Sendai Framework for DRR

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted at the Third UN World Conference in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015. It is the outcome of stakeholder consultations initiated in March 2012 and inter-governmental negotiations from July 2014 to March 2015, supported by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction at the request of the UN General Assembly.

The Sendai Framework is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters.

The Sendai Framework introduces a number of innovations, like a strong emphasis on disaster risk management as opposed to disaster management and the significant broadening of the scope of disaster risk reduction to focus on both natural and man-made hazards and related environmental, technological and biological hazards and risks. Also, health resilience is strongly promoted throughout.

The implementation of the Sendai Framework is overseen by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) with the definition of a specific monitoring structure (Sendai Framework Monitor) for measuring progress and determining global trends in the reduction of risk and losses.

The following items summarize the key subjects contained in the Sendai framework:

• Scope and purpose
• Targets
• Priorities for action
• Guiding principles

Scope and purpose

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 applies to the risk of small-scale and large-scale, frequent and infrequent, sudden and slow-onset disasters, caused by natural or manmade hazards as well as related environmental, technological and biological hazards and risks. It aims to guide the multi-hazard management of disaster risk in development at all levels as well as within and across all sectors.

The expected outcome of the Sendai framework is the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.

The goal of the Sendai framework is 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.

Targets

The Sendai framework has defined 7 targets:

• Substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower the average per 100,000 global mortality rate in the decade 2020–2030 compared to the period 2005–2015
• Substantially reduce the number of affected people globally by 2030, aiming to lower the average global figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020–2030 compared to the period 2005–2015
• Reduce direct disaster economic loss in relation to the global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030
• Substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and educational facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030
• Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020
• Substantially enhance international cooperation in developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of this framework by 2030
• Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030

Priorities for action

The Sendai Framework has identified that there is a need for focused action in 4 priority areas:

• Priority 1: Understanding disaster risk.
• Priority 2: Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk.
• Priority 3: Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience.
• Priority 4: Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Guiding principles

Drawing from the principles contained in the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action (A/CONF.172/9, chap. I, resolution 1, annex I) [see related links and downloads at the bottom of the page] and the Hyogo Framework for Action, the implementation of the Sendai Framework is to be guided by the following 13 principles while taking into account national circumstances, and consistent with domestic laws as well as international obligations and commitments:

• The primary responsibility of States to prevent and reduce disaster risk, including through cooperation;
• Shared responsibility between central Government and national authorities, sectors and stakeholders as appropriate to national circumstances;
• Protection of persons and their assets while promoting and protecting all human rights including the right to development;
• Engagement from all of society;
• Full engagement of all State institutions of an executive and legislative nature at national and local levels;
• Empowerment of local authorities and communities through resources, incentives and decision-making responsibilities as appropriate;
• Decision-making to be inclusive and risk-informed while using a multi-hazard approach;
• The coherence of disaster risk reduction and sustainable development policies, plans, practices and mechanisms, across different sectors;
• Accounting of local and specific characteristics of disaster risks when determining measures to reduce risk;
• Addressing underlying risk factors cost-effectively through investment versus relying primarily on postdisaster response and recovery;
• «Build Back Better» for preventing the creation of, and reducing existing, disaster risk;
• The quality of global partnership and international cooperation to be effective, meaningful and strong;
• Support from developed countries and partners to developing countries to be tailored according to needs and priorities as identified by them.