Dear Partners, friends and collaborators,
As 2024 draws to a close, I am filled with gratitude for the remarkable journey we’ve shared and optimism for the path ahead. This year has been nothing short of transformative for GRP. We celebrated our 10th anniversary, launched a new five-year strategy, and embraced the opportunities of a leadership transition.
This year marked the launch of GRP’s new 2024-2029 Strategy, a roadmap for the next five years. Together with our Partners, we have supported millions of people on their resilience journeys. The strategy outlines our thematic and geographic focus for the coming years. Equipped with the knowledge and lessons from the past decade, our 2024-2029 Strategy is designed to drive transformative change, with a focus on empowering communities and fostering locally-led innovation. Along with our strategy, we are pleased to share that we signed another four-year agreement with Sida from 2024. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and operationalising our strategy.
This year brought its share of challenges and opportunities. The urgency of the climate and biodiversity crises remains stark, and the outcomes of COP29 reminded us how much remains to be done. Yet, amidst this, we witnessed inspiring examples of progress, collaboration, and innovation. GRP continued as a managing partner of the Resilience Hub, a vital platform that has grown into a critical space for global resilience stakeholders. This year was particularly special as the Hub’s reach extended beyond COP to Climate Week NYC and London Climate Action Week, ensuring diverse and underrepresented voices shape the global resilience narrative.
PREPARE Call to Action to the Private Sector’s growing momentum demonstrates how we are addressing previously unmet needs in resilience and climate adaptation. Since its launch at COP27, PREPARE has inspired 39 companies and Partners to step forward with bold commitments to action. Led by GRP in partnership with USAID and with input from the Office of the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, PREPARE is bridging critical gaps by encouraging the private sector to draw on its unique resources, expertise, and innovation to support inclusive approaches to climate adaptation. I am inspired by the dedication of businesses to embed resilience into their operations and champion the communities they serve.
Our commitment to locally-led initiatives remained steadfast in 2024. Together with ICIMOD, we launched the Hindu Kush Himalaya Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs (HKH-ICE), which aims to foster solutions in agriculture, water security, and sustainable tourism in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. The Resilient Agricultural Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Challenge, supported by Shockwave Foundation and Munich Re Foundation, continues to empower communities across East Africa, with ongoing collaboration with past winners and the exciting launch of its third round.
Innovation and collaboration took centre stage with the co-creation of the Resilient Planet Initiative (RPI), a groundbreaking effort to democratise access to climate and adaptation data. RPI addresses the need for accessible information on climate risks and adaptation through three digital platforms; the Data Hub, Solutions Hub, and the Exchange Hub. These hubs centralise data, showcase best practices, and provide tailored solutions to empower communities and enhance climate resilience. Supported by Google.org and involving key partners such as the University of Oxford, SPARC, and Slum Dwellers International, this initiative underscores our collective commitment to empowering frontline communities, businesses, and cities to build resilience against climate impacts.
Together with the Centre for Sustainability Transitions at Stellenbosch University, we launched a new call for working groups to participate in the Southern African Resilience Academy (SARA). SARA provides a convening and support space for researchers and practitioners tackling pressing resilience and development challenges across Southern Africa. Our Global South Talent Pool continues to nurture the next generation of resilience leaders, building skills and networks that will drive meaningful change for years to come.
These are just some of the many highlights from an extraordinary year. As we close the chapter on 2024 and look ahead to 2025, I am filled with hope. Together, we have shown the power of collaboration and the strength of our global community. While the challenges before us are immense, our collective determination, creativity, and action inspire confidence that we can rise to meet them. It is only by working together we can do this.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment and Partnership. On behalf of the GRP Secretariat, I extend my warmest wishes to you and your loved ones for a joyful festive season and a resilient New Year. Let us continue working together to build a future where resilience underpins prosperity and equity for all.
Sincerely,
Jesper Hörnberg
CEO, Global Resilience Partnership