G20 Leaders' Summit - Side event: From risk to resilience: scaling up investment in disaster risk reduction 

The 2025 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction stated, "there is a stark mismatch between the increasing levels of global risk and current investment in resilience." It calculated that disaster costs now exceed over $2.3 trillion annually when cascading and ecosystem costs are included. The Political declaration of the high-level meeting on the Mid-Term Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 emphasized concern that investments in disaster risk reduction (DRR)  remain inadequate.   

In response, the G20 DRR Working Group, under the Presidency of South Africa, developed and endorsed the G20 Voluntary High-Level Principles for Investing in DRR, a milestone that provides concise, forward-looking guidance to shift from reactive response to proactive, risk-informed investment. The Principles offer a flexible framework, aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, to help countries systematize DRR financing, strengthen governance, foster collaboration across public and private sectors, and enhance international cooperation. 

The seven Principles are:  

1. Investing in risk information, knowledge, and innovation 
2. Developing comprehensive DRR financing strategies, strong governance, and implementation capacity 
3. Embed disaster risks in sector plans and budget planning 
4. Enabling DRR investment at the local level 
5. Managing residual risk by arranging finance ahead of shocks 
6. Encourage business resilience and stimulate private investment in DRR 
7. Advance DRR in international collaboration and solidarity 

This high-level event, co-organized with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), will provide a platform to advance the implementation of these Principles. As a flagship initiative of the South African Presidency, this event will highlight the Principles as a practical instrument to guide national and global strategies for DRR financing and institutional reform. The discussion will focus on identifying priority actions and commitments that drive measurable progress in integrating DRR into development planning, fiscal policy, and private investment. It will also explore new partnerships and financing arrangements to ensure that resilience is embedded within sustainable development and economic stability. The outcomes of this dialogue will inform the continued work of the G20 DRR Working Group and help shape the forward agenda for future Presidencies, reinforcing the G20's leadership in advancing a shared global vision of solidarity, equality, and sustainability for a more resilient world.