While the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2024 may have wrapped up, the lessons shared during the session “Inclusive and Impactful: Practical Lessons in Coherent Implementation of EW4All, Anticipatory Action, and the Sendai Gender Action Plan” continue to resonate, emphasising the need for inclusive disaster risk reduction strategies. These strategies are essential to ensuring that no one is left behind—particularly the most at risk groups. The session illuminated how interconnected initiatives are essential for creating accessible and effective early warning systems. Moderated by Mom Cora, a women with physical disability, Convener of the Cebu Disability Inclusive DRR Network and Vice-Chair of the Philippine League of Persons with Disability Affairs Office, the session featured a diverse panel of experts, including Chrysant Lily Kuwumawardoyo, Ms. Melaia Kubuabola, Ms. Smita Poudel, and Ms. Maria Holtsberg.
Lily, a DRR practitioner, Regional Director of ASB South and South-East Asia, co-founder of DiDRRN, set the tone for the session, calling for cross-initiative collaboration and emphasising the need for a unified approach to disaster risk reduction. Drawing from her extensive fieldwork in the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, Lily underscored that while these frameworks may appear distinct, they are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing. She passionately argued, “We cannot view them as separate programmes; combining these initiatives is key to fostering inclusive disaster resilience.”
Why Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Matters
The Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative, launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2022, aims to ensure that by 2027, everyone on earth will be covered by an early warning system. While this ambitious initiative places great emphasis on inclusivity—especially for at-risk populations that are often overlooked—Lily highlighted that having an early warning in place is insufficient without the capacity for affected communities to take proactive action.
“This is where anticipatory action comes in,” Lily explained. “It’s not just about knowing when a disaster is coming, but knowing what to do in advance—whether it’s evacuating, securing resources, or preparing response teams, based on reliable forecasts.” This proactive approach allows communities to mitigate disaster impacts before they strike, saving lives and reducing damage.
However, not everyone has the same capacity to act on early warnings. Most at risk groups—such as women, persons with disabilities, older people, and indigenous communities—are often disproportionately affected by disasters and face significant barriers in accessing and acting upon early warning information. A 2023 global survey revealed that many persons with disabilities still struggle to access early warnings in accessible formats and may lack the means to respond effectively. Similarly, the Sendai Midterm Review exposed that marginalised communities often receive warnings too late or in inaccessible formats, preventing timely action.
The Synergy Between EW4All, Anticipatory Action, and the Sendai Gender Action Plan
Lily outlined how EW4All, anticipatory action, and the Sendai Gender Action Plan (GAP) can work synergistically to address these inequalities. She emphasised that the Sendai GAP integrates gender and disability considerations into disaster risk reduction, ensuring that early warnings and preparedness measures are tailored to the needs of the most at risk.
“For early warning systems to be truly effective, they must communicate risks in ways that everyone can understand,” Lily noted. This involves using accessible formats like sign language, Braille, and visual and auditory cues, as well as ensuring that anticipatory actions take into account the specific needs and capacities of women, children, persons with disabilities, and other at-risk groups.
By aligning early warnings with anticipatory action through inclusive frameworks like the Sendai GAP, we ensure that no one is left behind when disasters strike. As Lily concluded, “When early warning and anticipatory action are made accessible, it strengthens the resilience of communities, especially those most at risk, ultimately saving lives.”
Real-World Experiences and Community-Led Initiatives on Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction
Following Lily’s insights, Ms. Melaia Kubuabola, a representative from the Pacific Island Association for NGOs (PIANGO), shared practical examples from the Pacific region, where community-led initiatives are at the forefront of disaster risk reduction. Drawing from local experiences, she highlighted how Pacific communities have embraced culturally appropriate methods to deliver early warnings and take anticipatory action. This work is deeply rooted in the idea that communities must take the lead in protecting themselves.
In addition to Melaia’s reflections on the critical role of local leadership in disaster resilience, Ms. Smita Poudel, Section Officer at Nepal National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) shared insights on the intersectionality of disaster risk reduction and gender equality, particularly for women with disabilities. Smita emphasised the importance of addressing these overlapping vulnerabilities in Nepal’s strategic action plan, which integrates disability-focused solutions into disaster management. This plan highlights the need for inclusive early warning systems that cater to the specific needs of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, Smita introduced a collaborative approach through consultations with disability-focused organisations and the creation of an e-learning platform for awareness on inclusive disaster risk reduction. This work aims to ensure that the voices of marginalised groups, especially women with disabilities, are included in disaster risk reduction and response frameworks.
Maria Holtsberg, Deputy Regional Director OIC, and DRR and Humanitarian Advisor at the UN Women Regional Office of Asia and the Pacific concluded the session by providing an update on the progress made in advancing the Gender Action Plan, EW4All, and anticipatory action initiatives. Maria explained how these frameworks are crucial for integrating gender and inclusion into disaster risk management. She underscored the importance of sex- and age-disaggregated data in ensuring effective early warning systems that cater to diverse needs. She also highlighted the importance of community participation, especially from women’s groups and civil society organisations, in informing and guiding anticipatory action. Maria encouraged the strengthening of governance structures to ensure that resources are allocated for gender-responsive disaster risk management and that the voices of affected communities are central in decision-making processes.
A Global Call to Action
The session closed with Ms. Maria Holtsberg, Deputy Regional Director of UN Women, who emphasised the need for strong collaboration across all sectors to make early warning systems truly inclusive. “We must recognise the unique needs of different community groups and ensure that these needs are reflected in disaster risk reduction strategies,” she said. “Only by doing so can we build systems that protect everyone, regardless of their background or abilities.”
Ultimately, the session served as a powerful reminder that inclusive disaster risk reduction is not just a moral imperative—it is a practical necessity. By integrating Early Warning for All, anticipatory action, and the Sendai Gender Action Plan, we can create disaster resilience that truly leaves no one behind. As the experts concluded, now is the time to act, ensuring that all communities, regardless of their risks, are strengthened to respond effectively when disaster strikes.
As disaster risks continue to evolve, the collective efforts highlighted in this session are essential to fostering a more inclusive and resilient future. Through collaboration, practical implementation, and ongoing commitment to inclusion, we can ensure that the most at risk members of society are not only heard but actively involved in disaster risk reduction and response. By creating early warning systems that everyone can access and act upon, we are realising #ResilienceForAll.
