Rangatahi Network

In May 2022 the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) convened the 7th Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Bali, Indonesia.  At that event, the International Campaign for Disaster Risk Reduction in Indigenous Communities was formally launched for a three-year period. One core component of the larger campaign is to create and support a youth Indigenous Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) network.  

DRR seeks to prevent new, reduce existing, and manage residual risk of disasters. While most natural hazards are not preventable, vulnerability to disaster because of those hazards can be mitigated. Indigenous communities are often more vulnerable to disaster than others, so DRR and the management of disaster risk is crucial. Climate change and related environmental aspects are key focuses for DRR, especially for Indigenous communities.  

The campaign aims to encourage the creation of regional indigenous networks that would give voice to indigenous advocates for DRR (e.g., initiate Indigenous Youth Network for DRR). To do this Te Tira Whakamātaki, the Māori Biosecurity Network, have partnered with other Indigenous researchers in the DRR space from North and Central America to bring young Indigenous people in the space together.