Cairo hosted the semi-regional workshop on “Capacity Building in Disaster Risk Financing” on 19–20 November 2025, organized by the Regional Office for Arab States of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The workshop brought together more than 25 experts and representatives of the Sendai Framework Focal Points, as well as officials from ministries of finance, the insurance sector and research and academic institutions from several Arab countries. The Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED) participated actively in the workshop, drawing on its long-standing experience in supporting civil society and strengthening environmental and development partnerships across the Arab region.

RAED’s participation came within the framework of its ongoing role in empowering civil society to engage in policymaking related to disaster risk reduction and resilience. Network representatives emphasized that involving local organizations and youth in the design of national financing mechanisms is not merely an added value, but a necessity to ensure the effectiveness of these plans and their ability to reach the most at-risk communities. This perspective was fully aligned with the objectives of the workshop, which sought to promote sustainable national financing systems capable of more effectively managing disaster-related losses and damages.

During the sessions, RAED delivered technical interventions highlighting the role of civil society in risk assessment and the design of community-based financing packages. The network presented experiences from projects implemented in several Arab countries, emphasizing the importance of building innovative public–private partnerships to finance local adaptation and risk reduction initiatives. Practical models were also showcased as references for countries seeking to develop integrated financing systems.

The RAED team also took part in applied workshops that included discussions on disaster cost estimation tools and mechanisms for linking risk reduction plans with integrated national financing frameworks. This engagement contributed to broadening the dialogue on mobilizing resources from multiple sources, including public budgets, insurance instruments and climate-related international finance, an approach RAED considers fundamental to strengthening preparedness and response systems in Arab countries.

The workshop further provided wide opportunities for RAED representatives to enhance cooperation with ministry officials, academic institutions and Sendai Framework focal points from across the Arab region through bilateral meetings and discussions on future joint initiatives related to strengthening local disaster risk financing systems and improving community preparedness. These discussions resulted in preliminary agreement to pursue cooperation pathways in the areas of adaptation, economic risk analysis, and the integration of civil society into national financing plans.

RAED also contributed a new dimension to the workshop outcomes by clearly emphasizing the importance of the community role in shaping financing mechanisms. This dimension was reflected in the final recommendations of the working groups and was considered one of the most significant results of civil society participation, particularly considering the growing need for flexible financial policies that accommodate adaptation requirements and resilience-building in the most vulnerable areas.

Dr. Hala Yousry, Professor of Sociology at the Desert Research Center and RAED’s representative at the workshop, identified several challenges that hinder the optimal implementation of financing plans. These include the limited availability of financial resources to translate proposals into clear, implementable projects; difficulties in coordination between ministries and local entities; and the lack of sufficient institutional guarantees to ensure the long-term sustainability of financing for community initiatives. She stressed that overcoming these challenges requires strong political will and the opening of innovative financing pathways to ensure the sustainability of national disaster risk reduction efforts.

At the conclusion of the workshop, RAED underscored the necessity of continuing dialogue between civil society and governmental and international stakeholders, and of developing implementation plans that enable Arab countries to shift from spending on losses to investing in resilience. The network considered the Cairo workshop an important milestone in deepening regional cooperation and exchanging expertise, and affirmed that translating its recommendations into tangible initiatives will represent a fundamental step toward building financing systems capable of protecting lives and assets in the face of potential disasters.