AU urges non-signatory member states to ratify ARC Treaty
Addis Ababa, April 10, 2023 (FBC) – The AU Commission in its 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of Africa Risk Capacity (ARC) echoed the need for urgency in addressing rising disaster risk on the continent has encouraged AU member states who have not ratified the African Risk Capacity Treaty to do so to strengthen disaster risk management financing across the Continent.
Ambassador Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Development (DARBE), in remarks made on her behalf by the Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, said, “I encourage non-signatory Member States to sign and ratify the ARC Treaty as soon as possible and become members of this innovative pan-African disaster risk financing mechanism and solution.
She added that the ratification of the treaty helps to address timely responses to natural hazards and protecting the livelihoods of our most vulnerable populations. Pan-African solidarity in managing climate risks makes financial sense”.
Ibrahima Cheikh, United Nations Assistant Secretary General and the Director General of the ARC Group, stated that by April 2023, only 11 countries had ratified the instrument, and 35 had signed it.
“It’s time for AU Member states to take ownership of disaster risk management financing and also reduce extreme reliance on donor funding”, he has stated.
It is stated that ARC appealed to AU Member states to strive to make voluntary contributions.
Awareness-raising and advocacy are required to ensure countries best understand the benefits emanating from ratifying the ARC Treaty, member states also called for increased and sustainable collaboration with partners, AU has stated.