Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
Name	Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
Adopted	2015
Effective	2015–2030
Location	Sendai
Signed	Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction
Parties	United Nations member states
Subject	Disaster risk reduction

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is an international agreement adopted in Sendai at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015. It succeeds the Hyogo Framework for Action and sets targets and priorities for reducing disaster risk globally through 2030, engaging diverse actors including United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, World Bank, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, European Union, African Union, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Framework informs policy across forums such as the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and specialist agencies like the World Health Organization and the International Monetary Fund.

Background and development

The Framework emerged from negotiations among Member states of the United Nations, representatives of non-governmental organizations, networks like the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction, and technical bodies including the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the United Nations Development Programme. Its drafting built on lessons from the Hyogo Framework for Action, evaluations by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and disaster case studies such as Hurricane Katrina, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Preparatory meetings involved stakeholders from World Economic Forum, International Committee of the Red Cross, Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, and academic centers like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University College London.

Objectives and priorities

The Framework defines seven global targets aligned with sustainable development agendas championed by United Nations Secretary-General initiatives and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It prioritizes reducing loss of life, decreasing the number of people affected, lowering economic losses measured by institutions such as the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and strengthening disaster risk governance promoted by entities like the European Commission and African Development Bank. Priority areas align with resilience-building themes emphasized by United Nations Development Programme, UN Women, International Labour Organization, and climate-action platforms like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Key elements and principles

Core elements include a people-centered approach referenced by World Health Organization guidance, a focus on risk-informed decision-making supported by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, and multisectoral coordination involving United Nations Children's Fund, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Organization for Migration, and the International Telecommunication Union. Principles draw on accountability frameworks used by the International Court of Justice, standards from the International Organization for Standardization, and inclusive engagement promoted by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and indigenous rights instruments such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Implementation and governance

Implementation responsibilities rest with national and subnational authorities including ministries that work with entities like the World Bank, Green Climate Fund, Asian Development Bank, and regional bodies such as the Organization of American States and Pacific Islands Forum. Governance mechanisms include periodic reporting to the United Nations General Assembly and coordination through the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. Partnerships involve private-sector actors represented by World Economic Forum, philanthropic organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and research consortia including Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission and Global Earthquake Model.

Monitoring, targets, and indicators

The Framework established seven quantified targets monitored through indicators developed by technical experts at United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in collaboration with agencies like the World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Statistics Division, and the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. Monitoring processes are embedded in reporting cycles of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and linked to the Sustainable Development Goals indicators overseen by the United Nations Statistics Commission and specialist custodians such as World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund.

Regional and national adoption

Many countries adopted national strategies drawing on templates promoted by United Nations Development Programme, German Agency for International Cooperation, and Japan International Cooperation Agency. Regional uptake occurred through instruments and programs of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, African Union frameworks, the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management, and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency. Case examples include national plans in Japan, Philippines, Chile, New Zealand, Nepal, and Ethiopia, often supported by bilateral cooperation with United States Agency for International Development, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and Agence Française de Développement.

Impact, challenges, and critiques

Assessments by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, World Bank, and academic reviews from Harvard University, London School of Economics, and University of Oxford indicate progress in awareness, coordination, and risk mapping conducted with tools from Copernicus Programme and Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System. Critiques from civil society groups including International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and scholars at Columbia University highlight gaps in financing tracked by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, uneven implementation in fragile settings like Yemen and Somalia, limited integration with climate change frameworks negotiated under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and challenges in measuring intangible losses flagged by Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

Category:Disaster risk reduction