1. UNISDR & HFA
What is ISDR

2. Overview of the Disasters Problem
Disasters affect millions, cause big losses, hinder the achievement of MDGs.
Main problem is awareness and political commitment - risk is not factored in.
Knowledge, tools and policy frameworks are readily available.
Climate change makes a bad situation worse, adds to the urgency.
Natural disasters are on the rise. Vulnerability is growing because of unsustainable development. Mankind is facing an increasing burden of risk, largely because of lack of preventive actions. What is the most vulnerable group among population? –Women and children. Communities will always have to face disasters. There is no time for gentle reminders about the necessity to pay attention to the risks of disasters, it is time for a loud alarm call that summons an adequate response. Every year more that 200 million people are affected by droughts, floods, cyclones, earthquakes, wild fires and other hazards. Increased population densities, environment degradation and global warming and climate change adding to poverty make the impacts of natural disasters worse.

3. Basic Patterns 1995-2004 2,500 million people affected 890,000 dead
US$ 570 billion losses
Most disasters are weather- or climate-related
Almost two-thirds of the world's disasters dating back to 2004 have occurred in Asia and the Pacific and in Africa, the report said. "It is a sad reality that the people most affected and hardest hit by disasters are amongst the poorest in the world,
Poor people and poor countries most affected

4. Disasters afflict poor people and countries most, and are a development issue

5. Imagine an uninhabited island…

6. … and a Risk
= No Disaster Yet

7. … and a Vulnerability = Risk!
There is nowhere to hide, natural and human-made disasters happen everywhere. One day’s sweet scented breeze can be the next day’s tropical cyclone wreaking havoc in paradise.That happened in hawaii when Hurricane Iniki devastated the island of Kauai in According to the UN, some 75 per cent of the world’s population lives in areas that have been affected at least once by a disaster b/n 1980 and 2000.
No country or individual, rich or poor, is immune from natural disasters. No country is as prepared as it could be to protect its citizens from the growing threat, and the people are not well equipped with disaster risk reduction knowledge for their own personal safety. DRR needs to be a part of everyday decision-making:from how we educate our children to how we sow our fields to how we plan our cities. Each decision and action can either make us more vulnerable or more resilient .
= Risk!

8. The Reasons for Rising Risk
Increased exposure and vulnerability
More people and poor people in risky and unsustainable situations.
Unsafe development: floodplain settlement, coastal exploitation, mega-city growth, unsafe houses, wetland destruction, river channelling, deforestation, soil erosion and fertility decline
Climate change starting to pay a role.
The past few years reminded us that natural hazards can affect anyone, anywhere.

9. DRR – An Agenda in Progress
1989
IDNDR Promotion of disaster reduction, technical and scientific buy-in
1994
Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action First blueprint for disaster reduction policy guidance (social & community orientation)
2000
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Increased public commitment, linked to sustainable development, enlarged networking and partnerships.
2002
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation – WSSD New section on “An integrated, multi-hazard, inclusive approach to address vulnerability, risk assessment and disaster management…”
Given the increasing concern about the impact of disasters, the UN General Assembly declared the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). Under the theme “Building a culture of Prevention” work was done to advance a wider commitment to activities that could reduce the impact of natural disasters. It was influenced by largely scientific and technical interest.
In 1994 at the World Conference on Natural disaster reduction in Yokohama was conceived the Yokohama Strategy and Plan for Action.It stressed that every country had the primary responsibility to protect its people, infrastructure and national economy from the impact of disasters.
Main Yokohama Principles:
Risk assessment is a required step for adequate and successful DRR policies and measures
Disaster Prevention and Preparedness are of primary importance in reducing the need for disaster relief.
2002 Johannesburg, World Summit on Sustainable development.
All these lead us to 2005 when at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, 168 Governments adopted the HFA;
- WORLD BANK GFDRR – 2006 – a partnership of 32 countries and 6 international organizations committed to helping developing countries reduce their vulnerability to natural hazards and adapt to climate change.
2005
WCDR - Hyogo Framework for Action Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters
2006
World Bank Global Facility for Disaster Reduction
2007
Global Platform The ISDR Movement

10. United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) System
‘Launched in 2000 by UN General Assembly Resolution A/54/219 as successor of the International Decade on Natural Disaster Reduction – IDNDR, ’
UNISDR system aims to:
Build disaster resilient communities by promoting increased awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development
Reduce human, social, economic and environmental losses due to natural hazards and related technological and environmental disasters.

11. The ISDR system
The objective: To reduce disaster risk, worldwide, focusing on nations and communities;
The instrument: Hyogo Framework for Action
The vehicle: ISDR system

12. United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
Strategy was established by UN General Assembly in 2000, along with a small Secretariat and Inter-Agency Task Force
Has grown into global multi-stakeholder mechanism
Now comprises:
Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
Secretariat with regional outreach units
Regional and sub/regional meetings and organisations
National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction
Monitoring process and Global Assessment Report
Other partnerships and supporting groups

13. UNISDR Secretariat Objectives
• Obtain Commitment from Public Authorities
• Increase Public Awareness
• Stimulate Inter-disciplinary and Multi-sector Partnerships
• Foster Better Understanding and Knowledge of the Causes of Disasters

14. What Does ISDR Do?
Advocate for, promote and support disaster risk reduction
Promote and monitor the implementation of the Hyogo Framework
Develop reliable guidance and information resources on disaster risk reduction
Coordinate action among ISDR partners and the United Nations especially
Support and guide Governments and their partners in countries

15. Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005 – 2015
“Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters”
Ratified in January 2005 by over 4000 representatives of governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academic institutions, and the private sector gathered in Kobe, Japan, at the second World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR).
Adopted by 168 states as a ‘Framework for Action’

16. What is the HFA?
The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) is the key instrument for implementing disaster risk reduction, adopted by 168 Member States of the United Nations.
Its overarching goal is to build resilience of nations and communities to disasters, by achieving substantive reduction of disaster losses by 2015 – in lives, and in the social, economic, and environmental assets of communities and countries.

17. HFA - Cross Cutting Issues
Multi hazard approach
Gender perspective and cultural diversity
Community and volunteers participation
Capacity development & technology transfer

18. HFA: Strategic Goals
Integration of disaster risk reduction into sustainable development policies and planning
Development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities to build resilience to hazards
Systematic incorporation of risk reduction approaches into the implementation of emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes

19. HFA Priorities 1 2 3 4 5 Governance Risk Identification Knowledge
Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with strong institutional basis for implementation 2
Risk
Identification
Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning
HFA Priorities 3
Knowledge
Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels 4
Reduce Risk
Factors
Mainstreaming in various sectors (environment, health, social support, insurance and risk transfer, critical infrastructure and construction, etc.) 5
Preparedness
Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels

20. HFA - Priority One HFA - Priority Five
HFA: Disaster Risk and Development Focus
HFA - Priority One
‘Ensure DRR is a national and local priority with strong institutional basis’
DRR institutional mechanisms (national platforms)
DRR part of development policies and planning, sector wise and multi-sector
Legislation to support DRR
Decentralisation of responsibilities and resources
Foster political commitment
Community participation
HFA - Priority Five
‘Strengthen disaster preparedness for affective response at all levels’
Disaster management capacities: policy, technical and institutional
Dialogue, coordination and information exchange
Regional approaches to disasters response with risk reduction focus
Review and exercise preparedness and contingency plans
Emergency funds
Voluntarism and participation
HFA priorities 1 and 5are concerned with creating a strong institutional basis for advancing DRR. Priority 5 Preparedness is part of having a strong institutional basis for disaster risk reduction and preparedness is part of DRR. But DRR is broader than preparedness and response.

21. Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA)
Expected outcome, strategic goals and priorities for action
Expected Outcome
The substantial reduction of disaster losses, in lives and in the social, economic and environmental assets of communities and countries
Strategic Goals
The integration of disaster risk reduction into sustainable development policies and planning.
The development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities to build resilience to hazards.
The systematic incorporation of risk reduction into the implementation of emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes.
Priorities for Action
1. Ensure that disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation.
2. Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning.
3. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels.
4. Reduce underlying risk factors.
5. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels.
Cross Cutting Issues
Multi-hazard approach
Gender perspective and cultural diversity
Community and volunteers participation
Capacity building & technology transfer

22. Two Questions about the HFA
The Hyogo Framework is voluntary. It says where action is needed but it does not bind Governments or anyone to do anything. Is this lack of legal status a fatal weakness – or a brilliant strength?
In your country, how can you use the Hyogo Framework to achieve the goals of your organisation?