Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
Name	Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
Formation	2007
Type	Multi-stakeholder forum
Headquarters	Geneva
Parent organization	United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction convenes representatives from United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Office at Geneva, World Bank Group, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Organization for Migration to advance international Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction priorities. It brings together stakeholders from European Union, African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Organization of American States to coordinate strategies after major events such as the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Haiti earthquake (2010), Typhoon Haiyan. The forum links policy across United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Security Council, United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme.

Overview

The Global Platform serves as a biennial multi-stakeholder forum associated with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), and engages actors from International Monetary Fund, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, International Labour Organization, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It facilitates policy dialogues among representatives of Japan, United States, China, India, Brazil, South Africa and regional bodies such as Pacific Islands Forum, Caribbean Community, Economic Community of West African States to align risk reduction with resilience investments and humanitarian response mechanisms. The Platform synthesizes inputs from Hyogo Framework for Action, Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals, Sendai Framework consultations, supporting linkages to financial instruments such as the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery and Green Climate Fund.

History and Development

Established after the implementation period of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015, the Global Platform emerged from dialogues at the United Nations General Assembly and preparatory conferences involving World Conference on Disaster Reduction, Inter-Agency Standing Committee, High-level Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction, and donor convenings hosted by United Nations Office at Geneva and United Nations Office at Nairobi. Early iterations included participation by European Commission, United States Agency for International Development, Department for International Development (UK), Japan International Cooperation Agency and non-state actors such as International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, CARE International, OXFAM International to translate lessons from the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami and 2005 Hurricane Katrina into global policy. The 2015 session coincided with adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and intersected with negotiations of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Objectives and Functions

The Global Platform aims to review progress on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, mobilize stakeholders including World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and catalyze financing mechanisms like the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery and Green Climate Fund. Functions include policy dialogue among delegations from United Nations Member States, technical exchanges with World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Children's Fund, and coordination with civil society networks such as Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, International Council for Science, Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction. It promotes integration with sectoral agendas represented by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UN-Habitat, International Union for Conservation of Nature, and private sector actors including World Economic Forum and International Chamber of Commerce.

Structure and Governance

Governance is anchored in the United Nations General Assembly mandates and operationalized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction secretariat, with stewardship from the UN Secretary-General and oversight by Member States through periodic reviews at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The Platform’s modalities include plenary sessions, thematic roundtables, and stakeholder consultations drawing chairs and speakers from institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and regional commissions like the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, Economic Commission for Europe, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Advisory input comes from networks including the Scientific and Technical Advisory Group and partnerships with the Private Sector Guiding Group and civil society caucuses.

Key Meetings and Outcomes

Major sessions produced outcome documents, communiqué and action plans that informed the Sendai Framework and national strategies, with notable meetings linked to crises such as Hurricane Maria (2017), Cyclone Winston, and Nepal earthquake, 2015. Outcomes include endorsements of risk finance instruments coordinated with the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, policy guidance aligned with the Paris Agreement, capacity commitments by United Nations Development Programme, and technical standards promoted by International Organization for Standardization and World Meteorological Organization. Cross-sector resolutions advanced urban risk reduction through UN-Habitat partnerships and rural resilience via collaborations with Food and Agriculture Organization and International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Participation and Stakeholders

Participants span Member States and representatives from United Nations Development Programme, World Health Organization, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, International Organization for Migration, multilateral development banks including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, civil society organizations such as Oxfam International, CARE International, Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Risk Reduction, and private sector entities like World Economic Forum and Insurance Development Forum. Academic contributors include International Council for Science, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, and research institutions from United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Japan that provide evidence for policy debates.

Impact and Criticism

The Platform influenced adoption of the Sendai Framework and catalyzed financing partnerships with the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery and Green Climate Fund, while supporting integration with the Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement. Critics include NGOs and researchers who cite limited binding commitments, uneven representation of least developed countries such as Nepal, Haiti, Mozambique and call for stronger accountability mechanisms akin to those in the Human Rights Council or International Monetary Fund review processes. Debates persist over privatization of risk transfer involving entities like Munich Re and Swiss Re and the balance between technocratic solutions championed by the World Bank and community-led approaches advocated by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and grassroots movements.

Category:Disaster risk reduction