Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Sustainable Development: ‘Reviewing and re-aligning’ DRR Strategies and Plans for Resilient Development (2019 KOICA-UNDRR Joint Fellowship Program)
Background and Introduction
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is the global blueprint for disaster risk reduction (DRR). Adopted at the Third UN World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) in March 2015, it was the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, with seven global targets and four priorities for actions. The Sendai Framework reinforces the shift from managing disasters to managing risk, and also establishes resilience-building as a shared vision of the 2030 Agenda.
Specifically, the Sendai Framework calls for strong political leadership, commitment, and involvement of all stakeholders at all levels from local to national and international to pursue a goal to: prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk through the implementation of integrated and inclusive economic, structural, legal, social, health, cultural, educational, environmental, technological, political and institutional measures that prevent and reduce hazard exposure and vulnerability to disaster, increase preparedness for response and recovery, and thus strengthen resilience.
Pursuit of such a comprehensive goal, requires a strategic approach and a well-defined plan to ensure efforts are coordinated, while still being inclusive of whole-of-society, and to ensure resources are efficiently used across all sectors and by all stakeholders. Reflecting this foundational requirement, Target E of the Sendai Framework calls to “substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020”. This precise target is shared with indicators of SDG 1 that calls for an end to poverty, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 13 on climate action.
Within the guidance and spirit of the Sendai Framework, the UN member states have requested the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to continue its mandate of facilitating the implementation, review and monitoring of the Framework. Accordingly, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction provides technical support and training on disaster risk reduction with affiliated organizations to countries and relevant stakeholders to improve understanding of the Sendai Framework and disaster risk management, including planning for its implementation.
Workshop Purpose:
The overall purpose of this Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Sustainable Development: ‘Reviewing and re-aligning’ DRR Strategies and Plans for Resilient Development workshop is to share common progress on National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and Plan implementation, and identify approaches and opportunities to strengthen the plan and its implementation towards 2030.
Objectives:
Overall, the training workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to:
- Refresh understanding of concepts and trends in disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation and sustainable development.
- Become familiar with the latest ‘Words Into Action’ guidance and tools for DRR strategy development, implementation and monitoring.
- Share their country’s lessons and recommended approaches for developing and implementing national DRR strategies in coherence with development, climate change and sectoral plans and strategies.
- ‘Review and re-align’ current DRR strategies and implementation action plans.
- Strengthen understanding of the institutional arrangements and partnerships needed for Sendai Framework implementation at national and/or regional level.
- Plan the way forward: scaling up for how to work together to reduce the risks and impacts of disasters.
Expected Outcomes
After completing this workshop, the participants will be able to:
- ‘Make the Case for DRR’: share deepened understanding of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (goal, outcome, targets, priorities, principles) as an imperative for addressing climate change and sustainable development.
- Understand recommended approaches and requirements for developing, implementing and monitoring national and local DRR strategies in line with Sendai Framework target E related to SDGs 1, 11 and 13.
- Use or adapt the workshop tools and approach to ‘review and re-align’ ongoing strategic planning, implementation and monitoring processes at various levels.
- Consider DRR case studies to highlight and inspire implementation mechanisms.
- Understand why and how continuous M&E, partnerships and strategic capacity development are necessary to achieve the Sendai Framework.