Sendai Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism: Turning participation into action for disaster risk reduction

The evolution of stakeholder engagement within the United Nations system reflects a growing recognition that sustainable and resilient development cannot be achieved by governments alone. The 1992 Earth Summit established nine Major Groups as a formal channel for civil society participation in United Nations processes, creating the foundation for what is now known as the Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) system.

While the Hyogo Framework for Action acknowledged the importance of stakeholder engagement in disaster risk reduction (DRR), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 represented a significant step forward by explicitly recognising stakeholder groups and their roles in implementation. This recognition led to the creation of the Sendai Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism (SEM).

Launched in 2018, SEM was created in response to a simple realisation: disaster risk reduction cannot succeed, and the targets of the Sendai Framework cannot be achieved, without the meaningful and structured inclusion of all-of-society actors.

SEM Groups include: 

Business and Industry, Children and Youth, Education and Academia, LGBTIQ+ Persons, Local Authorities, Local Communities, Media, Migrants and Displaced Persons, NGOs, Persons with Disabilities, Science and Technology, Women + Working groups on climate change and the New Urban Agenda.

From coordination to collective action

What began as informal coordination among a small group of actors has evolved into a global community representing more than 1,000 members across 12 stakeholder constituencies and two cross-cutting working groups. Over time, SEM has become more than a coordination mechanism. It has become a bridge between local realities and global policy processes, enabling stakeholders not only to participate in international discussions, but also to help shape them.

SEM’s value lies in creating opportunities for stakeholders to influence decisions and contribute to solutions. For many members, particularly those representing communities facing disproportionate risks or historically underrepresented groups, SEM has helped create pathways for greater participation in global disaster risk reduction processes.

“SEM is a space where lived experience actually counts.”

Similar to the Major Groups and other Stakeholders system, which provides civil society representatives with opportunities to engage in intergovernmental processes linked to the  2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development , SEM provides a channel for non-State stakeholders to contribute to disaster risk reduction discussions.

Through SEM, stakeholders have engaged in the  High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development ,  Regional and  Global Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction, climate policy processes including  United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) processes , and initiatives such as the  Early Warnings for All Advisory Panel and the  Santiago Network for Loss and Damage .

Strengthening inclusive governance

Over the years, the SEM Advisory Group and wider membership have organised events, convened dialogues, developed policy and position papers, provided technical expertise and contributed recommendations to global discussions.

Together, stakeholders have advocated for stronger links between disaster risk reduction, climate action and sustainable development. They have highlighted the underlying drivers of vulnerability and risk and promoted more inclusive, equitable and locally informed approaches to governance.

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By bringing diverse perspectives together under a common framework, SEM has strengthened the legitimacy of stakeholder engagement and supported collective action across sectors and regions. Stakeholders who previously worked separately have increasingly collaborated on shared priorities, developed joint positions and built partnerships that cross institutional and geographic boundaries.

This collective voice has strengthened stakeholder influence in global discussions while supporting knowledge exchange. Most importantly, it has helped ensure that people and communities closest to risk are better represented in decisions about how risk is understood, governed and reduced.

The result is a stronger stakeholder community, capable of contributing not only perspectives, but also practical solutions.

Moving from global commitments to local action

The achievements of SEM over recent years are worth recognising. The mechanism has become an important part of global disaster risk reduction governance, strengthened stakeholder representation in international processes and demonstrated the value of structured engagement.

However, a continuing challenge remains: closing the gap between global commitments and implementation on the ground.

As the international community approaches 2030, one of SEM’s most important priorities will be ensuring that global advocacy translates into meaningful local action. This requires creating more opportunities for stakeholder engagement not only during international forums, but also within national planning and policy processes.

It also requires strengthening accountability, supporting local stakeholders and recognising actions that deliver meaningful change for people and communities most exposed to disaster risks.

Lessons for meaningful stakeholder engagement

The current global context – marked by shrinking civic space, declining funding for civil society, geopolitical tensions, growing inequalities, climate change and increasingly frequent and severe disasters – has made stakeholder engagement more important, but also more challenging.

Many organisations and communities face barriers to sustained participation, limiting their ability to contribute consistently and effectively.

These experiences have reinforced several important lessons:

• Meaningful engagement requires structure. Good intentions alone are not enough. Stakeholders need institutionalized mechanisms that recognize their expertise and create opportunities for meaningful participation.
• Inclusion must be intentional. Representation without influence risks becoming symbolic. Effective engagement requires attention to equity, accessibility, intersectionality and accountability.
• Local knowledge is essential. Policies and decisions are stronger when they reflect the experiences of people living with risk.
• Coordination increases impact. Collective action and collaboration can strengthen influence, particularly in complex and interconnected policy environments.

Together, these lessons demonstrate why SEM remains relevant not only as a mechanism for participation, but also as a model for more inclusive governance.

The road to 2030: strengthening collective action

As the international community enters the final years of the Sendai Framework, SEM stands at an important point in its evolution. It has demonstrated that stakeholders do more than participate in disaster risk reduction: they help shape its direction, improve its relevance and strengthen its outcomes.

The next phase of SEM should focus on deepening impact while preserving the inclusiveness that has defined its success. This will require stakeholders to continue collaborating across constituencies, supporting action and turning ambition into measurable results.

Stronger connections between global advocacy, regional collaboration and national and local implementation will be essential. Regional stakeholder networks could play a greater role in connecting global priorities with local realities and strengthening participation, accountability and collective action where it matters most.

As Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), reminded the SEM community:

“In the remaining 4.5 years, if we have to make a step change in the way we implement the Sendai Framework and achieve all its targets, the role of the Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism is absolutely critical. It’s not the icing on the cake, it is the cake.”

Disaster risk reduction is a shared responsibility. SEM remains an important tool to ensure that all voices not only have a seat at the table, but also help shape the future of risk reduction.

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Ms. Katherine Sotomayor is an anthropologist and a social listening specialist based in Mexico with expertise in monitoring public discourse, and public policy through data-driven insights. She works at the intersection of digital monitoring, governance, and strategic communications, supporting evidence-based decision-making public policies around city planning, disaster management, and stakeholder engagement processes. In parallel, she is a youth advocate specializing in disaster risk reduction, sustainability, and meaningful youth participation. Katherine serves as Co-Chair of the Sendai Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism (SEM) Advisory Group and has collaborated as researcher for the United Nations on youth, gender, and sustainable development, actively promoting the inclusion of children and young people in global resilience and disaster governance processes.

Mr. Tanjir Hossain is a seasoned global resilience advisor with over 17 years of expertise in humanitarian action, climate adaptation, and policy advocacy across multiple continents. He serves as Global Resilience Adviser with the International Humanitarian Action and Resilience Team (IHART) at ActionAid International, where he provides technical leadership on resilience programming, humanitarian response, and climate adaptation across ActionAid's global federation. Before joining the global team, Tanjir held leadership roles at ActionAid Bangladesh. Tanjir is the Co-Chair of the Sendai Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism (SEM) Advisory Group. He holds a Master's degree from the University of Greenwich.