African Risk Capacity Limited

The African Risk Capacity (ARC) was established as a Specialized Agency of the African Union by a Conference of Plenipotentiaries to help AU Member States improve their capacities to better plan, prepare and respond to extreme weather events and natural disasters. It aims to assist its Member States to protect the food security of their vulnerable populations. 

Mission

The objective of the ARC Agency is to assist AU Member States to reduce the risk of loss and damage caused by extreme weather events and natural disasters affecting Africa's populations by providing targeted responses to disasters in a more timely, cost-effective, objective and transparent manner. (See Articles 2 and 3 of the ARC Establishment Agreement).

As currently structured, the international system for responding to natural disasters is not as timely or equitable as it could be. Funding is secured on a largely ad hoc basis after disaster strikes and only then can relief be mobilized toward the people who need it most.  In the meantime, lives are lost, assets are depleted, and development gains suffer major setbacks – forcing more people into chronic destitution and food insecurity in the world's least developed countries.