News Archive

Mentoring programme for young researchers launched in Bangkok

A mentoring programme created by UNISDR and the Stockholm Environment Institute trained its first batch of young researchers, most in the mid-20s to mid-30s, in response to a request from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for more peer-reviewed literature by authors from developing countries.

2010 International Day for Disaster Reduction

This year's theme: My City is Getting Ready!

UN launches disaster reduction campaign 'Making Cities Resilient' in Africa, at Planning Africa 2010 conference in Durban, South Africa

Indonesia strengthens bid to make schools and hospitals safer

Indonesia Pledges Safety of Over 3,000 Schools and 100-plus hospitals

Independent assessment on disaster risk reduction in Dominican Republic by UNISDR and partners

Haiti must emerge safer says Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction

Global pledging initiative to make schools and hospitals safer launched today (8 April) in Manila

More than 300 participants from the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the civil society are launching today in Manila the 'One Million Safe Schools and Hospitals Initiative' to make hospitals and schools safer from disasters.

This global action is part of the new 2010-2011 World Disaster Reduction Campaign 'Making Cities resilient,' that will be launched in May, 2010, in Bonn, Germany.

The One Million Schools and Hospitals Initiative with the slogan “Make a Pledge, Save a Life” encourages an individual, a family, community, organization, government, or business entity to pledge to make a school or hospital safer from disasters in three ways: as an advocate, leader or champion.

“Making sure that schools, hospitals and other key public infrastructure meet certain safety standards are key steps to ensure that natural hazards do not turn into disasters,” said Margareta Walhstrom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction. “Individuals commitments are as important as mutual commitments” she added.

Official website of the online pledging initiative: www.safe-schools-hospitals.net/

View media advisory >>>

External Evaluation of the UNISDR and Management Response

UNISDR is pleased to share its Management Response to the second external evaluation of the secretariat. The Management Response sets out the process and main activities to implement recommendations arising from the evaluation carried out by Dalberg Global Development Advisers. Initiated by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and major UNISDR donors, the evaluation’s purpose was to assess the secretariat’s performance over the last four years and to provide guidance for UNISDR's future direction. The independent report presents 42 recommendations based on 25 findings, which are summarized in five key messages included in the executive summary.

> View executive summary

> View full report

> View management response

UN Development Group to seize the opportunity to build back better in Haiti

At the Montreal Ministerial Preparatory Conference on Haiti held on 25 January, Helen Clark, the Administrator of UNDP and Chair of the UN Development Group, called for the integration of disaster prevention concerns and capacity into the recovery and reconstruction process. UNISDR is actively collaborating with UNDP and all other ISDR system partners to ensure that risk reduction is made an integral component of the international recovery and reconstruction efforts.

> View full statement by Helen Clark

UNISDR secretariat has launched its new Biennial Work Programme for 2010-2011 "Invest today for a safer tomorrow

The UNISDR secretariat Biennial Work Programme was developed following the second session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in June 2009. It is based on the role and mandate of UNISDR as set by the UN General Assembly. The strategic direction for the 2010-2011 biennium is derived from the outcomes of the Global Platform and from regional consultations. The current programme has been further shaped through broad consultation with the ISDR Support Group in Geneva, donors, the ISDR Inter-Agency Group and other partners.

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Related links

UNISDR secretariat Biennial Work Programme: 2010-2011

International Day for Disaster Reduction: Disaster Risk Reduction initiative for Nepal launched

Katmandu - A new disaster risk reduction initiative for Nepal was launched by a consortium of partners that comprises the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, other United Nations organizations, the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank to mark the 2009 International Day for Disaster Reduction.

View full story

International Conference on ‘Building a Local Government Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction’, 11-13 August, Incheon, Republic of Korea

G8 Summit ‘promises much’ on Disaster Risk Reduction

Chair’s Summary of the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Risk reduction conference ends with call to halve disaster related deaths by 2015

The Global Platform ended today with participants from more than 300 regional/national organizations and governments urging political leaders to implement measures to halve the number of deaths from natural hazards by 2015.

> View full story

The Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction goes carbon neutral

Governments ‘must invest today for safer tomorrow' – the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction opens in Geneva

The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction opens in Geneva

Leaders and representatives from some 165 Governments gathering here today for the 2009 Global Platform on Disaster Reduction will be urged to ‘invest today for a safer tomorrow’ – or face much harder decisions in the years to come.

Indonesian scientist Eko Teguh Paripurno wins 2009 UN Sasakawa Award

Global Platform: Special events to highlight projects and achievements

Event : 2009 Global assesment report on disaster risk reduction launch : Bangkok, Thailand : 25th May

The Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction launched for the first time internationally in Bahrain on 17-18 May by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki -moon will be launched regionally in Bangkok on 25 May 2009, at the United Nations Conference Centre, in presence of senior officials from the Regional Organisations, Government of Thailand, senior representatives from the UN Agencies, International Financial Institutions, and the Civil Society, followed by a discussion on the implications of the Reports? findings for the Asia and the Pacific.

Video : 2009 Global assesment report (GAR)

Traditional knowledge can save lives when disaster strikes

ISDR Highlights May 08

Campaign Launched on Hospitals Safe from Disasters “The most expensive hospital is the one that fails”

International Day for Disaster Reduction: too many children still threatened by natural hazards

An online game to teach children how to save lives and livelihoods

Education and knowledge can save lives

Global disaster reduction education campaign: "Investing in school safety and disaster risk education pays off"

100th anniversary San Francisco: "Too many children are killed in schools when disasters strike"