A multi-country risk profiling workshop

Over  the  past  years, as part of the “Building  Disaster  Resilience  to  Natural  Hazards in Sub-Saharan African Regions, Countries and Communities” Programme funded by the European Union, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) supported the National Disaster Management Agencies in 16 countries in the development of their national disaster loss inventories (DesInventar) and in elaborating risk-sensitive budget reviews aiming to identify opportunities for DRR mainstreaming. As part of the same programme, in collaboration with the CIMA Research Foundation, country-level risk profiles for the assessment of flood and drought-related disaster risk were developed for the 16 countries.

Following these achievements, UNDRR in collaboration with AUC and regional economic communities: IGAD, SADC, ECCAS, EAC is organising a workshop on using risk information to improve disaster risk management for 16 member states in Nairobi. The workshop will focus on the translation of risk information into policy. The participants will consider the contribution of distinct tools in the development of national strategies, planning and risk-informed public investment. Among these tools are probabilistic risk assessments, economic assessments of disaster risk reduction and disaster loss inventories/databases.

Country-level disaster risk assessment

Country-level probabilistic risk profiles have been updated using data and information made available during the national risk profiling seminars (www.riskprofilesundrr.org). Are calibration and validation of the full scientific model has been performed with new data and considering additional evidence provided during the national risk profiling workshops by  the national stakeholders.  The present workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss the value of integrating different types of data and the involvement of diverse stakeholders into national disaster risk profiling processes. Guidelines on the  usability of risk profiles in DRR/CCA  and sustainable development policies, strategies and planning will be presented and reviewed by the participants. The aim of the guidelines is to translate scientific evidence into concrete, applicable development strategies and policy suggestions both for the medium and for the long term. It details the advantages of the probabilistic risk assessment methodology employed in the development of the national disaster risk profiles and puts It forward in a language used by decision-makers. It elaborates on ways to extrapolate risk information from risk profiles so as to formulate targets and objectives for strategic plans and to prioritize DRR measures and investment based on the results of risk profiles.

Disaster loss accounting

Disaster loss databases (DLDBs) are essential for countries to account for losses and monitor progress against the Sendai Targets. UNDRR is promoting a global initiative to build national disaster databases with an open-source methodology and a  software (DesInventar,  www.desinventar.net),  which  allows for a homogeneous capture, analysis and graphic representation of information on disaster occurrence and losses. Over the past years, UNDRR provided support for the in the development of national disaster loss databases in the 16 countries. The workshop will provide an opportunity to understand the role of DLDBs in a country’s focus on maximising its use of risk information. Of interest will be to discuss the value of registering not only large-scale events but also small-scale yet frequent events(understanding extensive risk)  and understanding disaster trends and loss patterns.