JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Koror Declaration reaffirms commitment for a Resilient Pacific
6 November 2025
Koror, Palau – Pacific Island countries and territories have reaffirmed their collective commitment to regional resilience and disaster preparedness through the adoption of the Koror Declaration, the key outcome of the 2nd Pacific Disaster Risk Management Ministers Meeting held in Palau from 4–5 November 2025.
Hosted by the Government of Palau under the theme “Strengthened Political Leadership for Disaster Risk Management in the Pacific,” the ministerial meeting brought together DRM ministers, senior officials, regional organisations, and development partners to address escalating climate and disaster risks threatening Pacific communities.
The Koror Declaration sets out concrete, time-bound commitments to strengthen regional coordination, elevate political leadership, and accelerate implementation of resilience-building initiatives. It builds on the Nadi Declaration (2022) and the Manila Intersessional Meeting (2024), reaffirming the Pacific’s united approach to safeguarding communities.
Key Outcomes of the Meeting Include:
- Acknowledgement of progress since the Nadi Declaration (2022) and reaffirmed the urgent need for sustainable financing and partnerships.
- Endorsement of the Pacific Humanitarian Response Coordination Mechanism (PResCoM) and commitment to operationalise its policy and guidelines for faster, coordinated disaster response. The PResCoM is expected to be put forward to the Pacific Island Forum Leaders in June 2026 for their final endorsement of the implementation plan.
- Support for the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility, ensuring its integration into national disaster risk management policies.
- Strengthening early warning systems by fully utilising satellite-based observations and ground-level data to deliver decision-ready information to governments and communities.
- Expansion of disaster risk management initiatives across all Pacific Island Countries and Territories through collaboration with partners and donors.
- Commitment to the 2025 Strategic Agenda for Disaster Risk Management, focusing on:
o Integrated, people-centred resilience interventions.
o Coherence between national, regional, and global frameworks.
o Sustainable financing and resource mobilisation.
o Strong partnerships with civil society, private sector, and development partners.
o Enhanced monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
- Endorsement of a troika arrangement for DRM leadership, ensuring continuity and strong advocacy at regional and global levels.
Palau’s Vice President and Chair of the National Emergency Committee, Hon. Raynold B. Oilouch, added “this meeting has laid the groundwork for stronger regional mechanisms and partnerships. The decisions made here will shape how we prepare for and respond to disasters in the years ahead.”
The Koror Declaration outlines specific actions to be undertaken by National Disaster Management Offices, regional organisations, and development partners, with progress to be reviewed at the next ministerial meeting in 2027. It also calls for increased investment in localised early warning systems, inclusive preparedness planning, and capacity building for frontline responders.
The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of urgency and solidarity, recognising that the Pacific’s resilience depends on bold leadership, coordinated action, and sustained commitment at all levels.
Read the full Koror Declaration here: https://shorturl.at/SeRNx