Kenya Becomes Chair of the Platform on Disaster Displacement

March 1, 2024
Events

Geneva, Switzerland, 27 February 2024 – The Republic of Kenya chaired its first Steering Group meeting since assuming the Chairmanship of the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) on 1 January 2024.

On 1 January 2024, Kenya formally assumed the Chairmanship of the PDD, taking over from the European Union (EU). In its first Steering Group meeting as Chair, Kenya thanked the EU for its leadership and expressed its dedication and readiness to lead the PDD until July 2025. It also formally announced Costa Rica as the new PDD Vice-Chair and the nomination of Prof. Walter Kaelin as Envoy of the Chair of the PDD.

“The work of the PDD is needed now more than ever as we witness displacement in the context of disasters and climate change. In the Horn of Africa, we have firsthand experience with protracted drought followed by devastating floods that displace thousands of people….I assure you of Kenya’s leadership to advance the objective and strategic priorities of the PDD,” said H.E. Dr. Cleopa Mailu, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva.

As outgoing Chair, H.E. Ms. Lotte Knudsen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Delegation of the EU in Geneva, reflected on the EU’s tenure as Chair of the PDD and expressed the EU’s continued support to the Kenyan Chairmanship in addressing disaster displacement and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus as an issue of growing concern and urgency.

H.E. Ms. Shara Duncan Villalobos, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Costa Rica in Geneva, said that Costa Rica, as Vice-Chair, is eager to “work with the government of Kenya to ensure that their priorities transcend their Chairmanship and for the PDD to have continuity across Chairmanships, in line with the new PDD 2024-2030 strategy.”

The PDD aims to support States and other stakeholders to strengthen the protection of persons displaced in the context of disasters and the adverse effects of climate change; as well as to prevent or reduce disaster displacement risks in countries of origin. It follows up on the work of the 2012-2015 Nansen Initiative and supports States and other stakeholders in implementing the Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda.

In December 2023, the PDD adopted a new Strategy. The Strategy runs from 2024-2030 and outlines three strategic priorities, namely to: (1) enhance the implementation of measures to protect cross-border disaster-displaced persons; (2) enhance the management of the risk of disaster displacement in climate action, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development; (3) enhance public policies on planned relocation, as well as on internal disaster displacement and finding durable solutions.

Kenya will act as the first Chair of the PDD under this 2024-2030 Strategy. During its 18-month Chairmanship, Kenya will undertake efforts to:

Advocate for the implementation of innovative measures and policies to protect displaced persons in the context of disasters;
Enhance the knowledge base and thought leadership on the prevention and management of disaster displacement risks in climate action, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development processes;
Strengthen institutional governance structures and partnerships of the PDD;
Strengthen the regionalization of the PDD;
Strengthen national capacities and advocate for disaster risk management and prevention.

Kenya will lead the PDD Steering Group, which is comprised of 18 States and the European Union. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are standing invitees to the Steering Group, while the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), as the host of the PDD Secretariat in Geneva, is an ex officio member.