Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism
One of the key goals of (non-State) stakeholders is to engage in intergovernmental decision and policy making processes through access to intergovernmental processes and events. To address this, nine major groups were established for the first United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992 as main channels through which broad participation would be facilitated in UN activities related to sustainable development.
Today, these groups make up a total of 21 Major Groups and other stakeholders (MGoS), the majority of which represent civil society and community-based organizations and demonstrate a high level of engagement in all major intergovernmental processes related of the 2030 Agenda.
In 2018, UNDRR set up the "UNDRR Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism" (UNDRR-SEM) to leverage the convening and advocacy powers of the MGoS and other stakeholder groups for the integration of disaster risk reduction into the broader 2030 Agenda. The UNDRR-SEM creates an open and structured avenue for close engagement of stakeholders in the implementation of the Sendai Framework through key global, regional and national policy processes.
The UNDRR-SEM
As the main interlocutor between UNDRR and stakeholders, key functions of the UNDRR-SEM include to:
- Build an inclusive and broad movement for the implementation of the Sendai Framework;
- Create avenues to influence policy design and implementation;
- Strengthen citizen-led and social accountability mechanisms;
- Promote coordination, information exchange and harmonization between stakeholder groups.
The SEM Value Proposition further elaborates the mission, objectives, and value addition of engaging through SEM.
SEM is governed by its Advisory Group, which comprises of self-elected representatives from all UN Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS), Civil Society Organisation Groups focusing on specific 2030 Agenda policy processes, and UNDRR groups and stakeholders mentioned in the Sendai Framework and not covered by the Major Groups and other Stakeholders, (Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies [ARISE], Science and Technology Advisory Group [STAG], International Federation of the Red Cross [IFRC], and Media). The SEM Advisory Group acts as a key interlocutor with UNDRR, and enables, leads and supports an all-of-society engagement in the implementation of the Sendai Framework at the local, national, regional and global levels.
SEM Action Plan 2024-25 highlights the four Action Areas prioritized by SEM in 2024-25 to facilitate an all-of-society, people-centered, inclusive, accessible approach for risk informed development. Access the latest SEM resources, including policy briefs, event announcements, newsletters, and knowledge products.
Join the movement
Any non-state actor can become a member of SEM. It is open to organizations, as well as individuals interested in contributing to disaster risk reduction, resilience building, and risk-informed development
