Towards a post-2015 framework forDisaster Risk Reduction

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Boat schools bring classroom to Bangladesh's flood-hit children

posted: 09/03/2015
Hundreds of students in the northern Bangladesh district are taught in floating schools, an initiative to make education available to children whose lives are complicated by regular flooding. Governments meeting in Japan from March 14-18 to adopt a new action plan to reduce the risk of disasters are expected to call for better ways to protect education before, during and after crises... - read more »

UNDP: Why is disaster risk governance so essential?

posted: 05/03/2015
The new global DRR framework offers a historic opportunity to recognize the importance of risk governance and the related processes that are so elementary for securing the long-term sustainability of both disaster risk reduction and development outcomes. Let us seize this moment, not squander it, writes Angelika Planitz, UNDP Disaster and Climate Risk Governance Advisor... - read more »

UNDP: Enhancing last-mile early warning in the Caribbean

posted: 05/03/2015
Working with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean, UNDP and partners are undertaking measures to ensure that warning information on potential and impending disasters is fast, reliable and effective... - read more »

CBM: Disaster risk reduction - Inclusion key to resilience

posted: 05/03/2015
Since 2012, CBM Internatonal with partners have been advocating to ensure that the post-2015 framework is disability-inclusive. Persons with disabilities are among the most disproportionately affected people during emergencies and should be actively involved in the disaster risk and emergency management cycle - to be addressed at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai... - read more »

UNDP: Serbia launches the National Disaster Management Program

posted: 04/03/2015
The UN Country Team together with CADRI provides support to Government’s participation in the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction by introducing the elements of the Hyogo Framework of Action II into Government’s planning for disaster risk reduction and management. The Hyogo Framework for Action has taken us from purely responding to emergencies to a 'disaster risk reduction' way of thinking, said Vojackova-Sollorano... - read more »

What role can business play in dealing with disasters? - Opinion

posted: 25/02/2015
Neil Buhne from UNDP’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery discusses how the private sector's expertise and resources can help countries boost their capacity to rapidly response to natural disasters... - read more »

UNDP: Innovative public-private partnerships are key to Post-2015 success

posted: 13/02/2015
As we prepare to establish a successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action, we would do well to look at public-private partnership programmes like Get Airports Ready for Disasters (GARD) as examples of how comprehensive disaster risk reduction must be done, says Neil Buhne of UNDP, highlighting examples from Indonesia, Uzbekistan and FYR Macedonia... - read more »

UNICEF: Climate justice - The road to Sendai and Paris

posted: 12/02/2015
'A key thing is how to get back to normalcy and get back on track. How quickly this happens after a disaster depends on what we do in terms of preparedness beforehand,' said UNICEF's Regional Emergency Advisor, recalling recent typhoons Hagupit and Haiyan, recovery and education efforts... - read more »

Technological hazards: From risk reduction to recovery

posted: 11/02/2015
To date, no global agreement is in place for preventing and preparing for technological disasters. The post-2015 framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) offers a unique opportunity to address precisely this, and it gives us a real opportunity to strengthen national coordination and legislative frameworks, and to expand the capacities of all stakeholders for all risks, including technological ones... - read more »

Disability inclusion and disaster risk reduction at the UN HQ

posted: 28/10/2014
The zero draft submitted by the Co-Chairs of the Preparatory Committee contains five references to persons with disabilities, a mention of the principles of Universal Design, and the use of 'inclusive' and 'accessible' throughout the document, including accessible media... - read more »

Revised HFA stresses political leadership

posted: 21/10/2014
'The Zero Draft recognizes the need for a more people-centred approach to disaster risk. There needs to be more accountability for risk creation. Above all we recognize the fact that we have been presented with a unique opportunity to ensure coherence across the concurrent post-2015 processes on sustainable development, climate change and disaster risk,' Ambassador Thongphakd said... - read more »

EAC, AU Commission team to address Africa disaster risks

posted: 01/10/2014
Talking at the sixth Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction Moses Marwa said: 'Other underlying factors of climatic disasters include poverty, low awareness on disaster risks and weak and uncoordinated policy measures and limited capacities in disaster preparedness'... - read more »

Iran: Mayor of Qom takes action

posted: 01/10/2014
'The Mayor has proven to have the ability to mobilize others to adopt disaster resilient thinking and behaviour. He has influenced policy and change at the city and regional and national level so that laws are passed to reduce disaster risk,' advisor to the Mayor of Qom, Mr Reza Bathaee said... - read more »

Unheard voices in the Tohoku disaster: Toward international policy community

posted: 26/08/2014
Lessons drawn from the Tohoku disaster provide key insights that can help prepare for cascading disaster risks in modern society. Early warning, risk assessment, education, research, knowledge, and investment are core components of disaster management, but critical attention must also be given to the linkages between elements, resources, systems, and activities at the local and national levels... - read more »

Central Asia and the Caucasus: Rescuers harmonizing actions at a regional conference

posted: 26/07/2014
A regional conference of Central Asia and South Caucasus states, gathering the heads of state agencies responsible for disaster prevention and population protection, representatives of UN agencies and international organizations and scientists, discussed proposals and recommendations for the post-2015 disaster risk reduction framework... - read more »

A step towards a post-2015 framework for DRR

posted: 06/06/2014
Participants at an Asia-Europe meeting were finalizing a new declaration on disaster risk reduction and management on Friday, writes Lean Alfred Santos for Devex. The Tacloban Declaration is meant to identify the gaps, challenges, best practices, innovation, systems and procedures for better DRRM in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region... - read more »

Disaster resilience to leave no one behind

posted: 23/05/2014
'We have an unprecedented opportunity to ensure sound disaster risk reduction policies are apparent throughout post-2015. Let’s take advantage of it', writes Harold Brooks, SVP for International Operations at the American Red Cross, for Devex... - read more »

Sticking points on the way to a new disaster reduction pact

posted: 15/05/2014
Regional consultations on the content and form of a new international agreement to tackle the risk of ‘natural’ disasters start in earnest this week. Governments, businesses, researchers and community groups are meeting in Abuja, Nigeria to agree a declaration from the Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction... - read more »

COPECO (Honduras) y UNISDR encabezan consulta nacional sobre nuevo Marco Internacional para la RRD

posted: 09/05/2014
Con el objetivo de dar a conocer los avances del país en materia de gestión de riesgo para prevenir desastres, se llevó a cabo en Tegucigalpa un taller de consulta, en el cual participaron miembros de distintas organizaciones gubernamentales y privadas; Honduras fue uno de los seis países de Latinoamérica elegido para realizar dicha consulta... - read more »

‘DRR is development’ says Central Asia

posted: 04/04/2014
Consultations on the substance of the region’s contribution to the new post-2015 agreement on disaster risk reduction identified as key issues: the need for greater regional and sub-regional coordination, more information sharing on disaster losses, broader stakeholder involvement in disaster risk reduction and more risk-informed planning - including a gender-sensitive approach... - read more »

ONU encabezará consultas sobre nuevo marco para la reducción del riesgo de resastres en América del Sur

posted: 19/03/2014
En seguimiento al proceso de consultas para la elaboración de un marco para la reducción del riesgo de desastres después del 2015, la Oficina de las Naciones Unidas para la Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres, a través de su Oficina Regional para las Américas, apoyará las consultas nacionales en Perú y Paraguay... - read more »

Call for best practices and experiences in integrating gender in disaster risk reduction: Gender in disaster risk reduction / Convocatoria de buenas practicas y experiencias de integración del tema de género en la reducción de riesgo de desastres

posted: 05/03/2014
Esta convocatoria está destinada a representantes de agencias de gobierno, organizaciones no gubernamentales, organizaciones de la sociedad civil, comunidades y las agencias de cooperación desde el nivel local, nacional, subregional y regional. La fecha límite para la recepción de propuestas es el 23 de marzo de 2014 a media noche... - read more »

Americas parliament lays down resilience law

posted: 30/01/2014
Latin America has taken a step towards mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into national development policy instruments and poverty reduction strategies. The Latin American Parliament has adopted a protocol on disaster risk management that obliges its 23 member states to incorporate guiding principles of building resilience into legislation. ... - read more »

UN warns climate change is drowning Senegal

posted: 28/01/2014
Senegal's home minister Abdoulaye Daouda Diallo said that more nationwide coordination was needed for civil protection: 'We are thinking of setting up an office to provide more resources but we think we already have the means to put in place a national plan that can coordinate all government actions in the context of disaster risk management'... - read more »

Russia's G8 presidency to focus on disaster risk

posted: 22/01/2014
The Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margareta Wahlström, today welcomed Russia’s declared intention of using its G8 Presidency to promote integrated disaster risk management and to focus the world’s major economies on cooperation in developing a new global agreement on disaster risk reduction... - read more »

SDGs open way for ‘resilient development’

posted: 15/01/2014
'Disaster risk reduction should not be seen only as an imperative to protecting investments in development, but also as an opportunity for a transformative shift towards resilient development.' This statement from disaster-prone Bangladesh was one of several calls from governments for disaster and climate risk considerations... - read more »

4th call for abstracts for the 2015 Global Assessment Report

posted: 20/12/2013
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction is issuing a Fourth Call for Abstracts as part of the development of the 2015 Global Assessment Report (GAR15). The GAR15 will be published prior to the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015, in which governments will adopt a successor framework to the Hyogo Framework for Action... - read more »

Tunisia’s database a DRR ‘game-changer’

posted: 02/12/2013
'The database now enables the true impact of disaster to be known. This is major progress indeed,' said Mr. Lars Bernd, UNISDR Regional Programme Officer. 'Previously, the international EM-DAT database had only recorded 20 disasters for Tunisia since 1900. The new national database reveals that disaster losses are much more higher than previously thought'... - read more »

Arab region pushes for decentralized post-2015 framework

posted: 27/11/2013
'The post-2015 Hyogo Framework for Action should leave no one behind and should pay due attention to all,' said Ms. Fatma El Malah, member of the Advisory Group on Post-2015 HFA and former advisor to the League of Arab States Secretary-General on Climate Change... - read more »

Germanwatch Climate Risk Index 2014: Haiti, Philippines and Pakistan most affected

posted: 12/11/2013
'Our results are really a wake-up call to ramp up international climate policy and to better manage weather-related disasters', says Sönke Kreft of Germanwatch. 'The year 2015 represents a major milestone, which needs to deliver a new climate agreement, and the international disaster framework is also up for renewal'... - read more »

HelpAge: Living with disability and disaster

posted: 17/10/2013
The ASEAN Day for Disaster Management and International Day for Disaster Reduction was celebrated on 12 October in Bangkok, Thailand. The focus of the event was to amplify the critical issue of including the needs of people with disabilities, both now and in the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction... - read more »

Open data makes disaster risks visible

posted: 15/10/2013
'Open data, models and knowledge can help us understand our disaster risks. As of May this year, we have a global risk model for earthquakes and wind speed. We are now working hard with the GAR15 team to come up with a comprehensive global coverage for earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis that will include economic loss information,' said UNISDR’s Information Management Coordinator Craig Duncan... - read more »

Disaster risk reduction isn't all about money - ODI

posted: 15/10/2013
As attention turns to a successor agreement to the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (the current global blueprint on reducing disaster risk), governments seem to be recognising governance as a critical gap, highlighting broader stakeholder involvement and strengthening local capacities as priorities for the successor to the HFA... - read more »

What should a new disaster risk reduction deal focus on?

posted: 11/10/2013
As attention focuses on negotiating a successor to the Hyogo Framework for Action, governments appear to be getting the message. They are calling for the inclusion of women, children and disabled people in shaping the next framework and in leading disaster risk reduction efforts. ODI analysed 62 government statements made to the Global Platform... - read more »

2nd IRDR conference: Call for abstracts - Deadline extended

posted: 10/10/2013
The Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Programme invites submissions of abstracts from researchers, politicians, practitioners, funding agencies and disaster risk reduction-related organisations for its 2nd Integrated Research on Disaster Risk Conference, 7-9 June 2014... - read more »

74 parliaments, one message: Reduce disaster risk

posted: 08/10/2013
Legislator Mr Andrei Andreev, of the Belarus delegation, emphasized the importance of building on the success of the Hyogo Framework for Action: 'It is vital to endorse the post-2015 international framework for disaster risk reduction during the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan, in March 2015'... - read more »

La Campaña Tu voz

posted: 04/10/2013
La Federación Internacional de Sociedades de la Cruz Roja y de la Media Luna Roja lanzo la herramienta de participación Tu voz, que permitirá a las Sociedades Nacionales presentar puntos de vista de su personal, miembros, voluntarios y beneficiarios así como recoger ideas y opiniones del público en torno a la agenda de desarrollo post-2015... - read more »

Partnerships for disaster risk reduction

posted: 30/09/2013
Developing awareness and strategies for reduction of disaster risk is a shared responsibility, which requires cooperation between governments, civil society and private sector. Only via combined efforts will we be able to take sufficient measures to protect lives and livelihoods... - read more »

Local and regional leaders meet in Rabat to discuss 21st century agenda for cities

posted: 25/09/2013
As the United Nations and the international community redefine the development goals for the coming fifteen to twenty years, the discussions of Summit will also contribute to the development of the successor of the current 10-year international disaster risk reduction, the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015... - read more »

Norway gets ready for more extreme weather events

posted: 23/09/2013
'In Kvam (near Lillehammer, north of Oslo) we have had a once-in-every-50-years-flood twice in the last two years; houses were rebuilt after the first floods and then were destroyed again the next year,' Norwegian Minister Sand said. 'We could say that we were unlucky but in reality we must realise that we will continue to face such extreme weather because of climate change'... - read more »

OECD survey finds Hyogo Framework boosted donor funding for disaster risk reduction

posted: 19/09/2013
Six of the eleven donor respondents expected future funding to increase slightly due to factors such as increased ministerial attention to DRR, new policy focus on resilience, mainstreaming of DRR throughout development assistance programming and stronger links between DRR and climate change programming... - read more »

Analysis: How to make disasters less deadly for the disabled

posted: 16/09/2013
'A lot of the risk people face in disasters comes from poverty and social marginalization – where people live, what they live in, and their ability to move matters immensely when it comes to risk,' Myroslava Tataryn, a research fellow at the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told IRIN... - read more »

Un’indagine sulla disabilità nei vari scenari di emergenza

posted: 10/09/2013
Anche le persone con disabilità dell'Italia e i loro assistenti di cura potranno fornire entro il 25 settembre una preziosa collaborazione all’indagine promossa l’Ufficio delle Nazioni Unite che lavora per la riduzione del rischio in caso di calamità che intende produrre documenti più inclusivi nei confronti delle stesse persone con disabilità... - read more »

UN disaster framework 'in danger of not reaching goals'

posted: 06/09/2013
Tiziana Rossetto, reader in earthquake engineering at University College London, United Kingdom, says that the Hyogo Framework cannot be considered a failure. 'The progression towards risk reduction must be participatory,' she adds. 'Raising awareness is important but, at the same time, we should help local communities implement practical measures and education schemes'... - read more »

Analysis: Debating the best way to improve water and sanitation post-MDGs

posted: 06/09/2013
A leading water think tank today issued a call for a post-2015 development target on water aimed at making better use of scarce water supplies, realising the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, and increasing resilience to droughts and floods by 2030... - read more »

The long-term forecast for extreme weather

posted: 21/08/2013
Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation are increasingly being integrated, with growing focus on the impact of policies on infrastructure and people, and on building their resilience to face what might come their way, said Adaptation expert Saleemul Huq, one of the authors of the IPCC assessments... - read more »

UN disaster policy to get input from disabled people

posted: 12/08/2013
'It's too early to say what the take-up will be but we are optimistic that it will garner several hundred responses and provide input on the disabled for the post-2015 disaster risk reduction framework, which will succeed the Hyogo Framework for Action,' Denis McClean, spokesperson for UNISDR says... - read more »

Analysis: The UN in 2023

posted: 31/07/2013
'If UN agencies come together to collectively set standards, monitor the quality of response, disseminate lessons learned, and improve and monitor progress on disaster risk reduction, early warning and preparedness, “now that would be remarkable'... - read more »

UNISDR chief: 'Integrated action will help billions and save trillions'

posted: 08/07/2013
'I urge the world to follow the example of the Pacific and abandon the current norm of running separate and parallel strategies for disaster risk management and climate change. By committing to integrate the two approaches, the Pacific will benefit millions of people and avoid billions of dollars in economic losses,' the Head of the UNISDR, Margareta Wahlström said... - read more »

Caribbean SIDS adopt 'Kingston Outcome' in preparation for 2014 conference

posted: 04/07/2013
The meeting also included presentations and interactive dialogue with the UN system and regional organizations on ensuring integrated approaches regarding the emerging new UN institutional framework (post-Rio+20 outcomes and the post-2015 development agenda) and the positioning of SIDS within it... - read more »

Pacific goes to work early on disaster risk reduction

posted: 04/07/2013
'The key word is urgency. The environment is changing faster than you can adapt, so now we have new hazards, things people have never experienced before,' said Andrew Maskrey, lead author of the Global Assessment Report at the recent Asia launch of the report... - read more »

Australia leading the world in disaster risk reduction

posted: 29/06/2013
'Australia’s work to integrate disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and environmental considerations in AusAID programs abroad, consistent with efforts improve disaster resilience at home, tells me that Australia’s commitment is long-term as well as high-profile,' writes Margaret Wahlström, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction in her blog entry... - read more »

Do we need a new global approach to disaster risk reduction? - Opinion

posted: 11/06/2013
Does the current architecture and organisational mix really help to eliminate the ‘silent’ disasters and the everyday risks that now form a major part of how we understand disaster impacts? Or do we need a different constellation committed to making disaster risk reduction a central component of poverty reduction efforts?... - read more »

How did disasters fare in the post-2015 panel report? - Opinion

posted: 06/06/2013
Just a week after the end of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, the biggest gathering of the international disasters community for nearly a decade, the High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP) released its recommendations on future development goals... - read more »

Experts plead for standards and accountability in managing disaster risk

posted: 23/05/2013
Auditing and regulatory experts today said that accountability is paramount for all actors in disaster risk reduction, from victims and taxpayers to national Governments, international organizations and civil society. The experts were discussing disaster risk management standards and accountability for business and citizens as part of the Global Platform on Disaster Reduction... - read more »

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction concludes in Geneva, urging greater role for private sector, communities and children

posted: 23/05/2013
The fourth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which met from 19 to 23 May, helped lay the groundwork for the post-2015 development agenda, which highlights resilience to disaster and climate change... - read more »

Global Platform calls for immediate start on developing targets for risk reduction

posted: 23/05/2013
The three-day 4th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, attended by a record 3,500 people and representatives from 172 governments, ended today with a call for 'the immediate start of work to develop targets and indicators to monitor the reduction of risk' in the Chair's Summary at the closing plenary. The government of Japan also announced that it would be hosting the 2015 World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction... - read more »

Joint press release: Global platform side event on disability inclusiveness

posted: 22/05/2013
The purposes of the event were to increase awareness and visibility of disability inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and to create an opportunity to discuss the collective approach to the inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the post-2015 framework for DRR. It was co-organized by The Nippon Foundation, the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Disability inclusive DRR Network for Asia and Pacific (DiDRRN)... - read more »

Science and technology should contribute more to reducing disaster risk, say experts

posted: 22/05/2013
Experts in disaster risk reduction today urged that science and technology be applied more effectively to disaster management policy and practice. Their discussions, organized by the UNISDR Scientific and Technical Advisory Group, were part of the fourth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction... - read more »

Droughts, the ‘most devastating’ disasters, set to increase, warn climate change experts

posted: 22/05/2013
Every one-degree rise in temperature means a 20-fold increase in global conflicts, Wadid Erian, a specialist in arid zones and dry lands, told a meeting on drought resilience this morning. He and other speakers warned that, with droughts set to become even more frequent and intense, food shortages, water shortages and conflicts will also increase... - read more »

Local communities plead for greater involvement in disaster risk reduction

posted: 22/05/2013
Local communities, which were often the drivers of disaster resilience, should be more involved in decision-making and disaster planning, said speakers at a panel discussion this morning on community resilience... - read more »

World urged to speed up action on disaster reduction

posted: 22/05/2013
'I think we have to inject more sense of urgency and determination for the post-Hyogo process, and to... make sure that disaster risk reduction is everybody’s business,' Kristalina Georgieva, the European Commissioner, told journalists on Wednesday. 'The pyramid is still upside down - we still fund much more in response than in preparedness and prevention'... - read more »

Pacific countries taking the lead in addressing disaster and risks in an integrated manner

posted: 22/05/2013
'A major milestone for the development of this regional roadmap will be a joint meeting of the Pacific Platform for Disaster Risk Management and the Pacific Climate Change Roundtable in Nadi, Fiji next month.' 'The outcomes of the Joint Meeting will also feed into the development of the post 2015 Global Framework for Disaster Reduction and post 2015 Development Agenda,' said Dr Petterson... - read more »

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2013 High-Level Dialogue Communiqué

posted: 22/05/2013
Participants recognized that there is an urgent need to address the drivers of risk as this is instrumental to social, economic and environmental sustainability and well-being of people and this should be a core part of the post-2015 development agenda, future sustainable development goals, and the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change... - read more »

Neglected 'everyday' disasters fuel rising losses for poorest

posted: 22/05/2013
'People's own determination to get out of poverty should be matched by our commitment to redistribute risk and build equality, thereby supporting them to thrive and prosper, rather than just cope and survive in a world of increasing risks,' Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wrote in a foreword to the Views from the Frontline report... - read more »

‘No safer tomorrow’ without planning today, warn panellists

posted: 21/05/2013
The private sector’s potential role in building resilient societies, and especially in repairing vital infrastructure damaged by disasters, was highlighted by several panellists this afternoon at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which opened here yesterday... - read more »

Disaster risk reduction and sustainable development should be closely linked, say Global Platform speakers in Geneva

posted: 21/05/2013
The global consequences of disasters, and the need for strengthening resilience through partnerships and investment, were stressed at the opening ceremony of the fourth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Geneva this morning... - read more »

Japan: 'UN mulls excluding nuclear accidents from disaster prevention plan'

posted: 21/05/2013
Japan will be hosting the next UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in March 2015 in Sendai, northeastern Japan, the Japanese city devastated by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis... - read more »

Switzerland hosts the international conference on disaster risk reduction in Geneva

posted: 21/05/2013
Switzerland, hosting the event for the fourth consecutive time, was represented at the opening ceremony by the President of the Confederation, Ueli Maurer. In his speech, he spoke in favour of a second international regime that would enable the efforts undertaken since 2005 to be continued and their implementation to be strengthened... - read more »

UN to private sector: Change mindset on disaster resilience

posted: 21/05/2013
'Disaster risk management must become part of the investors’ mindset,' Margareta Wahlstrom told Devex in an email interview. The UNISDR chief discussed the Hyogo Framework for Action, the 10-year action plan developed in 2005 to reduce disaster losses, its impending successor and the vital role the private sector plays in building a more resilient world... - read more »

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction: Ensuring clear links between discussions on post-2015 frameworks

posted: 21/05/2013
The Global Platform is highly important for the international community to agree a strong successor framework that builds on the achievements of the Hyogo Framework for Action, and to ensure clear links between discussions on post-2015 frameworks to enable sustainable development through reduced disaster loss... - read more »

Stakeholders in disaster risk reduction stress need for community involvement, resilience, addressing root causes

posted: 20/05/2013
There would be no disaster resilience without effective decentralization, without empowering communities and without addressing social inequalities and poverty alleviation, local government representatives told a meeting there today... - read more »

Experts urge greater role for private sector in disaster risk reduction

posted: 20/05/2013
The private sector acts financially with a shorter payback requirement than the public sector, but if both are left to operate separately, opportunities will be lost, warned speakers in a discussion this afternoon of how to boost private-sector involvement in reducing disaster risk... - read more »

National disaster risk reduction should involve all stakeholders, clear mandates

posted: 20/05/2013
Clear roles and mandates are frequently lacking from national platforms for disaster risk reduction, said several government representatives meeting today on the international framework for disaster risk reduction to be adopted in 2015... - read more »

Private-public partnerships needed for disaster risk reduction

posted: 20/05/2013
The private sector is increasingly committed to disaster risk reduction, but more should be done to develop its partnerships with the public sector and communities, said business representatives attending consultations today at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction... - read more »

ODPM CEO represents the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva

posted: 20/05/2013
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) has accomplished significant achievements toward Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in planning, which includes the development of a National Comprehensive Disaster Management Plan guiding implementation of the National Comprehensive Disaster Management Policy to align DRR related activities across agencies... - read more »

Lebanon partakes in Geneva's Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

posted: 20/05/2013
'Despite Lebanon's crucial circumstances forming a new government, and seeking an election law, as well as the massive influx of Syrian refugees into Lebanon, the Lebanese did not fail to attend this landmark event in Geneva to display its efforts within the frame of DRR,' said the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Lebanon while visiting Lebanon's booth at the global platform's marketplace... - read more »

WMO participates in Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

posted: 20/05/2013
WMO has a booth at the Global Platform to showcase initiatives, projects and tools on early warning systems and disaster risk reduction. Throughout the Global Platform, senior WMO experts will take part in high-level meetings, plenaries, and feature events... - read more »

'Why I'm part of the conversation on climate change' - UNICEF

posted: 20/05/2013
'This 2013 follow-up session will focus on how risks for children can be reduced in practice and the role children can play. It will offer concrete recommendations for the post-2015 DRR policy framework, as the Hyogo Framework expires in 2015'... - read more »

A global charity is advocating for child-based disaster resilience planning at this week's Global Platform

posted: 20/05/2013
'Our message is to please listen to children and their needs for DRR, and include their needs in the next HFA2. This is absolutely doable – and we have found that children often come up with the best and most efficient solutions,' explains Jacobo Ocharan, Head of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Plan International... - read more »

The making of the Hyogo2 disaster prevention treaty

posted: 17/05/2013
Countries have begun discussing what a follow-up action plan, the Hyogo Framework for Action 2 (HFA2), should look like. The results of these talks, a sketch of the HFA2, will be presented at the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which begins in Geneva on 19 May... - read more »

Mayor Al's resilience road trip in Central America

posted: 07/05/2013
'Building alliances between cities is relevant because we all face similar risks,' said Alfredo Arquillano, the Vice-Mayor of San Francisco, Philippines as he described how in his city they sought to inculcate the value of volunteering and to promote the Hyogo Framework for Action, the international blue-print for disaster risk reduction, by translating it into local dialects... - read more »

ESDEC encerra II workshop estadual do marco de ação de hyogo para prefeituras da Costa Verde

posted: 06/05/2013
No total, foram 528 representantes, de 79 prefeituras, que participaram do II Workshop Estadual do Marco de Ação de Hyogo. Prefeitos e vice-prefeitos de 11 municípios também estiveram presentes... - read more »

UN convenes major conference on economic losses from disasters

posted: 23/04/2013
'This year's Global Platform is an opportunity to turn up the volume in the discussion on the importance of the private sector in reducing disaster risk. The timing could not be better as we have seen unprecedented levels of economic losses over the last three years even though we know the full extent of disaster-related losses is seriously underestimated and unaccounted for,' said UNISDR Chief, Ms Wahlström... - read more »

'Resilience': A stalwart of the post-2015 development agenda or just unhelpful jargon?

posted: 19/04/2013
'Any indicators, targets and goals related to these development disruptors should be universal as no country in the world can claim to avoid climate change impacts, prevent natural disasters from striking or promise that violence will never occur within their borders,' writes Eva Comba of the Overseas Development Institute... - read more »

'Women with disabilities need to be included in the 2015 development agenda' - Forum told

posted: 10/04/2013
The integration of women with disabilities in the 2015 development agenda is weak in the Pacific region told Ms Bridget Leduc, Gender Advisor of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community to delegates of the Pacific Regional Women with Disabilities Forum held in Noumea, New Caledonia... - read more »

Eight steps to climate-proof development in Africa

posted: 08/04/2013
'Climate change must be integrated into the post-2015 agenda, as ignoring it may condemn many Africans to a life of poverty,' warns Dr Richard Munang of UNEP. Water shortage, climate change, sea level rise, flooding and food insecurity are some of the hazards affecting the continent... - read more »

Join the online dialogue on reducing urban and local risks to shape the post-2015 HFA / Rejoindre le dialogue en ligne/ Únete al diálogo en línea

posted: 26/03/2013
UNISDR is pleased to announce the next round of online dialogues for the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction. This dialogue focuses on the 'Critical issues and priorities needed to address urban risks and local governance for disaster resilience'... - read more »

EU-Japan: forging closer cooperation in disaster management

posted: 25/03/2013
'Natural Disasters are becoming more intense and more frequent. The triple disaster that hit Japan in March 2011 showed that even the best prepared countries can be overwhelmed by the force of nature. We can better meet these challenges by working together. I am convinced that exchanging information and best practices will benefit us both, the EU and Japan,' said Commissioner Georgieva... - read more »

The Mayor of Mogadishu goes networking

posted: 22/03/2013
The Mayor of Mogadishu has got a result. After two tiring days traveling from his ruined city, Mohammed Ahmed Nur, was confident that something good would come out of the networking opportunity provided by the First Arab Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction organized by UNISDR and partners this week... - read more »

Arab States agree position on HFA2

posted: 21/03/2013
'The key principle of the HFA is that disaster risk management is not just the responsibility of the government, it is the responsibility of all the people of Bahrain. It's about working together. In the revised HFA I would like to see performance indicators to encourage improvement,' said Ahmed Hussain Abdulla, head of the National Committee for Disaster Management in the Kingdom of Bahrain... - read more »

Disaster risk reduction in the Arab world

posted: 20/03/2013
'Forest fires in Lebanon and earthquakes in Algeria are all reminders of how vulnerable this region is. As in other parts of the world, we know who suffers the most - the poor,' said Jordan Ryan, director of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery at the UN Development Programme... - read more »

Experts seek to unify Arab policies on disaster risk reduction

posted: 19/03/2013
Talking about the first Arab Regional Conference on DRR Margareta Wahlstrom, special representative of the UN secretary general for DDR said 'The timing could not be better as we are looking forward to the Arab region making a significant contribution towards revising and renewing the existing framework for DRR, the Hyogo Framework for Action'... - read more »

Jordan: Aqaba hosts meeting on reducing disaster risk in Arab states

posted: 19/03/2013
'It is the first time that decision makers, ministries, organizations and institutions from the Arab states come together to share experiences and promote regional coordination for reducing the impact of natural disasters', said Beat von Daeniken, Swiss Agency for Development and Coordination (SDC) Regional Director of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq... - read more »

Arab States seek agreement on reducing disaster risk at UN-backed conference

posted: 19/03/2013
'A shocking absence of enforced building construction standards, a sharp rise in urban poverty, and the growing and unchecked impact of climate change are among other factors that must make us even more determined to act decisively,' Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society and co-host of the conference, said in her opening statement... - read more »

Arab States seek agreement on reducing risk

posted: 19/03/2013
'Arab countries have made significant progress on the development front over the past decades,' commented Jordan Ryan, UNDP BCPR Director. 'However, such gains are put in jeopardy because of weak systems for disaster preparedness, which make the population vulnerable to a multitude of environmental disasters, especially in urban areas' he added... - read more »

Jordan sticks with HFA despite refugee crisis

posted: 18/03/2013
The Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation said it was a challenge to focus on more long-term issues around disaster risk reduction in such a context, but assured that he continued to be concerned by risks from natural hazards, particularly earthquakes, and requested support in identifying good models for earthquake insurance... - read more »

Central Asia meets on HFA2

posted: 14/03/2013
UNISDR Director, Neil McFarlane, said: 'The regional consultation on the post-2015 framework of action for disaster risk reduction has demonstrated that not only are disasters a serious concern in the region but these countries are committed to agreeing on measures which reduce the risk and save lives as well as future economic assets in the HFA2'... - read more »

Call to save lives and protect investments from war and disasters

posted: 13/03/2013
'Risk is growing faster than our capacity to manage it. Economic development must be accompanied by disaster resilience which is essential to poverty reduction,' said the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction, Margareta Wahlström... - read more »

The Great East Japan Earthquake - Two years on

posted: 07/03/2013
Japan is committed to sharing knowledge and lessons learned from the earthquake, and subsequent recovery, with the international community. Japan will host the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in early 2015 and make efforts to deliver an effective post-Hyogo Framework for Action... - read more »

Algeria says focus on local populations in 'new HFA'

posted: 20/02/2013
Dr. Mohamed Belzougui, Director of the National Centre for Applied Research in Seismic Engineering, said: 'Decision makers and technical personnel need to be better equipped to exert their most important functions in disaster risk reduction through training and access to cutting-edge technology.'... - read more »

Indonesia: Disaster management to be key component of global development agenda post-2015

posted: 19/02/2013
'In 2010 alone, over 42 million people were displaced by disasters,' across the globe, the President said at the opening ceremony in the State Palace. 'We must safeguard Millennium Development Goals gains from setbacks from natural disasters,' he added, reports Tempo Interactive... - read more »

Africa stakes out its position on HFA and the post-2015 development agenda

posted: 15/02/2013
'The will to mitigate the impact of disasters is evident across the continent from the ongoing detailed risk profiling of every district in Ethiopia to the successful early warning systems which Mozambique demonstrated in recent weeks as flood waters engulfed large parts of the country,' said UNISDR Chief, Margareta Wahlstrom in her closing statement of the 4th Africa Regional Platform... - read more »

East African backing for Hyogo Framework

posted: 11/02/2013
Introducing the theme of the forum, 'Reducing Drought Risk in Africa - Measuring Impact, Strategizing for the Future', UNISDR's Pedro Basabe said 'One very important outcome of these two days will be the development of a disaster risk reduction investment strategy for Africa which will include drought and other hazards which are hindering poverty reduction efforts across the continent'... - read more »

Colombia gets ready for Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction / Colombia se prepara para la Plataforma Global sobre la Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres

posted: 01/02/2013
'Colombia has made remarkable progress in establishing a strong institutional and legal framework for disaster risk reduction. It is a role model for the region. Law 1523 is also proof that the country has taken on board the lessons from the 2010 floods which affected almost 3.5 million people,' said Ricardo Mena, head of the UNISDR Regional Office for the Americas... - read more »

Africa to address post-2015 disaster resilience agenda

posted: 24/01/2013
Governments from over 50 countries in Africa will meet in Arusha, Tanzania from 13-15 February for the Fourth Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (ARP) to address the challenges of building a disaster resilient society... - read more »

Gulf Cooperation Council takes first steps to develop risk reduction road map

posted: 18/01/2013
The Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf has called for strong regional commitment towards development of a disaster risk reduction strategy to strengthen the resilience of nations and individuals to natural hazards... - read more »

Opinion: Tracking proposals on future development goals

posted: 08/01/2013
'Just when we thought they had reached top speed, debates on the post-2015 development agenda continue to intensify – with the UN High Level Panel on post-2015 reporting as early as May this year, and the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals due to kick off soon,' writes Gina Bergh for ODI... - read more »

Fiji to host Pacific platform for disaster risk management

posted: 28/12/2012
'We are targeting the involvement of ministers of government, civil society, non-government organisations, local/municipal government, community leaders, private sector, scientific community, donors and other stakeholders,' said Mosese Sikivou, the Deputy Director of the Disaster Reduction Programme at the Secretariat of the South Pacific Community... - read more »

Japan to host World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction

posted: 06/12/2012
The post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction is expected to offer the opportunity to scale-up disaster risk reduction efforts across the globe. There appears to be an emerging consensus from on-going consultations that it should build on the strengths of the HFA and focus on those elements that are still in need of further action... - read more »

Liberia: Peace and stability hold key to future development vision

posted: 28/11/2012
'Countries recovering from, or still experiencing, conflict are also exposed to natural hazards. They receive 90% of all humanitarian aid but only 1% of the development aid they receive is for disaster risk reduction. This shows we have not yet understood the links between conflict and fragility when it comes to investing in resilience in countries faced with the effects of disasters and conflict'... - read more »

UN starts work on action plan for risk reduction

posted: 19/11/2012
In her opening remarks, UNESCO Director General, Irina Bokova, said the meeting was an opportunity for creative thinking on how to strengthen the coherence of the UN system and to focus on strengthening resilience and disaster risk reduction as the first line of defense against climate change... - read more »

After Sandy world weighs in on disaster risk reduction

posted: 09/11/2012
The representative of Japan said the earthquake that rocked the country in March 2011 was one of the five most powerful earthquakes since 1900. Yet, despite the scale of the earthquake, the damage was minimised due to strong building codes and effective early warning systems. Japan therefore wanted to continue sharing the lessons learned in 2011 with the international community... - read more »

UNISDR reports on HFA to UN General Assembly

posted: 08/11/2012
Referring to the post-2015 development agenda and to sustainable development goals, UNISDR Chief, Margareta Wahlström said that 'ensuring disaster risk reduction considerations are included will be critical to ensuring the overarching goal of resilience is achieved'... - read more »

ODI: A big month for disaster resilience in the post-2015 development agenda

posted: 29/10/2012
In addition to October 2012 having been a big month for disaster resilience, it's also been a big year. While such profile is refreshing for those working to manage disaster risk, the reality is the future of disaster losses looks bleak, at least in the short-to-medium term, says ODI in a call for disaster resilience to become a priority for the post-2015 development agenda... - read more »

Communities come first: charting a new direction for disaster risk reduction

posted: 26/10/2012
'There is clear recognition that people at risk from disasters must be empowered. Post 2015, we should see disaster risk reduction feature more prominently on the international development agenda,' said Al Panico, acting head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Asia Pacific Office... - read more »

Overwhelming support in Asia for a new international agreement on disaster risk reduction

posted: 25/10/2012
'This Conference has been a major breakthrough in ensuring that building disaster resilience and reducing risk are embedded into the post-2015 development agenda. The world has always looked to Asia for leadership in disaster management and the Yogyakarta Declaration outlines clearly what the region’s expectations are for a new international agreement on disaster risk reduction'... - read more »

5th AMCDRR: IFRC calls for greater investment in local level disaster risk reduction efforts

posted: 23/10/2012
'Strengthening community resilience and reducing disaster risks are critical elements in promoting sustainable development. They must be part of the international development agenda beyond 2015, post-Hyogo Framework for Action and the Millennium Development Goals,' says Budi Adiputro, secretary general of the Indonesian Red Cross... - read more »

Indonesian president fears that disasters could push millions into poverty

posted: 23/10/2012
The UN High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which met last month for the first time, underlined that we must safeguard the MDG gains from setbacks caused by natural disasters and climate change... - read more »

IFRC: Looking beyond Hyogo - Editorial

posted: 22/10/2012
The 5th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction is an opportunity for governments to commit to a shared responsibility of continuing to reduce the loss in lives and social, economic and environmental assets from disasters, while continuing the fight against poverty and sustainable development beyond the 2005-2015 Hyogo Framework for Action and the 2000-2015 Millennium Development Goals... - read more »

Asian ministers meet in Indonesia to discuss impact of disasters on economic growth

posted: 19/10/2012
'This conference is an opportunity to make a significant contribution to developing a post-2015 framework on disaster risk reduction and ensuring that as we continue to implement the HFA we have real impact on reducing losses and building disaster resilience at the local level,' said Margareta Wahlström, Head of UNISDR... - read more »

Aid investments in disaster risk reduction - Rhetoric to action

posted: 18/10/2012
'Our analysis highlights the complexity and difficulties in trying to quantify donor investments in DRR. Improvements in the quality of donor reporting are essential if we are to have clarity around who does what in this space,' the report states... - read more »

ODI paper advises on post-2015 goal on disaster resilience

posted: 08/10/2012
The Overseas Development Institute has released a background note on options for including disaster resilience in post-2015 development goals. The paper highlights that disaster risk management cuts across traditional development sectors including health, education, infrastructure, water and agriculture, and it assesses how disaster resilience could be integrated 'horizontally' in a range of sector goals... - read more »

New survey on climate change adaptation in Europe

posted: 04/10/2012
'This is still an emerging issue and we should keep the focus on climate change adaptation to ensure that it is adequately addressed in the new framework on disaster risk reduction which will be agreed in 2015,' said Working Group chairman, Dag Olav Hogvold, Senior Adviser, Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning, Norway... - read more »

UK completes first-ever HFA peer review

posted: 03/10/2012
'There is no doubt that the peer review has considerably raised the profile of the Hyogo Framework for Action at Ministerial level and among senior civil servants. Everyone was impressed with the quality of the team, their professionalism and commitment,' said Steven Barnes, representing the UK Civil Contingencies Secretariat... - read more »

Islamic Relief: As floods and drought worsen, short-sighted response is costing lives and squandering scarce aid money

posted: 01/10/2012
'We need to give poor countries a fighting chance against climate change by investing in things like drought-resistant crops, rebuilding flood-prone houses on higher ground and preserving food and seeds for when disaster strikes. If we do that we will not only save lives but save a lot of money on emergency aid'... - read more »

Children ask to be heard on post-HFA

posted: 30/07/2012
'Children are not just a vulnerable group, but can play vital roles in their communities to prepare for future disasters. I would like to make sure that your proposals are shared and heard at the international level, and would welcome your further participation in the global discussions on disaster risk reduction,'said UNISDR chief Ms. Wahlström... - read more »