plan for 2028–2030. The meeting’s priorities will inform discussions at the Second Arab Regional Forum on Early Warning Systems and Disaster Preparedness, held in Tunis from 12 to 14 October 2026, as well as the meetings of the Arab Coordination Mechanism for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Arab Regional Platform in 2027, and the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2028.
World: 12th Arab partnership for disaster risk reduction meeting: From commitments to joint action, an open regional dialogue on risk-informed development and resilience
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