The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the cascading nature of risk. It shows clearly the importance of coordination among health and other sectors for effective and gender responsive disaster risk reduction and systemic risk governance. 
This session will consider the lessons learned from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic at the national and local level. It will (i) explore the cascading socio-economic impacts of complex risks on vulnerable populations, and (ii) identify opportunities for strengthening multi-sectoral risk governance. The session will highlight how evidence-based and just recovery can help us prepare for future disasters as well as protect and sustain the sustainable development goals.