Workshop on the Understanding the Sendai Framework at National and Local Level: Development of Risk Reduction Strategies and Plans in the Arab States

Background and Introduction

At the Third UN World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) in March 2015, 187 UN member states adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 – the global blueprint for disaster risk reduction (DRR).

The Sendai Framework was the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, with seven global targets and four priorities for action. It provides the way forward to prevent and reduce disaster risk and offers a solution to saving lives, livelihoods and assets as well as for reducing the fiscal burden on governments to bail-out the aftermath of failed ‘development’.

The Sendai Framework’s primary focus on stronger risk management is one of the key elements that binds together the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Implementation of the Sendai Framework, addressing a broad scope of both natural and man-made hazards and related environmental, technological and biological hazards, will substantially lower the level of disaster risk and losses, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Under the leadership of national governments embracing all actors at all levels, and all-of-society engagement, the Sendai Framework is a means to protect the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of people, communities, businesses and countries.

Among its seven global targets (a) – (g), target (e) 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.2

Within the guidance and spirit of the Sendai Framework, the UN member states have requested UNISDR to continue its mandate of facilitating the implementation, review and monitoring of the framework. Accordingly, the UNISDR provides training on disaster risk reduction with affiliated organizations to countries and relevant stakeholders to:

• Increase understanding of the Sendai Framework and the case for disaster risk reduction across all sectors
• Increase understanding on how to develop national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020
• Understand how to use and adapt available tools and guidance for monitoring the implementation of the Sendai Framework at various levels

Workshop Purpose

The overall purpose of this workshop is to strengthen understanding of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction towards the development of national and local disaster risk reduction strategies and monitoring implementation of the Sendai Framework.

Workshop Objectives and Expected Outcomes

Objectives:

Overall, the training course will provide an opportunity to:

• Better understand the rationale, concepts and frameworks for disaster risk reduction
• Understand the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and overall requirements for implementation and monitoring in coherence with the Sustainable Development Goals, including the Sendai Framework Monitor process and available tools
• Understand how to develop national and local DRR strategies in line with the Sendai Framework – in particular towards the achievement of Sendai Framework Target (E) by 2020, shared by indicators for SDGs 1, 11 and 13.
• Plan the way forward: scaling up capacity development on Sendai Framework implementation, monitoring and aligning development plans and strategies with the Sendai Framework

Expected Outcomes:

After completing this workshop, the participants will be able to:

• Understand and describe the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, in particular: the expected outcome and goal, priorities for action, global targets, the role of States and other relevant stakeholders
• Understand the Sendai Framework Monitor and the linkages with the SDGs reporting tool
• Identify the key stakeholders in the Sendai Framework Monitor and national planning processes
• Make the case for disaster risk reduction through shared case studies
• Make use of or adapt the UNISDR tools and resources available for Sendai Framework planning and implementation monitoring at national level
• Develop DRR action plans towards the development of national and local DRR strategies, with objectives and SMART indicators, in coherence with the Sendai Framework, based on the workshop methodology