Understanding Risk Global Forum

Founded by GFDRR in 2010, the Understanding Risk (UR) Community has been advancing global resilience by sharing cutting-edge technologies, knowledge, and best practices. Today, the community has grown to over 13,000 members, spans over 190 countries and includes over 4,600 organizations - from governments, multilaterial institutions, and the private sector to NGOs, academia, research bodies, community groups, and civil society. 

UR26 forum will be co-hosted by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the Emergencies, Crises and Disasters Management Centre Abu Dhabi (ADCMC). 

UR26 will take place over five days, combining technical sessions, keynotes, and plenary discussions to foster learning, exchange, and collaboration across the disaster risk management community. The program will feature in-depth technical sessions and focus days led by practitioners and experts, alongside high-level keynotes and plenaries that frame global challenges, emergency trends, and strategic priorities for risk-informed development. 

UR26 Thematic Pillars

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and technology for resilience 
• Sustainability, climate actions and environmental resilience 
• Preparedness, response and future-ready systems 
• Disaster recovery and the disaster-conflict nexus 
• Human-centred resilience and risk communication 
• Risk financing, business continuity and economic resilience

UR26 introduces Risk Resonance, a special one-day symposium dedicated to innovation and creativity in risk communication. Held in memory of Pablo Suárez.