Bonn Network Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction

Worldwide, people are threatened by the consequences of climate change such as earthquakes, floods and storms. This applies in particular to people in the world's poorest countries, in coastal areas or in mountain regions. But also in Europe and Germany natural events with destructive effects have led to high losses.

Numerous organizations and institutions that are based in Bonn are involved in the field of disaster risk reduction and management. In addition to United Nations agencies, these include federal authorities, scientific institutions, development organizations, companies, relief organizations, NGOs and many others.

Since 2010, the City of Bonn has been involved in international cooperation in the field of disaster risk reduction and management, especially in collaboration with the United Nations Early Warning Platform ISDR and the city network ICLEI - Cities for Sustainability.

To promote networking and exchange among national and international actors from politics, civil society, science and the private sector based in Bonn, the Bonn Network International Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction was founded in 2017.

The Bonn Network is intended to form a broad coalition of actors from all areas and levels to

strengthen the exchange and networking of actors involved in disaster risk reduction and management on site.
inform on related tasks, services, events and projects
consolidate Bonn as a center of competence in the field of international disaster risk reduction and management.

Interview with Stefan Wagner, head of the Department of International Affairs and Global Sustainability of the City of Bonn

Stefan Wagner is head of the Department of International Affairs and Global Sustainability of the City of Bonn. He is evaluating the development of the Bonn Network International Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction, its goals and the Sustainability Strategy of the City of Bonn.

1. What was the background and the idea of founding the Bonn Network International Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction?

The idea of founding the Bonn Network goes back to an application by the Council Committee for International Affairs and Science. In 2016, the Council commissioned the city administration to present a concept for the further development of the City of Bonn as an international location for disaster control issues. On the one hand, the diverse institutional landscape in Bonn and the surrounding area should be taken into account and, on the other hand, voluntary civic engagement should be expressed. The result is the Bonn Network for International Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction, to which around two dozen authorities, (scientific) organizations, associations and initiatives belong today. Together they form a unique cluster of actors that impressively expresses Bonn's competence in matters of international disaster control and risk management.

2. Which goals, on national and international level, would the City of Bonn like to achieve in cooperation with the Network?

The Bonn Network forms a platform to bundle the diverse competences in the field of international disaster control and risk management, to build up and exchange knowledge and experience, and to incorporate knowledge from international disaster control into development cooperation. The aim of the network is to promote the cooperation of experts in the field of international disaster control and to inform citizens about current developments in this topic. This is also intended to make a contribution to strengthening Bonn as a place for dialogue for global questions about the future. A good example of the network's work is the series of events entitled “International Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction”, which was held last year together with the Department of Geography at the University of Bonn and many further partner organizations. The Bonn Network was also present at international conferences, such as Resilient Cities 2019.

3. In which ways will the Network be able to contribute to the City of Bonn’s Sustainability Strategy?

The Bonn Sustainability Strategy sets the guidelines and goals for the future development of our city up to the year 2030. It is based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda. The subject areas of disaster control and risk management affect several of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For Bonn, they play a special role in terms of dealing with the climate impacts and strengthening urban resilience (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities), and in international cooperation with our partner cities in the Global South (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals). In this context, we supported our project partner city of La Paz (Bolivia) with the implementation of an early warning system for natural disasters such as landslides and flooding.

(The interview was conducted by the secretariat of the Bonn Network International Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction for the September 2020 edition of the network’s newsletter and is published by the City of Bonn with the kind permission of the secretariat.)

In the meantime, additional members from Bonn and beyond have joined the network, which has also established its Secretariat in the city. Located within the German Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction e.V. (DKKV), it coordinates and organizes network meetings and informs about current developments and events. A quarterly newsletter is published and the network’s online presence is ensured.

The Bonn Network’s new website has been launched and can be visited at: