H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma represented the African Private Sector at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction was held from 14 to 18 March 2015 in Sendai City in Japan.

Over 6,500 participants including 2,800 government representatives from 187 governments attended the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

The representatives from the 187 UN member States adopted the first major agreement of the Post-2015 development agenda, a far reaching new framework for disaster risk reduction.  The framework outlines seven global targets to be achieved over the next 15 years:

  • a substantial reduction in global disaster mortality;
  • a substantial reduction in numbers of affected people;
  • a reduction in economic losses in relation to global GDP;
  • substantial reduction in disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, including health and education facilities;
  • an increase in the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020;
  • enhanced international cooperation;
  • increased access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments.

Reducing disaster risk and building resilience relies on the engagement of all members of society. Voluntary commitments from organizations and individuals are an essential compliment to legal obligations for protecting lives, livelihoods, assets and the environment and will be one cornerstone of implementation of the post 2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.

H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma was got interviewed by UN TV and her interview is on the official website/homepage of the UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma was also a key note speaker, together with UK Minister of State for International Development, the Rt. Hon Desmond Swayne TD MP, at the launch of the UK’s Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) programme.