The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in Europe and Central Asia, in collaboration with the European Commission and the Council of Europe  is pleased to inform you that the 2021 European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (EFDRR) will take place in exactly one year, from 24 to 26 November 2021, in Matosinhos, Portugal. 

The triennial EFDRR has been established to address regional disaster risk challenges and  serve as a forum for stakeholders to take responsibility and make actionable commitments to reduce disaster risks. The event, true to the multi-stakeholder spirit of the Sendai Framework, enables governments and stakeholders to exchange experiences on successful practices and innovative approaches to prevent, reduce and manage disaster risks.  

This edition of the EFDRR will take place in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is one of the greatest challenges we have faced in our lifetime. Since the beginning of 2020, we have seen how the countries in Europe and Central Asia are severely exposed to the social and economic impacts of disasters triggered by biological hazards.

The EFDRR 2021 will therefore be structured along a threefold approach.

The forum will,

1.) take stock of lessons from COVID-19 crisis, showcasing good practices in Europe, and Europe’s role in the world;

2) review progress to date in implementing the Sendai Framework and articulate what changes are needed for a transformative agenda on disaster risk reduction; across the pillars of economic recovery, good governance and social equity;

3) commit to ensuring that a disaster impact is never again so severe as the COVID-19 pandemic, articulating new commitments to achieve greater resilience in Europe, especially regarding the climate emergency which does not spare our region. 

A key outcome will be agreement on the 2021-2030 EFDRR Roadmap, which will form the basis for coordinated implementation of Sendai Framework for DRR and related SDGs targets until 2030.

In the coming months a more detailed website will be released with further information on registration, events, and other logistical details. A hybrid attendance approach dependent on the health situation is envisioned for this event, incorporating online elements.  Further updates will be provided in this regard.

For more information, please visit the following website:

https://www.undrr.org/event/2021-european-forum-disaster-risk-reduction

https://www.undrr.org/event/2021-evropeyskiy-forum-po-snizheniyu-riska-bedstviy (Russian)