Training of Trainers Workshop on Understanding the Sendai Framework in Russia: Towards the Development of National and Local Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies and Plans and Making Cities Resilient

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”.

It is recognized that cities are hubs for ideas, commerce, culture, science, productivity, social development and much more. At their best, cities have enabled people to advance socially and economically. Yet now that half of the world’s population live in cities, making sustainable and resilient cities - amidst a changing climate, rapidly depleting resources, and unplanned urbanization - is one of our greatest challenges and opportunities.

The engagement of cities and local authorities has been at the forefront of discussion in many of the global forums including the Third UN World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) where the Sendai Framework was adopted. Cities are key to tackling local risks and it is highly encouraged for cities to build resilience through sustainable and inclusive development – development that addresses the root causes of existing risks and prevents the creation of new ones.

Through the Making Cities Resilient (MCR) Campaign, launched in 2010 with an aim to increase political engagement and raise awareness on disaster risk reduction at the local level, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) has been supporting the local governments in reducing risk, addressing sustainable development challenges, and to achieve global Target E of the Sendai Framework and indicator 11b of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), i.e. the development of DRR strategies and action plan.

This workshop aims to:

• provide an overview on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and its linkage to Sustainable Development Goals: from the global framework to local implementation
• Introduce useful tools for assessing the resilience progress at national level and in cities including the Sendai Framework custom indicators, the New Ten Essentials and the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities
• Practice the development of disaster risk reduction and resilience action plan
• Exchange experiences among participants
• Professional development of specialists involved in emergency situations in Russia