ReliefWeb

Key messages:

• Some evidence is available to show that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in African countries is under threat from the impact of natural hazards, particularly agricultural drought. This evidence remains patchy as availability of data on disaster losses in Africa is low.

• National reports prepared by African countries on the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action and the related Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (2006-2015) provide useful examples of efforts by countries to address risk of natural hazards in their national and local planning and budgeting.

• Ongoing monitoring and analysis of the efforts to integrated disaster risk reduction into poverty reduction and key development sectors show that such efforts are cost effective however institutional capacity remains low and the level of financing insufficient.

• Climate change adaptation plans can benefit from the efforts carried out by countries and institutions to implement the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and the funds available for climate change adaptation can be effectively used to assist African countries address the related gaps in capacity and resources.