Maureen Fordham Northumbria University, Disaster and Development Centre and Gender and Disaster Network

Building Partnerships for Gendering Disaster Risk Reduction

Context  Disasters affect men and women differently due to gender-specific vulnerabilities and risks to the impact of disasters  Gender identities, attitudes and expectations are unfavourable to women in our societies, leading to gender inequality  A gender perspective is largely excluded from disaster risk reduction policies and programmes  To reduce vulnerabilities and risks to disasters effectively requires that policy and decision makers understand gender relations in disaster risk reduction

ISDR SYSTEM Includes Governments, civil society, international and regional organizations ISDR secretariat Integrate gender into disaster risk reduction Building resilient societies to disasters Hyogo Framework for Action

The Hyogo Framework for Action « A gender perspective should be integrated into all disaster risk management policies, plans and decision- making process… » Kobe, 2005

Building Partnerships for Gendering Disaster Risk Reduction Goal Promote gender equality into social, cultural and economic development with an emphasis on Disaster Risk Reduction

Objectives …for gender professionals and different groups of stakeholders to share information, knowledge and experience in gender mainstreaming in DRR …for more visibility of their role and contribution in the DRR process at all levels …between the gender expert group and other stakeholders, including national platforms, NGOs, the Media, private sectors and donors …by national authorities and NGOs in developing gender-sensitive and gender balanced DRR policies and programmes …on Gender and DRR, user-friendly checklists and training materials for mainstreaming gender into DRR and vice versa To Provide a Platform To increase women’s voice To facilitate dialogue To encourage active roles To develop policy guidelines

Strategy I.Taking stock of existing dynamics and challenges in gender and DRR - as a starting point. II.Building ownership and leadership of experts, institutions or organizations in building the proposed partnership III.Gaining greater support from and building wider partnership with different groups of stakeholders IV.Establishing an “Advisory Group of Experts” as an initial “driving force” V.Advocating gender relations and gender risk analysis in DRR VI.Mobilizing resources necessary for supporting the initiative

Structure I.An Advisory Group of Experts II.Regional coordinators (based on existing institutions in the regions) III.Consultation in process..

Mechanisms UN/ISDR secretariat will: I.Establish a gender focal point to support the development of the initiative II.Facilitate direct dialogue between the Advisory Group and other stakeholders within the ISDR system III.Facilitate the development of an umbrella programme on “mainstreaming gender into DRR” Advisory Group: I.Provide leadership in developing the global partnership II.Advocate the urgent needs for gender mainstreaming in DRR at the Global Platform and other international Conferences III.Guide and support policy development and user-friendly tools to facilitate the gender mainstreaming initiatives

Criteria for partnership I.Demonstrating at least a general understanding of DRR, ISDR and Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) II.Demonstrating commitment to promote gender concerns and needs into DRR III.Advocating DRR and promoting gender-sensitive policies and programmes related to DRR IV.Providing good practices and lessons learnt Partnerships for Gendering Disaster Risk Reduction” V.Demonstrating commitment to establishing and developing the proposed “Partnerships for Gendering Disaster Risk Reduction”

Expectations Global Partnership for Gendering DRR Consensus on the need to build it Regional consultations and ownership Roles and responsibilities in leading the process of the global partnership Way forward Facilitation of policy development to guide gender mainstreaming in DRR and gendering existing policies

« Full and active participation of men and women to reduce disaster risk is essential for achieving disaster resilient households, communities and nations » UN/ISDR

How to get involved Please contact: Ana Cristina Thorlund UN/ISDR Liaison Officer for Gender Issues Tel Fax Additional Information related to this initiative:

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