In the heart of Central America, where volcanoes carve the skyline and rivers wind through dense forests, Guatemala’s stunning geography is also a source of vulnerability. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tropical storms, floods, and droughts are part of everyday life—constant reminders of the urgency to strengthen the country’s resilience.
Against this backdrop, the recent visit of Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), marked a pivotal moment. Joined by Claudinne Ogaldes, Executive Secretary of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED), and Miguel Barreto, UN Resident Coordinator in Guatemala, the mission went beyond reaffirming existing commitments—it generated new partnerships and concrete proposals to advance disaster risk reduction nationwide.
One of the key political moments of the visit came during a meeting with Vice President Karin Herrera, who expressed the government’s commitment to strengthening SE-CONRED’s role within the state. She proposed including the institution in Guatemala’s main economic and social decision-making bodies, acknowledging that risk reduction must be a whole-of-government responsibility. “Investing in prevention means protecting the future of the most vulnerable populations,” said the Vice President.
There was also a renewed call to reform CONRED’s legal and policy framework, broadening its mandate, improving inter-institutional coordination, and increasing budget allocations for both prospective and corrective risk management. While Hurricane Mitch in 1998 marked a turning point for Guatemala—leading to the establishment of structures such as CONRED and a stronger emphasis on prevention—the current scale and complexity of risk demand a deeper transformation. Only a bold, sustained shift will ensure sustainable development anchored in resilience and informed by risk.
“We have made progress in disaster risk reduction in Guatemala. We have strengthened the staff of CONRED's Executive Secretariat, not only in the capital, but throughout the country, with more teams to support municipalities in risk management. But we still need to stop building risk. We need to be a more resilient country, one that complies with the standards and does not perpetuate its vulnerability,” said Claudinne Ogaldes, Executive Secretary of CONRED.
The mission coincided with the XXI Meeting of the National Platform for Dialogue, which served as a forum to define the foundations of Guatemala’s position for the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2025. During the meeting, participants emphasized the need to strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems, integrate risk into national and sectoral planning, and foster participatory and inclusive governance rooted in resilience.
Throughout the week, several concrete commitments were secured. The National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) expressed its intention to move forward with the adoption of the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), a key tool for standardizing warnings and improving hazard response. Representatives from the telecommunications sector also voiced their readiness to explore the implementation of Cell Broadcasting systems, in coordination with UN agencies and inspired by good practices across the region.
At the regional level, the mission included high-level meetings at the Coordination Centre for Disaster Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC) and with the Executive Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of Finance of Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (COSEFIN). These exchanges helped pave the way for stronger risk-informed public financing and a future dialogue with finance ministers on integrating disaster risk into national budgets, public investment, and fiscal policy. The goal is clear: move beyond reactive and corrective approaches and instead channel resources into forward-looking, preventive measures that build long-term resilience.
The Guatemalan private sector also demonstrated strong engagement. A pilot initiative was presented, developed with a national bank and the ARISE Network, aimed at promoting risk-informed decision-making in small and medium-sized enterprises. The Sustainable Finance Advisory Council of CentraRSE expressed its commitment to embedding disaster risk reduction within the country’s financial architecture, including banking and insurance systems.
Throughout the mission, the leadership of local and community actors was palpable. A visit to the Ingenio Magdalena sugar mill underscored the value of public-private-community alliances for prevention and preparedness. The mission also recognized the critical roles played by youth, women, Indigenous peoples, and local governments in building resilience from the ground up.
In this national effort, the United Nations System has served as a strategic partner and catalyst. The mission reaffirmed the leadership of Resident Coordinator Miguel Barreto in promoting effective, results-driven cooperation. It also confirmed that resilience will be a strategic priority within the next UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) in Guatemala.
“Guatemala is demonstrating that it is possible to anticipate risk, plan ahead and protect what is most valuable: lives, livelihoods and communities. To achieve this, it is essential to direct public and private investment towards resilient infrastructure, accompanied by adequate financing. Only then will we stop building risk and start building resilience,” said Kamal Kishore.
“We have identified areas of convergence and cross-cutting issues where agencies can work together. For example, incorporating early warning and prevention into all operational activities of the system,” added Miguel Barreto, UN Resident Coordinator.
The results of the mission highlight the value of strategic, targeted cooperation. Through UNDRR’s technical support—working closely with SE-CONRED and the broader UN system—Guatemala is forging a more coordinated, inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction. Far from being an isolated initiative, this is a collective effort to ensure that risk reduction becomes a shared responsibility, embedded across sectors and driven by political will, technical excellence, and local leadership.