The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) held a five-day Technical Workshop on Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance in La Réunion from 13 to 17 October 2025. The workshop gathered experts, policymakers, and representatives from IORA Member States and Dialogue partners to strengthen regional cooperation on disaster risk management (DRM) and anticipatory financing.
Held under the theme “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance” the event focused on reinforcing institutional frameworks, advancing legal frameworks, and developing anticipatory financing mechanisms to enhance disaster risk management (DRM) across the Indian Ocean region.
Regional Collaboration for Resilience
The workshop was jointly organized by IORA, the Republic of France, and the European Union (EU), with the support from several partners, as per list below:
Technical partners:
- Regional Intervention Platform for the Indian Ocean (PIROI) of the French Red Cross
- United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
- Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)
Financial partners:
- French Development Agency (AFD) through the 3 Oceans Programme – IORA Phases 1 and 2
- European Union (EU) through the Resilience Building and Disaster Response Management in the Indian Ocean Region (RDRM-IO) programme
Key Outcomes: Strengthening Institutional, Legal, and Financial Resilience
The outcome of the Reunion Workshop, developed during the workshop, capture the shared commitment of IORA Member States to strengthen disaster risk governance across three main pillars: institutional frameworks, legal frameworks, and anticipatory financing.
On institutional strengthening, participants emphasized empowering national disaster management authorities, improving multi-sectoral coordination, and promoting a whole-of-society approach. Member States agreed to convene regular meetings of the IORA Working Group on Disaster Risk Management (DRM), enhance training and knowledge-sharing initiatives, and develop a regional interactive dashboard to map DRR activities.
Under legal and policy frameworks, countries committed to aligning national legislation with the Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Participants also highlighted the need for risk-informed planning, stronger building codes, and inclusive DRM policies that engage civil society and the private sector.
On anticipatory financing, Member States called for improved early warning systems, integration of risk financing into national budgets, and mobilization of regional and international resources to support preparedness and climate adaptation. Innovative tools such as insurance, blended finance, and AI-based forecasting were recognized as key enablers of resilience.
The outcome of the Reunion Workshop reaffirms IORA’s collective vision for a safer, more resilient, and better-prepared Indian Ocean region.
