Ten Priority Actions for Recovery. One Resilient Future.

Launched at the World Resilient Recovery Conference ahead of the 8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, a new call for action unites global and regional leaders around disaster recovery that is inclusive, risk-informed, and forward-looking.

June 4, 2025

World Resilient Recovery Conference in Geneva (2025) — World Resilient Recovery Conference in Geneva (2-3 June 2025)

© Antoine Tardy/UNDRR

The World Resilient Recovery Conference (WRRC), held in Geneva from 2 to 3 June 2025 during the 8th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, marked a turning point in the way nations approach disaster risk governance—and recovery preparedness in particular. With over 4,000 participants from 130 countries, the Conference culminated in the global launch of the Ten Priority Actions to Enhance Readiness for Resilient Recovery—a landmark roadmap endorsed by national governments, international organizations, and regional partners.

The World Resilient Recovery Conference (WRRC) echoed a growing consensus: recovery is no longer a secondary phase but a strategic entry point for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate commitments. In his report to the plenary of the Global Platform on 4 June, Ronald Jackson, Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team (DRT) at UNDP's Crisis Bureau, underscored the importance of this shift: “We are in a constant boxing match with a fierce opponent. If we keep using old tactics, we will stay on the ropes. It’s time to rethink recovery and prepare to win the next round before the bell rings.”

The Global Platform launched the Ten Priority Actions, as “a call to urgency” to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework’s fourth priority: Build Back Better.

8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

The WRRC took place during the 8th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, held from 2 to 6 June 2025 at the International Conference Centre Geneva, Switzerland. The Platform was co-chaired by Ambassador Patricia Danzi, Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Convened under the theme Every Day Counts: Act for Resilience Today, the Platform served as the UN’s principal multi-stakeholder forum to assess progress on the Sendai Framework.

The Global Platform concluded with the adoption of the Geneva Call for Disaster Risk Reduction—the Co-Chairs’ Summary—which outlines an eight-point agenda urging stronger risk data, innovation, integrated governance, risk-informed investment, universal early warning, inclusion, and Build Back Better preparedness. As a succinct rallying cry to governments, donors, civil society, and the private sector, the Geneva Call articulates urgent, actionable next steps for the second half of the Sendai Framework implementation period, ending in 2030.

Rita Missal, Recovery Advisor with the Disaster Risk Reduction Team at UNDP's Crisis Bureau, facilitated a session on Paving the way: Optimizing Governance Mechanisms for Resilient Recovery, at the World Resilient Recovery Conference on 3 June 2025 in Geneva © UNDP Africa

Building on Mr. Jackson's remarks, Rita Missal, Recovery Advisor with the Disaster Risk Reduction Team at UNDP's Crisis Bureau, emphasized the need for transformative recovery: “If we simply rebuild what was lost, we’re rebuilding the same risks,” she said. “Recovery must be planned, inclusive, and forward-looking—an opportunity to reduce inequality, strengthen institutions, and build greener, safer futures,” she added.

The Ten Priority Actions set out globally endorsed guidance for resilient recovery—ranging from inclusive financing, local leadership, and private sector engagement, to data-driven governance and adaptive monitoring. These interlinked measures aim to break the "disaster–recover–and–repeat" cycle and shift recovery from reactive reconstruction to systemic transformation.

"Resilient recovery is now a central lever for delivering clean water, education, jobs, and climate adaptation. “It’s not just about bouncing back—it’s about bouncing forward,” highlighted Rita Missal.

The International Recovery Platform (IRP) will coordinate the next phase of implementation of the Ten Priority Actions, including a High-Level Policy Forum in September, while regional dialogues and country-level readiness assessments are also underway to localize the actions.

Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs at ECOWAS – Takeaways from the World Resilient Recovery Conference at the 8th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction on 2-6 June 2025 in Geneva © UNDP Africa

At the regional level in Africa, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) showcased in the panel Paving the way: Optimizing Governance Mechanisms for Resilient Recovery (3 June) led by Rita Missal how global commitments are translating into institutional reforms. “With support from Sweden and UNDP through the Sahel Resilience Project, we developed and adopted a Roadmap for Strengthening Recovery Preparedness in West Africa,” said Dr. Sintiki Tarfa-Ugbe, Director of Humanitarian and Social Affairs at ECOWAS. “This is a new phase of leadership—anchored in governance, coordination, and proactive investment in resilience."

The ECOWAS Roadmap—endorsed by Member States in May 2025—comprise national assessments, policy frameworks, and a trained pool of experts in post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) established with the help of the European Union’s PDNA Roll-Out III project. This effort complements the Regional Resilience Strategy for West Africa (adopted in November 2024), developed with support from UNDP, Sweden, and Denmark, which offers a coherent framework for advancing cross-sectoral resilient recovery.

“Recovery is not just about rebuilding—it’s about restoring dignity, reducing risks, and creating the conditions for sustainable development,” Dr. Tarfa-Ugbe added.