Workshop on Understanding the Sendai Framework in coherence with the SDGs in the ECOWAS Region: Towards the Development of Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies and Plans (Target E)

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.

Workshop Purpose

The overall purpose of this Workshop on Understanding the Sendai Framework in coherence with the SDGs in the ECOWAS Region: Towards the Development of Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies and Plans (target E) 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. The main organiser of this workshop is the UNISDR Regional Office for Africa whom are being supported by the Global Education Training Institute (GETI).

Workshop Objectives and Expected Outcomes

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”
• 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
• 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.