Lamu peacebuilder honoured at UN Sasakawa Awards for disaster risk reduction
A peacebuilder from Lamu County has earned international acclaim after being recognised as a laureate—a person honoured for outstanding achievements—under the Highly Recommended category at the prestigious UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Shee Kupi Shee was honoured during a ceremony held in Geneva for his exceptional work in building community resilience in areas affected by conflict, climate-related disasters, and chronic vulnerability.
The award, jointly organised by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Nippon Foundation, celebrates outstanding contributions to preventing and reducing disaster risk.
“It is with deep humility and immense gratitude that I accept the Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction Laureate under the Highly Recommended category. This recognition is not just mine, it belongs to every community member who dared to hope, to every team that stood firm in adversity, and to every voice that chose resilience over despair,” he said.
The UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction is an international accolade recognising individuals, organisations, and local authorities for their contributions to building community resilience and reducing disaster risk.
Established in 1986 by the Nippon Foundation and jointly administered with the UNDRR, the award promotes a more people-centred, preventive approach to disaster risk and champions inclusive and accessible risk reduction practices.
Kenya was shortlisted alongside the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Indonesia, with Shee representing Africa as the sole finalist from the continent.
He described the accolade as a “powerful reminder that even in the hardest places, with courage, compassion, and collaboration, change is possible.”
Working in regions plagued by insecurity and displacement, Shee has pioneered a community-driven model linking peacebuilding with disaster preparedness.
“I dedicate this honour to the frontline workers, the local leaders, and above all, the communities who have shown the world what true resilience looks like. Let us continue building bridges of preparedness, equity, and peace. Let us never forget that the heart of disaster risk reduction lies not just in policies and frameworks, but in people—empowered, informed, and united.”
His approach involves empowering vulnerable communities to anticipate, plan for, and mitigate disasters while fostering peaceful coexistence between refugees and host populations.
Shee added that the award would significantly boost his work by raising its visibility both locally and globally.
“This award will profoundly impact my work by significantly amplifying the visibility and credibility of my integrated approach to peacebuilding and DRR. This recognition validates that fostering peace and empowering communities are not just humanitarian efforts but essential pillars of effective disaster risk reduction,” Shee noted.
Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged the challenges of working in high-risk environments but remained committed to the cause.
“Working in environments marked by extreme challenges, whether conflict, terror, climate crises, or chronic vulnerability, has not been easy. But it has been necessary. Because every life we protect, every home we help safeguard, and every system we strengthen brings us one step closer to a world where risk no longer turns into tragedy,” he said.
He also issued a call to action for fellow Kenyans to pursue similar honours: “I want to stamp and stop this legacy at this level and allow other like-minded individuals in our country or county to take it up from here. So this is an opportunity, and at the same time, a challenge, for my fellow citizens to embrace and win bigger and greater awards.”
Shee expressed gratitude to the institutions and individuals who supported him, including the Kenyan High Commission in Switzerland, the Embassy of Switzerland in Nairobi for expediting his visa within 24 hours, as well as teams from Kilifi County, the National Disaster Operations Centre, and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
“A heartfelt thank you to the Kenyan High Commission in Switzerland, led by Amb. Veronica, for the unwavering support, and to the amazing KICC Team—your energy and cheer lifted us all. Thank you for celebrating this moment with such spirit,” Shee said.
He dedicated the award to frontline workers, local leaders, and communities “who have shown the world what true resilience looks like.”
Shee Kupi Shee was honoured during a ceremony held in Geneva for his exceptional work in building community resilience in areas affected by conflict, climate-related disasters, and chronic vulnerability.
The award, jointly organised by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Nippon Foundation, celebrates outstanding contributions to preventing and reducing disaster risk.
“It is with deep humility and immense gratitude that I accept the Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction Laureate under the Highly Recommended category. This recognition is not just mine, it belongs to every community member who dared to hope, to every team that stood firm in adversity, and to every voice that chose resilience over despair,” he said.
The UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction is an international accolade recognising individuals, organisations, and local authorities for their contributions to building community resilience and reducing disaster risk.
Established in 1986 by the Nippon Foundation and jointly administered with the UNDRR, the award promotes a more people-centred, preventive approach to disaster risk and champions inclusive and accessible risk reduction practices.
Kenya was shortlisted alongside the United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Indonesia, with Shee representing Africa as the sole finalist from the continent.
He described the accolade as a “powerful reminder that even in the hardest places, with courage, compassion, and collaboration, change is possible.”
Working in regions plagued by insecurity and displacement, Shee has pioneered a community-driven model linking peacebuilding with disaster preparedness.
“I dedicate this honour to the frontline workers, the local leaders, and above all, the communities who have shown the world what true resilience looks like. Let us continue building bridges of preparedness, equity, and peace. Let us never forget that the heart of disaster risk reduction lies not just in policies and frameworks, but in people—empowered, informed, and united.”
His approach involves empowering vulnerable communities to anticipate, plan for, and mitigate disasters while fostering peaceful coexistence between refugees and host populations.
Shee added that the award would significantly boost his work by raising its visibility both locally and globally.
“This award will profoundly impact my work by significantly amplifying the visibility and credibility of my integrated approach to peacebuilding and DRR. This recognition validates that fostering peace and empowering communities are not just humanitarian efforts but essential pillars of effective disaster risk reduction,” Shee noted.
Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged the challenges of working in high-risk environments but remained committed to the cause.
“Working in environments marked by extreme challenges, whether conflict, terror, climate crises, or chronic vulnerability, has not been easy. But it has been necessary. Because every life we protect, every home we help safeguard, and every system we strengthen brings us one step closer to a world where risk no longer turns into tragedy,” he said.
He also issued a call to action for fellow Kenyans to pursue similar honours: “I want to stamp and stop this legacy at this level and allow other like-minded individuals in our country or county to take it up from here. So this is an opportunity, and at the same time, a challenge, for my fellow citizens to embrace and win bigger and greater awards.”
Shee expressed gratitude to the institutions and individuals who supported him, including the Kenyan High Commission in Switzerland, the Embassy of Switzerland in Nairobi for expediting his visa within 24 hours, as well as teams from Kilifi County, the National Disaster Operations Centre, and the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
“A heartfelt thank you to the Kenyan High Commission in Switzerland, led by Amb. Veronica, for the unwavering support, and to the amazing KICC Team—your energy and cheer lifted us all. Thank you for celebrating this moment with such spirit,” Shee said.
He dedicated the award to frontline workers, local leaders, and communities “who have shown the world what true resilience looks like.”
Lamu County
peacebuilder
UN Sasakawa Award
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