The UN/ISDR secretariat operates today in a landscape that has evolved considerably since the adoption of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters at the 2005 World Conference on Disaster Reduction.

The objectives of the secretariat, as reflected in the 2006-2007 Biennial Workplan and further elaborated in the new biennium 2008-2009, are: (1) to foster the commitments made by the 168 National Governments and over 100 international, regional and civil society organizations at the 2005 World Conference; and (2) to prepare and facilitate effective mechanisms and tools in support of the implementation of the HFA.

The secretariat’s strategic deliverables are carried out through biennial planning and budgeting. The secretariat undertook a mid-term review of its planning in its annual staff retreat in December 2006. New opportunities emerging in 2006, in particular related to linkages between climate change and disaster risk reduction and the new partnership with the World Bank - the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, provided room for re-focus and additional deliverables in 2007.

The present Annual Report 2007 sets out the secretariat’s major results and achievements against the agreed 2006-2007 Biennial Workplan outputs and outcomes. It also contains a trend analysis and provides context, as necessary, to explain changes in priorities or results.