Southern Africa: SADC to Convene Seventh Ordinary Meeting of Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management

What the report says

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) says it will hold the Seventh Ordinary Meeting of its Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management virtually on 12 November 2026. The gathering is scheduled to be opened and chaired by South Africa’s Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Fiki Hlabisa, with support from SADC Executive Secretary Elias M. Magosi.

According to SADC, the meeting will bring together disaster-management ministers from member states, along with senior officials, humanitarian and development partners, researchers and technical experts. The main purpose is to assess preparedness for the 2026/27 season and review the region’s readiness as El Niño conditions continue to develop in the tropical Pacific.

The agenda includes an update on the 2025/26 rainfall season and its effects on food and livelihood security, as well as the 2026/27 seasonal climate outlook. Ministers are expected to discuss regional coordination of humanitarian relief supplies, including a prepositioning strategy meant to improve logistics and the timely delivery of emergency assistance ahead of hazards.

SADC also said the meeting will consider the 2026 Regional Synthesis Report on Food and Nutrition Security, the Multi-Hazard Regional Anticipatory Action Framework for 2026-2030, and the operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre. In broad terms, the agenda reflects a regional effort to improve preparedness, coordination and resilience in the face of growing climate and disaster risks.