Disaster risk reduction and humanitarian experts from 14 SADC Member States are participating in the 3rd Workshop on the INFORM Subnational Risk Model, taking place in Mbabane from 7 to 9 October 2025. Hosted by the Government of Eswatini through the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), this regional workshop aims to strengthen the use and maintenance of the INFORM Risk Model – a powerful tool that helps countries anticipate, understand, and reduce disaster risks.

The workshop follows two previous sessions held in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Windhoek, Namibia, and marks an important step in enhancing regional resilience-building efforts and promoting risk-informed decision-making across the SADC region.

The initiative is supported by UNDP and other partners, including the SADC Secretariat, the African Union Commission, and GIZ.

UNDP’s support is twofold:

• To help institutionalize risk-informed approaches into national and regional planning processes.

• To ensure that the INFORM model is co-owned, locally led, and actionable at every level – from regional to community level.

Speaking at the opening, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Henrik Franklin, highlighted that the INFORM model is not just a technical tool but a catalyst for transforming how risks are understood, managed, and reduced across systems. He emphasized that development cannot be sustainable unless it is risk informed.

“UNDP, as a member of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Risk, Early Warning and Preparedness, together with the European Commission, supports the scaling up and application of the INFORM Risk tool. We have long recognized that development cannot be sustainable unless it is risk informed,” said Franklin.

NDMA CEO, Mr. Victor Mahlalela, noted that the INFORM Risk Index is not just a technical tool but a foundation for smarter decision-making – one that enables countries to understand risk as a combination of hazards, vulnerabilities, and coping capacities.

“In Eswatini, we have made significant progress in implementing the INFORM methodology. We localized the tool to develop a Subnational INFORM Risk Index, giving us the ability to identify risks at the regional and community levels,” he said.

Dr. Pious Vusi Ncube, Programme Coordinator at the SADC Secretariat, underscored that this initiative aligns strongly with the aspirations of Agenda 2063, particularly the vision of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Africa underpinned by good governance and sustainable development.

“The African Union welcomes SADC’s leadership in operationalizing subnational models that translate this continental vision into concrete action on the ground,” he said.

Ms. Ria Hidajat, Manager of the GIZ Resilience Initiative Africa, reflected on the shared vision behind supporting the INFORM Index pilot in Africa.

“When GIZ, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), began supporting the pilot of the INFORM Index in Africa, we shared a vision with our partners: to make risk-informed development not just a concept but a concrete practice – anchored in regional systems, driven by national institutions, and powered by reliable data,” said Hidajat.

Speaking on behalf of Sustainable Environment and the Economy at the African Union Commission, Mr. Adama Bamba noted that member states continue to experience the growing impact of multiple and intersecting climate events, economic shocks, conflicts, and epidemics.

“These challenges underscore one clear message: we can no longer manage risk in isolation. We must build systems that anticipate and reduce risks,” said Bamba.