HFA 2005-2015 Mid-Term Review

Background

The World Conference on Disaster Reduction was held by decision of the United Nations General Assembly in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan from 18-22 January 2005. It adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (HFA) as a systematic, strategic blueprint to guide national and international efforts to reduce vulnerabilities and risks induced by naturally occurring hazards and human-made processes.

The Hyogo Framework states that its implementation "will be appropriately reviewed" and requests the UNISDR to "prepare periodic reviews on progress towards achieving [its] objectives and priorities... and provide reports and summaries to the [General] Assembly and other United Nations bodies... based on information from national platforms, regional and international organisations and other stakeholders...". Anticipating the approaching mid-point of the HFA, the UN Secretary General indicated to the General Assembly in 2008 that the second session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in June 2009 would initiate the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the HFA expected by 2010; this was welcomed by the General Assembly.

The second session of the Global Platform held in Geneva on 16-19 June 2009 discussed the scope and modalities for the Mid-Term Review and concluded that it should "address strategic and fundamental matters concerning its implementation to 2015 and beyond".

Objective

The Mid-Term Review's main objective is to provide a critical analysis of HFA implementation over the first five years of its existence with a view to inform its continued implementation through 2015 as well as to provide initial thinking about any future international framework on disaster risk reduction that would follow it beyond 2015.

Methodology

Conceptual Framework and Key Questions

The Review was coordinated by the UNISDR secretariat which sought inputs from relevant stakeholders, including through the use of on-line resources; the contracting of consultants; the compilation and analysis of the information received.

A set of broad strategic questions, with relevant sub-questions, was formulated with a view to provide information about the extent to which the HFA has progressed so far: what elements have been obstacles and drivers of success to its implementation; how can countries and communities further their commitments and action to ensure "substantial reduction of losses" in the evolving global context for disaster risk reduction, and what elements emerge at this stage as relevant to ensure continued focus and action at the international and national level in DRR beyond 2015.

Different analytical tools were employed in order to :

• Ensure a thorough and reliable qulitative process;
• Ensure a broad outreach of all stakeholders involved;
• Allow for the cross validation of findings;
• Eventually contribute to a stronger buy-in of the review from concerned stakeholders.

Advisory Group

An Advisory Group for the Mid-Term Review was appointed by the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction to provide advice to enhance the relevance, quality and utility of the outcome of the Mid-Term Review of the Hyogo Framework for Action. It is expected that the Advisory Group will provide technical and strategic guidance to the Review process and will contribute to its outreach, buy-in and follow-up.

Key Documents

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