Heritage of Resilience: A Model for Gender Responsive and Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction in the Pacific

Recognizing the heightened risks that women, girls, and people with disabilities face during disasters, Fiji's National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection (MWCSP) are co-hosting a partner event with UN Women at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2024. This event will highlight the critical role of Pacific women in disaster risk reduction (DRR), focusing on practical solutions, localization, and rural resilience. Operating under the guiding principle of "Leave No One Behind" (LNOB), the session aims to emphasize the urgent need to address the specific vulnerabilities and risks experienced by women and marginalized groups.

The event will emphasize the importance of integrating gender and social inclusion into DRR and resilience strategies to improve community resilience and sustainable development across the Pacific. Attendees will learn about effective policies, share knowledge on best practices, and discuss the challenges and solutions needed to protect and empower women, girls, and people with disabilities in the face of climate change and disasters. This session is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and resilient approach to disaster management in the region.

This session aligns with Priority 4 of the Sendai Framework, which focuses on enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to "Build Back Better" in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. Specifically, it relates to Target E of Priority 4, which emphasizes the need to "substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2030." By spotlighting the critical role of Pacific women in DRR, emphasizing practical solutions, localization, and rural resilience, and operating under the guiding principle of "Leave No One Behind" (LNOB), the session aims to address the specific vulnerabilities and risks experienced by marginalized groups. Through knowledge sharing, awareness raising, and showcasing good practices, it contributes to building more inclusive and effective disaster risk reduction strategies, thereby enhancing community resilience and sustainable development across the Pacific.

APMCDRR Themes:
Thematic Pillar 2: Leaving No One Behind: Gender Responsive and Inclusive Disaster Risk Governance
The session highlights the importance of addressing the heightened risks faced by women, girls, and people with disabilities during disasters, promoting gender-responsive and inclusive disaster risk governance
Thematic Pillar 3: Localization and Urban and Rural Resilience
The session emphasizes the role of rural women in resilience-building and showcases community-based DRR approaches, aligning with the pillar's focus on promoting local and rural resilience.

Session Objectives:
1. Highlighting Pacific Women in DRR Spaces: Showcase the leadership and achievements of Pacific women in disaster risk reduction to inspire broader inclusion and empowerment.
2. Raising Awareness on Transformative Policies: Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of current gender and social inclusion policies, highlighting practical solutions for a more inclusive and resilient disaster management framework.
3. Knowledge Sharing from the Pacific: Share unique experiences, solutions, and strategies from the Pacific region to enhance resilience and inform future actions in the Asia-Pacific to protect and empower marginalized communities.