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JICA is an implementation agency for technical cooperation of Japan's official development assistance (ODA). Its aim is to contribute to the socioeconomic development or the reconstruction of developing countries. JICA currently maintains offices in about 100 countries worldwide and is expanding activities in over 160 countries and regions.
Controlling natural hazards is difficult and, thus, enhancing social capacity to cope with disasters is one of the most effective ways to manage and reduce disaster risks. JICA, based on the concept of disaster management cycle, has been providing support to enhance the capacity of societies to cope with disasters from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Enhancing the capacity to cope with disasters and reduce damage caused by disasters require capacity to take adequate actions in the phases of disaster prevention (mitigation and preparedness), response, and recovery and reconstruction. JICA has defined the following goals in the respective phases of the disaster management cycle, and has been cooperating with countries to achieve these goals.
Development Strategy Goal 1 (Prevention Phase): Development of disaster-resilient communities and societies
Development Strategy Goal 2 (Response Phase): Quick and effective delivery of emergency assistance to victims (Saving human lives)
Development Strategy Goal 3 (Recovery and Reconstruction Phase): Smooth transition to and implementation of recovery and reconstruction
Development strategy goal 1 "Development of disaster-resilient communities and societies" has been given first priority because measures for disaster management and risk reduction should be most effective when they are taken during the prevention (mitigation and preparedness) phase before actual disasters occur.
- Create and strengthen national institutional and legislative frameworks
- Assess, develop and allocate resources
- Promote community participation in disaster risk reduction
- Assess national and local risks
- Develop early warning systems
- Support the development of capabilities
- Assess and monitor apparent regional-level risks
- Manage and exchange information
- Strengthen networks
- Promote and strengthen activities of disaster risk reduction in communities and schools
- Research
- Public awareness
- Environmental and natural resource management
- Social and economic development practices
- Land-use planning and other technical measures
- Strengthen policy, technical and institutional capabilities in regional, national and local disaster management.
- Promote and support dialogue, exchange of information and coordination among all levels of agencies and institutions concerned with early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, disaster response, and development.
- Strengthen and, when necessary, develop coordinated regional approaches, and create or upgrade regional policies, operational mechanisms, plans and communication systems.
- Prepare or review and periodically update disaster preparedness and contingency plans and policies at all levels. Promote regular disaster preparedness exercises, including evacuation drills, with a view to ensuring rapid and effective disaster response and access to essential food and non-food relief supplies, as appropriate, to local needs.
The Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) online platform allows stakeholders to inform the public about their work on DRR. The SFVC online platform is a useful toolto know who is doing what and where for the implementation of the Sendai Framework, which could foster potential collaboration among stakeholders. All stakeholders (private sector, civil society organizations, academia, media, local governments, etc.) working on DRR can submit their commitments and report on their progress and deliverables.