Lusaka, Zambia, 12–15 August 2025 – The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) actively participated in the annual NAP Expo 2025, a global platform for sharing experiences, innovations, and best practices in advancing National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). 

In collaboration with UNEP, UNDP and UNU-EHS, UNDRR co-organized and participated in two sessions and the UN4NAPs Forum. 

The first, “Innovations for Climate Risk Mapping” (session 1.4.2), brought together government representatives, practitioners, and researchers to discuss innovative approaches and tools for strengthening climate and disaster risk assessments to improve comprehensive risk management (CRM) and risk-informed decision making. UNDRR specifically introduced the Disaster Tracking System (DTS) for hazardous events and disaster losses and damages, building on the experience shared by the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) in tracking disaster impacts with DesInventar for more than 20 years. This experience echoed the importance of adequate disaster data management to inform decisions through policies at all levels. 

In the second session (session 4.1.1), UNDRR participated as a speaker alongside UNU-EHS and UNEP, emphasizing the importance of local disaster impact data to inform risk-informed decision-making and to strengthen National Adaptation Plans. The new Disaster Tracking System (DTS) was promoted by UNDRR as a tool that will allow actors to identify their priority adaptation needs by facilitating data collection including on slow onset events and non-economic losses. Also, the discussion highlighted the need to include indigenous and local knowledge in all steps of the NAPs and from planning to implementation. 

During the UN4NAPs Forum (session 4.2.4), UNDRR outlined its support to countries in formulating and implementing NAPs, underscoring the value of an integrated and comprehensive risk management (CRM) approach to enhance policy effectiveness and the efficiency of resource allocation and capacity building. 

Throughout the Expo, UNDRR reinforced its commitment to data-driven, locally responsive NAPs that align with disaster risk reduction and sustainable development strategies. 

UNDRR’s support to NAPs includes: 

· Applying a Comprehensive Risk Management (CRM) approach to integrate climate action and disaster risk reduction. 

· Enhancing understanding of climate and disaster risk through data systems, risk assessments, and analysis of losses and damages, including the rollout of the updated Disaster Tracking System (DTS) to capture losses and damages by extreme events and disasters. 

· Providing capacity-building support, such as the online thought leadership course on DRR–CCA synergies developed with the UN System Staff College. 

· Supporting practical resilience-building initiatives, including on disaster risk reduction financing, resilient infrastructure, and multi-hazard early warning systems, notably in the context of the Early Warnings for All initiative 

· Developing guidelines and toolkits on integrating nature-based solutions, conducting risk assessments, and applying climate information into NAPs.