National Civil Society Meeting Discusses New Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy in Egypt
Strengthening the Resilience of At-Risk Local Communities; Civil Society Committees to Monitor Climate and Geopolitical Risks
Egypt – Nile Discourse Forum (EGNDF), in cooperation with the Egyptian Sustainable Development Forum (ESDF), organized a national meeting for members of the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) in Egypt, under the theme “A Comprehensive Vision for Strengthening the Resilience of Local Communities Most at Risk.”
The meeting presented the key pillars and objectives of GNDR’s new 2026–2030 Strategy and discussed the proposed action plan for the final quarter of 2026.
Haitham Abdel Azim, Executive Officer of the ESDF, opened the meeting with an overview of GNDR’s vision of a world in which collective action strengthens the resilience of people and communities most at risk and prevents hazards from becoming disasters. He noted that GNDR brings together around 2,000 organizations in more than 130 countries, working to amplify the voices of marginalized groups and strengthen their participation in policymaking and decision-making processes.
Abdel Azim outlined GNDR’s three strategic objectives, which focus on embedding a risk-informed approach to resilience throughout the disaster risk management cycle; advancing localization to ensure that local communities participate in identifying their own needs and priorities; and expanding collaboration, solidarity and the mobilization of civil society organizations.
He also called for stronger cooperation among GNDR members in Egypt and for expanding the network’s membership by engaging new organizations across the country’s governorates. Such efforts, he said, would broaden the reach of local initiatives and strengthen civil society’s capacity to respond to risks and address their impacts.
For her part, Elham Afifi, Executive Officer of the EGNDF, welcomed the new members who have joined the global network. She introduced participants to GNDR’s website and explained how organizations can benefit from their membership.
Afifi emphasized the importance of integrating disaster risk reduction activities into the programmes of member associations, documenting these activities, and reporting them to the national focal points. This, she noted, would support coordination and facilitate the exchange of experience among participating organizations.
The meeting also addressed potential funding opportunities to support disaster risk reduction efforts and strengthen the ability of local communities to adapt to emerging challenges. Discussions focused on exploring opportunities offered by the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as potential mechanisms for financing relevant initiatives, subject to the respective criteria and requirements governing each fund.
The meeting concluded with a set of recommendations aimed at translating the new strategy into practical action at the local level. Foremost among these was a call for each network member to establish a local civil society committee bringing together relevant stakeholders and individuals engaged in disaster risk reduction.
These committees would assess potential risks considering the growing impacts of climate change and geopolitical volatility, and evaluate their implications for vital sectors, particularly water, food and energy security, as well as ecosystems.
The recommendations also called for each committee to develop a roadmap identifying proposed interventions and implementation priorities. The committees would work to encourage local communities to participate actively in these interventions and strengthen their role in identifying risks and preparing for them, thereby helping reduce disaster impacts and enhance community resilience.
Participants further stressed the importance of aligning member organizations’ activities with GNDR’s strategic objectives and registering relevant initiatives and activities on the network’s website. This would increase their visibility, help promote their work, and expand opportunities for exchanging experience and good practices among members at both the local and international levels.
As part of efforts to broaden participation and distribute coordination responsibilities among members, participants agreed to assign coordination of the next meeting, scheduled for the end of November 2026, to Sabrine Abdel Maksoud, representative of the Future Pioneers Association for Economic Development in Al-Mahamid Bahri, Luxor Governorate.
She will follow up on the implementation of the meeting’s recommendations, prepare the agenda for the next meeting, and coordinate its objectives and expected outcomes, helping ensure continuity and translate the recommendations into practical, actionable steps.