Workshop on the Understanding the Sendai Framework in coherence with the SDGs in the Philippines: Towards the implementation of the national disaster risk reduction strategy and Sendai Framework Monitoring

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”.

Pursuit of such a comprehensive goal, requires a strategic approach and a well-defined plan to ensure efforts are coordinated, while still being inclusive of whole-of-society, and to ensure resources are efficiently used across all sectors and by all stakeholders. Reflecting this foundational requirement, Target E of the Sendai Framework 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.

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 improve understanding of the Sendai Framework, including planning for its implementation and use of relevant monitoring tools.

The Philippines.

The Asia and Pacific region and the Philippines are particularly vulnerable to disasters. Between 1970 and 2010, disasters and natural hazards caused an estimated 1.7 million deaths in the region, which was more than half the global total. Extreme weather events are expected to increase in the years to come because of the onset of climate change.

While preparedness and disaster risk reduction actions have reduced lives lost, the economic impact of such disasters continued to rise. According to the UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 20174, the February 2017 6.7 magnitude earthquake affected over 53,000 people. And between 2006 and 2013, 78 recorded disasters (wrought by two droughts, 24 floods, 50 typhoons/tropical storms, one earthquake and one volcanic eruption) valued damage and losses for agriculture alone at $3.8 billion, with damage to over six million hectares of crops. Most of the losses were caused by typhoons/storms. To address disaster risk and increase resilience, the Philippines integrates disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation into national, sectoral, regional and local development policies, plans and budgets.5
In 2015-2016, the UNISDR and OCD with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea conducted a series of three workshops aimed at supporting the capacity development and pilot testing of draft Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction indicators at a national level by the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The final workshop was delivered as a training of trainers that aimed to support the sustainable advancement of capacity development initiatives from national to subnational levels within the Philippines, as well as contribute to the development of an international cadre of disaster risk reduction professionals.6 This follow-up workshop will further support the capacity development of the NDRRMC and other relevant stakeholders to bring their understanding of the planning, implementation and monitoring support tools available up-to-date, including the Sendai Framework Monitor System.

Workshop Purpose

The overall purpose of this Understanding the Sendai Framework in coherence with the SDGs in the Philippines: Towards the implementation of the national disaster risk reduction strategy and Sendai Framework Monitoring workshop is to strengthen understanding of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction requirements for developing and adopting national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020, in coherence with the SDGs, and to strengthen institutional mechanisms for implementation and monitoring mechanisms.

Workshop Objectives

Overall, the training course will provide an opportunity for participants to:

• Refresh understanding of concepts and trends in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and sustainable development

• Increase understanding of the country’s status of the Sendai Framework Monitor process and the development of national strategy and plan(s) for disaster risk reduction related to SDGs 1, 11 and 13

• Strengthen partnership and understanding of the institutional arrangements needed for Sendai Framework implementation and monitoring, in coherence with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement on climate change

• Advance collaboration on national DRR action planning towards the adoption of national DRR strategy by 2020 (Sendai Framework target E related to SDGs 1, 11 and 13)

• Co-create and/or revise indicators for the national DRR strategy informed by “Sendai Framework Monitor custom (national) targets and indicators”

• Understand and use the Sendai Framework Monitor for global and national reporting, including coordination requirements for the collection of data

• Plan the way forward: scaling up for how to work together to reduce the risks and impacts of disasters (e.g. capacity development, planning, implementation and monitoring)

Expected Outcomes

By the end of this training workshop, participants will have:

• Increased understanding of the links between disaster risk reduction, climate change and sustainable development for planning, implementation and monitoring

• Identified key required cooperation across sectors/ministries and relevant stakeholders for disaster risk reduction planning in coherence with climate change and sustainable development

• An understanding of recommendations on the approach and requirements for developing and adopting DRR strategies by 2020 in line with Sendai Framework target E related to SDGs 1, 11 and 13

• Understanding of the guidance and tools available for support and monitoring of Sendai Framework implementation

• Revised or drafted DRR Action Plan with relevant national indicators for monitoring the DRR strategy and/or plan(s) towards the adoption of national and local DRR strategies by 2020

• Hands-on experience and understanding of the Sendai Framework Monitor and guidance available.

• Enhanced understanding of the coordination requirements for data collection

• Understanding of how to use the workshop materials and tools to support capacity development and planning in country towards the achievement Sendai Framework target E related to SDGs 1, 11 and 13.