Workshop on Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction - China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Mongolia

Background:

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR) was adopted at the Third UN World Conference on DRR (March 2015, Sendai, Japan), and will serve as an international guideline for DRR for the next 15 years.

At the 4th Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management held in October 2015, the three Parties decided to strengthen cooperation from two aspects, the three Parties decided to strengthen cooperation from two aspects: 1) promoting the implementation of the SFDRR, and 2) education and training.

They also agreed to utilize existing education and training institutes in the three countries, such as UNISDR's Office for Northeast Asia and Global Education Training Institute (ONEA-GETI) in the ROK, Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) in Japan and National Disaster Reduction Centre of China (NDRCC) in China, to develop government officials’ capacities for disaster management and DRR.

UNISDR ONEA-GETI proposed to co-organize a workshop with TCS for officials of the three countries and Mongolia, with a focus on SFDRR.

Workshop Purpose:

• To implement the outcome of the 4th Trilateral Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (October 28, 2015, Tokyo, Japan)
• To enhance government officials’ understanding of Sendai Framework for DRR by facilitating discussion on its
  implementation and particularly the role expected from the government.
• To facilitate exchange of disaster risk reduction implementation strategies and challenges among China, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Mongolia.

Outcomes:

All country representatives shared descriptions of their current disaster management and risk reduction authorities and frameworks, as well as their current plans and challenges to fully address disaster risk management with them. Mongolia, for example, emphasized the concept of “disaster protection” and their current actions towards establishing a supportive and integrated legislative and policy environment.

Among the experience shared were strategies for raising public awareness on disaster risk reduction, such as in Japan, tsunami drills and campaigns for the UN General Assembly designated “World Tsunami Awareness Day”; in Korea, the use of its ICT sector to develop applications for public early warning and risk reduction information. Plans for engaging other stakeholders were also shared, including, in China, increasing social mobilization by strengthening the role of NGOs and engaging communities in DRR planning; in Japan, emphasizing the role of women; and in Korea, the key role of local authorities.

Overall, participants’ improved their knowledge of the Sendai Framework innovations, including the shift from disaster management to disaster risk management, the role of government, the activities of importance for national and local level implementation, and corresponding indicators.