The Sendai Framework Monitor: Essential for disaster risk reduction in Africa
From 4 to 5 October 2023, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) hosted an African Peer Learning Workshop on data collection for reporting and policy-making on the Sendai Framework Monitor (SFM) in Tunis, Tunisia. UNDRR brought together 30 SFM Focal Points from across Africa to share experiences, learn from each other, and identify best practices for improving the quality and quantity of SFM reporting across the African continent. By strengthening data collection and reporting on the Sendai Framework, countries in Africa can better track their progress on DRR and ensure that they are on track to meet the targets of the Sendai Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The Sendai Framework is a global agreement to reduce disaster risk, and the SFM is a tool to monitor progress towards the achievement of the Framework’s seven targets. The Sendai Framework Monitor provides an opportunity for countries to collect event-based and annual data on disaster impacts on people and assets; and to design, monitor and evaluate disaster risk management measures and policies to boost progress. Countries can use the data captured in the SFM to inform and tailor policies, prioritize resources, and build the resilience of communities. Mami Mizutori, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction opened the workshop stating,
“The SFM makes it possible to collect annual data on the impacts of disasters on people, infrastructure, and essential services, and to monitor and evaluate DRR measures and policies with the aim of improving them.” She also highlighted that around 70% of the countries in the region are reporting, and that SFM focal points are in the front line to advocate for prevention in their respective countries.
The peer learning workshop in Tunis was a valuable opportunity for SFM Focal Points to share experiences, learn from each other, and identify ways to improve the quality and quantity of SFM reporting. Through the exchange of best practices, participants identified the need for increased advocacy to ensure strong institutional arrangements are established and implemented for strengthened SFM reporting. SFM focal points recognized that they need to build the capacity of other government ministries and institutions to ensure they understand the Sendai Framework and how to measure the different indicators for the seven targets. As a result of the workshop, the SFM focal points developed a roadmap to boost SFM reporting across their countries in relation to the least reported targets. In the roadmap, participants prioritized capacity building of counterparts in other ministries to ensure disaster statistics were being accurately measured and collected nationally, in line with the Sendai Monitor.
The workshop was funded under the Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance and Recovery Capacities, a component of the Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Programme funded under the 11th European Development Fund.