By Noko Mashilo
The C20 2025 Policy Brief (Third Version) on Working Group 7, Sustainable and Resilient Communities and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) was presented by Maziko Matemba, Climate Change and Community Health Ambassador with Health and Rights Education Program-Malawi (HREP Malawi), and Bathandwa Mtshikwana, Cluster Coordinator at Impact Drivers. Together, they outlined a strategic framework aimed at strengthening resilience and reducing disaster-related vulnerabilities across communities worldwide.
Anchored in six interlinked priorities such as addressing inequalities and reducing vulnerabilities; expanding global coverage of early warning systems; promoting disaster-resilient infrastructure; enhancing financing for DRR; advancing disaster recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction; and adopting ecosystem-based or nature-based approaches, the policy brief positions DRR as a cornerstone of sustainable development and social protection.
Speaking to Vula Vala, Matemba said these priorities directly respond to the findings of the Mid-Term Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, with the aim of accelerating its implementation through inclusive and multi-sectoral approaches.
“Under the South African Presidency, the C20 process acknowledges the progress achieved under India and Brazil’s presidencies and seeks to consolidate these gains by retaining the six priorities agreed upon during their terms.
The 2025 Presidency further proposes to steer their implementation through the overarching theme of solidarity and global cooperation,” explained Matemba.
Matemba further said by advancing this agenda, South Africa reaffirms its commitment. “To ensuring that the global DRR architecture reflects shared responsibility, equity, and locally driven action, key principles for achieving sustainable and resilient communities in an era of escalating climate and humanitarian risks,” he said.
This lead facilitator said some of the core challenge are persons with disabilities remaining excluded from disaster governance despite commitments under the UNCRPD and the African Disability Protocol. “Equitable participation requires intentional inclusion, representation, and resourcing,” he said.
He also mentioned current early-warning and public-risk communication systems. “They are rarely multi-sensory or last-mile effective, lacking formats such as sign-language video, plain language, radio, SMS/USSD, and visual beacons,” said Matemba.
Matemba added that most disaster shelters, evacuation routes, and transport systems lack universal design standards and independent accessibility audits, leaving high-risk and rural communities most exposed. “Emergency drills and response protocols seldom account for inclusive evacuation, safeguarding of assistive devices, accessible transport, or trauma-informed psychosocial support; annual inclusive drills are not mandated,” said Matemba.
Matemba has specific demands to the G20 that to embed disability inclusion across all global Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policy frameworks, including the Sendai Framework implementation reviews, G20 declarations, and international climate and humanitarian finance mechanisms. “This will ensure no one is left behind in resilience-building efforts,” said Matemba.
He also emphasised the allocation dedication on financing. “The G20 must operationalise the “15% for the 15%” principle, guaranteeing that at least 15% of global DRR and climate adaptation financing directly benefits persons with disabilities and their representative organisations. Establish a Global Innovation Fund to scale up inclusive early-warning systems and accessible evacuation technologies, co-designed and tested with persons with disabilities and their communities. Require disability-, gender-, age-, race-, and geography-disaggregated data in all global DRR and climate resilience monitoring systems, including through UNDRR and G20 reporting frameworks, to drive evidence-based accountability,” said Matemba.
His recommendations outline priority actions like embed disability inclusion within DRR governance by designating formal representation and budget allocations for organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs). “Establish multi-sensory early-warning standards, universal-design conditions for all infrastructure, and peer-reviewed inclusion indicators to guide accountability, a ring-fenced allocation within DRR and climate adaptation finance dedicated to disability-inclusive projects, prioritising community-managed funds and initiatives led by OPDs to ensure local ownership and sustainability.
Lastly strengthen implementation and oversight where mandate inclusive response protocols and annual national drills that reflect disability considerations.”
For a full report visit www.c20southafrica.org
