The Saudi Red Crescent Authority, in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), chaired the first workshop of the Middle East and North Africa Risk Management Network, held virtually with the participation of designated risk management focal points from national societies.

This initiative comes as part of ongoing efforts since the last quarter of 2024 to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the field of risk management in the region, where the Authority, in collaboration with the IFRC, has been working on developing risk management systems and self-assessment models for national societies.

The meeting was opened with remarks by Dr. Taimour Shukrallah Jan, Assistant President for Institutional Development, on behalf of the President of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, and Dr. Nehal Hanafi, Deputy Regional Director of the IFRC Regional Office. Both emphasized the importance of enhancing regional cooperation to address the various challenges in risk management.

The agenda included discussions on risk management concepts, the network’s objectives, and the exchange of views on potential support and cooperation mechanisms among national societies. The meeting concluded with the identification of next steps to strengthen coordination among relevant stakeholders in the region.

The workshop aims to build a strong network of risk management specialists, enhance the exchange of expertise and best practices, and contribute to improving the preparedness of national societies to address future crises and challenges.