Hyogo
Framework for Action 2005-2015:
Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters
(HFA)
Contents
| I. |
Preamble |
| |
A. |
Challenges
posed by disasters |
| |
B. |
The
Yokohama Strategy: lessons learned and gaps identified |
| |
|
|
|
| II. |
World
Conference on Disaster Reduction: Objectives, expected
outcome and strategic goals |
| |
A. |
Objectives |
| |
B. |
Expected
outcome |
| |
C. |
Strategic
goals |
| |
|
|
|
| III. |
Priorities
for action 2005-2015 |
| |
A. |
General
considerations |
| |
B. |
Priorities
for action |
| |
|
1. |
Ensure
that disaster risk reduction 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
the underlying risk factors |
| |
|
5. |
Strengthen
disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels |
| |
|
|
|
| IV. |
Implementation
and follow-up |
| |
A. |
General
considerations |
| |
B. |
States |
| |
C. |
Regional
organizations and institutions |
| |
D. |
International
organizations |
| |
E. |
The
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction |
| |
F. |
Resource
mobilization |
| |
|
|
|
Annex
Some multilateral developments related to disaster risk reduction |
I. Preamble
1. The World Conference on Disaster Reduction was held from 18
to 22 January 2005 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan, and adopted the present
Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations
and Communities to Disasters (here after referred to as the “Framework
for Action”). The Conference provided a unique opportunity
to promote a strategic and systematic approach to reducing vulnerabilities[1] and risks to hazards.[2] It
underscored the need for, and identified ways of, building the
resilience of nations and communities to
disasters.[3]
A. Challenges posed by disasters
1. Disaster loss is on the rise with
grave consequences for the survival, dignity and livelihood of
individuals, particularly
the poor, and hard-won development gains. Disaster risk is increasingly
of global concern and its impact and actions in one region can
have an impact on risks in another, and vice versa. This, compounded
by increasing vulnerabilities related to changing demographic,
technological and socio-economic conditions, unplanned urbanization,
development within high-risk zones, under-development, environmental
degradation, climate variability, climate change, geological
hazards, competition for scarce resources, and
the impact of epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, points to a future
where disasters could increasingly threaten the world’s
economy, and its population and the sustainable development of
developing countries. In the past two decades, on average more
than 200 million people have been affected every year by disasters.
2. Disaster risk arises when hazards interact with physical,
social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities. Events of
hydrometeorological origin constitute the large majority of disasters.
Despite the growing understanding and acceptance of the importance
of disaster risk reduction and increased disaster response capacities,
disasters and in particular the management and reduction of risk
continue to pose a global challenge.
3. There is now international acknowledgement that efforts to
reduce disaster risks must be systematically integrated into
policies, plans and programmes for sustainable development and
poverty reduction, and supported through bilateral, regional
and international cooperation, including partnerships. Sustainable
development, poverty reduction, good governance and disaster
risk reduction are mutually supportive objectives, and in order
to meet the challenges ahead, accelerated efforts must be made
to build the necessary capacities at the community and national
levels to manage and reduce risk. Such an approach is to be recognized
as an important element for the achievement of internationally
agreed development goals, including those contained in the Millennium
Declaration.
5. The importance of promoting disaster risk reduction efforts
on the international and regional levels as well as the national
and local levels has been recognized in the past few years in
a number of key multilateral frameworks and declarations.[4]
B. The Yokohama Strategy: lessons learned and gaps identified
6. The Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for
Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation
and its Plan
of Action (“Yokohama Strategy”), adopted in 1994,
provides landmark guidance on reducing disaster risk and the
impacts of disasters.
7. The review of progress made in implementing the Yokohama Strategy[5]
identifies major challenges for the coming years in ensuring
more systematic action to address disaster risks in the context
of sustainable development and in building resilience through
enhanced national and local capabilities to manage and reduce
risk.
8. The review stresses the importance of disaster risk reduction
being underpinned by a more pro-active approach to informing,
motivating and involving people in all aspects of disaster risk
reduction in their own local communities. It also highlights
the scarcity of resources allocated specifically from development
budgets for the realization of risk reduction objectives, either
at the national or the regional level or through international
cooperation and financial mechanisms, while noting the significant
potential to better exploit existing resources and established
practices for more effective disaster risk reduction.
9. Specific gaps and challenges are identified in the following
five main areas:
(a) Governance: organizational, legal and policy frameworks;
(b) Risk identification, assessment, monitoring and early warning;
(c) Knowledge management and education;
(d) Reducing underlying risk factors;
(e) Preparedness for effective response and recovery.
These are the key areas
for developing a relevant framework for action for the decade
2005–2015.
II. World Conference on Disaster Reduction: Objectives, expected
outcome and strategic goals
A. Objectives
10. The World Conference on Disaster Reduction was convened by
decision of the General Assembly, with five specific objectives:[6]
(a) To conclude and report on the review of the Yokohama Strategy
and its Plan of Action, with a view to updating the guiding framework
on disaster reduction for the twenty-first century;
(b) To identify specific activities aimed at ensuring the implementation
of relevant provisions of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
of the World Summit on Sustainable Development on vulnerability,
risk assessment and disaster management;
(c) To share good practices and lessons learned to further disaster
reduction within the context of attaining sustainable development,
and to identify gaps and challenges;
(d) To increase awareness of the importance of disaster reduction
policies, thereby facilitating and promoting the implementation
of those policies;
(e) To increase the reliability and availability of appropriate
disaster-related information to the public and disaster management
agencies in all regions, as set out in relevant provisions of
the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation.
B. Expected outcome
11. Taking these objectives into account, and drawing on the
conclusions of the review of the Yokohama Strategy, States
and other actors participating at the World Conference on Disaster
Reduction (hereinafter referred to as “the Conference”)
resolve to pursue the following expected outcome for the next
10 years:
The substantial reduction of disaster losses, in lives and in
the social, economic and
environmental assets of communities and countries.
The realization of this outcome will require the full commitment
and involvement of all actors concerned, including governments,
regional and international organizations, civil society including
volunteers, the private sector and the scientific community.
C. Strategic goals
12. To attain this expected outcome, the Conference resolves
to adopt the following strategic goals:
(a) The more effective integration of disaster risk considerations
into sustainable development policies, planning and programming
at all levels, with a special emphasis on disaster prevention,
mitigation, preparedness and vulnerability reduction;
(b) The development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms
and capacities at all levels, in particular at the community
level, that can systematically contribute to building resilience[7] to hazards;
(c) The systematic incorporation of risk reduction approaches
into the design and implementation of emergency preparedness,
response and recovery programmes in the reconstruction
of affected communities.
III.
Priorities for action 2005–2015
A. General considerations
13. In determining appropriate action to achieve the expected
outcome and strategic goals, the Conference reaffirms that
the following general considerations will be taken into account:
(a) The Principles contained in the Yokohama Strategy retain
their full relevance in the current context, which is characterized
by increasing commitment to disaster reduction;
(b) Taking into account the importance of international cooperation
and partnerships, each State has the primary responsibility
for its own sustainable development and for taking effective
measures
to reduce disaster risk, including for the protection of people
on its territory, infrastructure and other national assets
from the impact of disasters. At the same time, in the context
of
increasing global interdependence, concerted international
cooperation and an enabling international environment are required
to stimulate
and contribute to developing the knowledge, capacities and
motivation needed for disaster risk reduction at all levels;
(c) An integrated, multi-hazard approach to disaster risk reduction
should be factored into policies, planning and programming
related to sustainable development, relief, rehabilitation,
and recovery
activities in post-disaster and post-conflict situations
in disaster-prone countries;[8]
(d) A gender perspective should be integrated into all
disaster risk management policies, plans and decision-making
processes,
including those related to risk assessment, early warning,
information management, and education and training;[9]
(e) Cultural diversity, age, and vulnerable groups should
be taken into account when planning for disaster risk reduction,
as appropriate;
(f) Both communities and local authorities should be empowered
to manage and reduce disaster risk by having access to
the necessary information, resources and authority to implement
actions for
disaster risk reduction;
(g) Disaster-prone developing countries, especially least
developed countries and small island developing States,
warrant particular
attention in view of their higher vulnerability and risk
levels, which often greatly exceed their capacity to respond
to and
recover from disasters;
(h) There is a need to enhance international and regional
cooperation and assistance in the field of disaster risk
reduction through,
inter alia:
- The
transfer of knowledge, technology and expertise to enhance
capacity building for disaster risk reduction
- The sharing of research findings, lessons learned and best practices
- The compilation of information on disaster risk and impact for
all scales of disasters in a way that can inform sustainable
development and disaster risk reduction
- Appropriate
support in order to enhance governance for disaster risk
reduction, for awareness-raising initiatives and
for capacity-development measures at all levels, in order to improve
the disaster resilience
of developing countries
- The full, speedy and effective implementation of the enhanced
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, taking into
account the impact of disasters on the debt sustainability of countries
eligible for this programme
- Financial assistance to reduce existing risks and to avoid the
generation of new risks
(i) The promotion of a culture of prevention, including
through the mobilization of adequate resources for
disaster risk reduction,
is an investment for the future with substantial returns.
Risk assessment and early warning systems are essential
investments
that protect and save lives, property and livelihoods,
contribute to the sustainability of development, and
are far more cost-effective
in strengthening coping mechanisms than is primary
reliance on post-disaster response and recovery;
(j) There is also a need for proactive measures, bearing
in mind that the phases of relief, rehabilitation and
reconstruction following a disaster are windows of
opportunity for the
rebuilding
of livelihoods and for the planning and reconstruction
of physical and socio-economic structures, in a way
that will build community
resilience and reduce vulnerability to future disaster
risks;
(k) Disaster risk reduction is a cross-cutting issue
in the context of sustainable development and therefore
an
important
element
for the achievement of internationally agreed development
goals, including those contained in the Millennium
Declaration. In
addition, every effort should be made to use humanitarian
assistance in
such a way that risks and future vulnerabilities will
be lessened as much as possible.
B. Priorities for action
14. Drawing on the conclusions of the review of the Yokohama
Strategy, and on the basis of deliberations at the World Conference
on Disaster Reduction and especially the agreed expected outcome
and strategic goals, the Conference has adopted the following
five priorities for action:
- Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local
priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation.
- Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early
warning.
- Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture
of safety and resilience at all levels.
- Reduce the underlying risk factors.
- Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at
all levels.
- In their approach to disaster risk reduction, States, regional
and international organizations
and other
actors concerned
should take into consideration the key activities
listed under each
of these five priorities and should implement
them, as appropriate, to their own circumstances
and
capacities.
1. Ensure that disaster
risk reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong
institutional basis for implementation
16. Countries that develop policy, legislative and institutional
frameworks for disaster risk reduction and that are able to develop
and track progress through specific and measurable indicators
have greater capacity to manage risks and to achieve widespread
consensus for, engagement in and compliance with disaster risk
reduction measures across all sectors of society.
Key activities:
(i) National institutional and legislative frameworks
(a) Support the creation and strengthening of national integrated
disaster risk reduction mechanisms, such as multi sectoral
national platforms[10],
with designated responsibilities at the national through
to the local levels to facilitate coordination across
sectors. National platforms should also facilitate
coordination
across sectors, including by maintaining a broad based
dialogue at national and regional levels for promoting
awareness among
the relevant sectors.
(b) Integrate risk reduction, as appropriate, into
development policies and planning at all levels of
government, including
in poverty reduction strategies and sectors and multi
sector policies and plans.
(c) Adopt, or modify where necessary, legislation to
support disaster risk reduction, including regulations
and mechanisms
that encourage compliance and that promote incentives
for undertaking risk reduction and mitigation activities.
(d) Recognize the importance and specificity of local
risk patterns and trends, decentralize responsibilities
and resources for disaster
risk reduction to relevant sub-national or local authorities,
as appropriate.
(ii) Resources
(e) Assess existing human resource capacities for disaster risk
reduction \at all levels and develop capacity-building plans
and programmes for meeting ongoing and future requirements.
(f) Allocate resources for the development and the implementation
of disaster risk management policies, programmes, laws and regulations
on disaster risk reduction in all relevant sectors and authorities
at all levels of administrative and budgets on the basis of clearly
prioritized actions.
(g) Governments should demonstrate the strong political determination
required to
promote and integrate disaster risk reduction into
development programming.
(iii) Community participation
(h) Promote community participation in disaster risk reduction
through the adoption of specific policies, the promotion of
networking, the strategic management of volunteer resources,
the attribution of roles and responsibilities, and the delegation
and provision of the necessary authority and resources.
2. Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early
warning
17. The starting point for reducing disaster risk and for promoting
a culture of disaster resilience lies in the knowledge of the
hazards and the physical, social, economic and environmental
vulnerabilities to disasters that most societies face, and of
the ways in which hazards and vulnerabilities are changing in
the short and long term, followed by action taken on the basis
of that knowledge.
Key activities:
(i) National and local risk assessments
(a) Develop, update periodically and widely disseminate risk
maps and related information to decision-makers, the
general public and communities at risk[11] in an appropriate format.
(b) Develop systems of indicators of disaster risk and
vulnerability at national and sub-national scales that
will enable decision-makers
to assess the impact of disasters[12] on social, economic and environmental conditions and
disseminate the results
to decisionmakers, the
public and populations at risk.
(c) Record, analyse, summarize and disseminate statistical
information on disaster occurrence, impacts and losses,
on a regular bases
through international, regional, national and local mechanisms.
(ii) Early warning
(d) Develop early warning systems that are people centered, in
particular systems whose warnings are timely and understandable
to those at risk, which take into account the demographic,
gender, cultural and livelihood characteristics of the target audiences,
including guidance on how to act upon warnings, and
that support effective operations by disaster managers and other decision
makers.
(e) Establish, periodically review, and maintain information
systems as part of early warning systems with a view
to ensuring that rapid and coordinated action is taken
in cases of alert/emergency.
(f) Establish institutional capacities to ensure that
early warning systems are well integrated into governmental
policy and decision-making
processes and emergency management systems at both
the national and the local levels, and are subject
to regular system testing
and performance assessments.
(g) Implement the outcome of the Second International
Conference on Early Warning held in Bonn, Germany,
in 2003[13],
including through the strengthening of coordination
and cooperation
among all relevant sectors and actors in the early
warning chain in
order to achieve fully effective early warning systems.
(h) Implement the outcome of the Mauritius Strategy
for the further implementation of the Barbados Programme
of Action for the sustainable
development of small island developing States, including
by establishing and strengthening effective early warning
systems as well as
other mitigation and response measures.
(iii) Capacity
(i) Support the development and sustainability of the
infrastructure and scientific, technological, technical
and institutional capacities
needed to research, observe, analyse, map and where
possible forecast natural and related hazards, vulnerabilities
and disaster
impacts.
(j) Support the development and improvement of relevant
databases and the promotion of full and open exchange
and dissemination
of data for assessment, monitoring and early warning
purposes, as appropriate, at international, regional,
national and local
levels.
(k) Support the improvement of scientific and technical
methods and capacities for risk assessment, monitoring
and early warning,
through research, partnerships, training and technical
capacity- building. Promote the application of in situ
and space-based
earth observations, space technologies, remote sensing,
geographic information systems, hazard modelling and
prediction, weather
and climate modelling and forecasting, communication
tools and studies of the costs and benefits of risk
assessment and early
warning.
(l) Establish and strengthen the capacity to record,
analyze, summarize, disseminate, and exchange statistical
information
and data on hazards mapping, disaster risks, impacts,
and losses; support the development of common methodologies
for risk assessment
and monitoring.
(iv) Regional and emerging risks
(m) Compile and standardize, as appropriate, statistical information
and data on regional disaster risks, impacts and losses.
(n) Cooperate regionally and internationally, as appropriate,
to assess and monitor regional and trans-boundary hazards, and
exchange information and provide early warnings through appropriate
arrangements, such as, inter alia, those relating to the management
of river basins.
(o) Research, analyse and report on long-term changes and emerging
issues that might increase vulnerabilities and risks or the capacity
of authorities and communities to respond to disasters.
3. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture
of safety and resilience at all levels
18. Disasters can be substantially reduced if people are well
informed and motivated towards a culture of disaster prevention
and resilience, which in turn requires the collection, compilation
and dissemination of relevant knowledge and information on hazards,
vulnerabilities and capacities.
Key activities:
(i) Information management and exchange
(a) Provide easily understandable information on disaster risks
and protection options, especially to citizens in high-risk areas,
to encourage and enable people to take action to reduce risks
and build resilience. The information should incorporate relevant
traditional and indigenous knowledge and culture heritage and
be tailored to different target audiences, taking into account
cultural and social factors.
(b) Strengthen networks among disaster experts, managers and
planners across sectors and between regions, and create or strengthen
procedures for using available expertise when agencies and other
important actors develop local risk reduction plans.
(c) Promote and improve dialogue and cooperation among scientific
communities and practitioners working on disaster risk reduction,
and encourage partnerships among stakeholders, including those
working on the socioeconomic dimensions of disaster risk reduction.
(d) Promote the use, application and affordability of recent
information, communication and space-based technologies and related
services, as well as earth observations, to support disaster
risk reduction, particularly for training and for the sharing
and dissemination of information among different categories of
users.
(e) In the medium term, develop local, national, regional and
international userfriendly directories, inventories and national
information-sharing systems and services for the exchange of
information on good practices, cost-effective and easy-to-use
disaster risk reduction technologies, and lessons learned on
policies, plans and measures for disaster risk reduction.
(f) Institutions dealing with urban development should provide
information to the public on disaster reduction options prior
to constructions, land purchase or land sale.
(g) Update and widely disseminate international standard terminology
related to disaster risk reduction, at least in all official
United Nations languages, for use in programme and institutional
development, operations, research, training curricula and public
information programmes.
(ii) Education and training
(h) Promote the inclusion of disaster risk reduction knowledge
in relevant sections of school curricula at all levels and
the use of other formal and informal channels to reach youth
and children with information; promote the integration of disaster
risk reduction as an intrinsic element of the United Nations
Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2015).
(i) Promote the implementation of local risk assessment and disaster
preparedness programmes in schools and institutions of higher
education.
(j) Promote the implementation of programmes and activities in
schools for learning how to minimize the effects of hazards.
(k) Develop training and learning programmes in disaster risk
reduction targeted at specific sectors (development planners,
emergency managers, local government officials, etc.).
(l) Promote community-based training initiatives, considering
the role of volunteers, as appropriate, to enhance local capacities
to mitigate and cope with disasters.
(m) Ensure equal access to appropriate training and educational
opportunities for women and vulnerable constituencies; promote
gender and cultural sensitivity training as integral components
of education and training for disaster risk reduction.
(iii) Research
(n) Develop improved methods for predictive multi-risk assessments
and socioeconomic cost–benefit analysis of risk reduction
actions at all levels; incorporate these methods into decision-making
processes at regional, national and local levels.
(o) Strengthen the technical and scientific capacity to develop
and apply methodologies, studies and models to assess vulnerabilities
to and the impact of geological, weather, water and climate-related
hazards, including the improvement of regional monitoring capacities
and assessments.
(iv) Public awareness
(p) Promote the engagement of the media in order to stimulate
a culture of disaster resilience and strong community involvement
in sustained public education campaigns and public consultations
at all levels of society.
4. Reduce the underlying risk factors
19. Disaster risks related to changing social, economic, environmental
conditions and land use, and the impact of hazards associated
with geological events, weather, water, climate variability
and climate change, are addressed in sector development planning
and programmes as well as in post-disaster situations.
Key activities:
(i) Environmental and natural resource management
(a) Encourage the sustainable use and management of ecosystems,
including through better land-use planning and development activities
to reduce risk and vulnerabilities.
(b) Implement integrated environmental and natural resource
management approaches that incorporate disaster risk reduction,
including
structural and non-structural measures,[14] such as integrated flood management and appropriate management
of fragile ecosystems.
(c) Promote the integration of risk reduction associated
with existing climate variability and future climate
change into strategies
for the reduction of disaster risk and adaptation to
climate change, which would include the clear identification
of climaterelated
disaster risks, the design of specific risk reduction
measures and an improved and routine use of climate risk
information by
planners, engineers and other decision-makers.
(ii) Social and economic development practices
(d) Promote food security as an important factor in ensuring
the resilience of communities to hazards, particularly
in areas prone to drought, flood, cyclones and other
hazards that can
weaken agriculture-based livelihoods.
(e) Integrate disaster risk reduction planning into the
health sector; promote the goal of “hospitals safe from disaster” by
ensuring that all new hospitals are built with a level of
resilience that strengthens their capacity to remain functional
in disaster
situations and implement mitigation measures to reinforce
existing health facilities, particularly those providing
primary health
care.
(f) Protect and strengthen critical public facilities
and physical infrastructure, particularly schools, clinics,
hospitals, water
and power plants, communications and transport lifelines,
disaster warning and management centres, and culturally
important lands
and structures through proper design, retrofitting and
re-building, in order to render them adequately resilient
to hazards.
(g) Strengthen the implementation of social safety-net
mechanisms to assist the poor, the elderly and the disabled,
and other populations
affected by disasters. Enhance recovery schemes including
psycho-social training programmes in order to mitigate
the psychological damage
of vulnerable populations, particularly children, in
the aftermath of disasters.
(h) Incorporate disaster risk reduction measures into
post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation processes[15] and use opportunities
during the recovery phase to develop capacities that
reduce disaster risk in the long term, including through
the sharing of expertise,
knowledge and lessons learned.
(i) Endeavor to ensure, as appropriate, that programmes
for displaced persons do not increase risk and vulnerability
to hazards.
(j) Promote diversified income options for populations
in high-risk areas to reduce their vulnerability to hazards,
and ensure that
their income and assets are not undermined by development
policy and processes that increase their vulnerability
to disasters.
(k) Promote the development of financial risk-sharing
mechanisms, particularly insurance and reinsurance against
disasters.
(l) Promote the establishment of public–private partnerships
to better engage the private sector in disaster risk reduction
activities; encourage the private sector to foster a culture
of disaster prevention, putting greater emphasis on, and
allocating resources to, predisaster activities such as risk
assessments
and early warning systems.
(m) Develop and promote alternative and innovative financial
instruments for addressing disaster risk.
(iii) Land-use planning and other technical measures
(n) Incorporate disaster risk assessments into the urban planning
and management of disaster-prone human settlements, in particular
highly populated areas and quickly urbanizing settlements.
The issues of informal or non-permanent housing and the location
of housing in high-risk areas should be addressed as priorities,
including in the framework of urban poverty reduction and slum-upgrading
programmes.
(o) Mainstream disaster risk considerations into planning procedures
for major infrastructure projects, including the criteria for
design, approval and implementation of such projects and considerations
based on social, economic and environmental impact assessments.
(p) Develop, upgrade and encourage the use of guidelines and
monitoring tools for the reduction of disaster risk in the context
of land-use policy and planning.
(q) Incorporate disaster risk assessment into rural development
planning and management, in particular with regard to mountain
and coastal flood plain areas, including through the identification
of land zones that are available and safe for human settlement,
(r) Encourage the revision of existing or the development of
new building codes, standards, rehabilitation and reconstruction
practices at the national or local levels, as appropriate,
with the aim of making them more applicable in the local context,
particularly in informal and marginal human settlements, and
reinforce the capacity to implement, monitor and enforce such
codes, through a consensus-based approach, with a view to fostering
disaster-resistant structures.
5. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at
all levels
20. At times of disaster, impacts and losses can be substantially
reduced if authorities, individuals and communities in hazard-prone
areas are well prepared and ready to act and are equipped with
the knowledge and capacities for effective disaster management.
Key activities:
(a) Strengthen policy, technical and institutional capacities
in regional, national and local disaster management, including
those related to technology, training, and human and material
resources.
(b) Promote and support dialogue, exchange of information and
coordination among early warning, disaster risk reduction, disaster
response, development and other relevant agencies and institutions
at all levels, with the aim of fostering a holistic approach
towards disaster risk reduction.
(c) Strengthen and when necessary develop coordinated regional
approaches, and create or upgrade regional policies, operational
mechanisms, plans and communication systems to prepare for and
ensure rapid and effective disaster response in situations that
exceed national coping capacities.
(d) Prepare or review and periodically update disaster preparedness
and contingency plans and policies at all levels, with a particular
focus on the most vulnerable areas and groups. Promote regular
disaster preparedness exercises, including evacuation drills,
with a view to ensuring rapid and effective disaster response
and access to essential food and non-food relief supplies, as
appropriate, to local needs.
(e) Promote the establishment of emergency funds, where and as
appropriate, to support response, recovery and preparedness measures.
(f) Develop specific mechanisms to engage the active participation
and ownership of relevant stakeholders, including communities,
in disaster risk reduction, in particular building on the spirit
of volunteerism.
IV. Implementation and follow-up
A. General considerations
21. The implementation of and follow-up to the strategic goals
and priorities for action set out in this Framework for Action
should be addressed by different stakeholders in a multi-sectoral
approach, including the development sector. States and regional
and international organizations, including the United Nations
and international financial institutions, are called upon to
integrate disaster risk reduction considerations into their sustainable
development policy, planning and programming at all levels. Civil
society, including volunteers and community-based organizations,
the scientific community and the private sector are vital stakeholders
in supporting the implementation of disaster risk reduction at
all levels.
22. While each State has primary responsibility for its own economic
and social development, an enabling international environment
is vital to stimulate and contribute to developing the knowledge,
capacities and motivation needed to build disaster resilient
nations and communities. States and regional and international
organizations should foster greater strategic coordination among
the United Nations, other international organizations, including
international financial institutions, regional bodies, donor
agencies and nongovernmental organizations engaged in disaster
risk reduction, based on a strengthened International Strategy
for Disaster Reduction. In the coming years, consideration should
be given to ensuring the implementation and strengthening of
relevant international legal instruments related to disaster
risk reduction.
23. States and regional and international organizations should
also support the capacities of regional mechanisms and organizations
to develop regional plans, policies and common practices, as
appropriate, in support of networking, advocacy, coordination,
exchange of information and experience, scientific monitoring
of hazards and vulnerability, and institutional capacity development
and to deal with disaster risks.
24. All actors are encouraged to build multi-stakeholder partnerships,
at all levels, as appropriate, and on a voluntary basis, to contribute
to the implementation of this Framework for Action. States and
other actors are also encouraged to promote the strengthening
or establishment of national, regional and international volunteer
corps, which can be made available to countries and to the international
community to contribute
to addressing vulnerability and reducing disaster risk.[16]
25. The Mauritius Strategy for the further implementation of
the Barbados Programme of Action for Small Island Developing
States underscores that small island developing States are located
among the most vulnerable regions in the world in relation to
the intensity and frequency of natural and environmental disasters
and their increasing impact, and face disproportionately high
economic, social and environmental consequences. Small island
developing States have undertaken to strengthen their respective
national frameworks for more effective disaster management and
are committed, with the necessary support of the
international community, to improve national disaster mitigation,
preparedness and earlywarning capacity, increase public awareness
about disaster reduction, stimulate interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral
partnerships, mainstream risk management into their national
planning process, address issues relating to insurance and reinsurance
arrangements, and augment their capacity to predict and respond
to emergency situations, including those affecting human settlements
stemming from natural and environmental disasters.
26. In view of the particular vulnerabilities and insufficient
capacities of least developed countries to respond to and recover
from disasters, support is needed by the least developed countries
as a matter of priority, in executing substantive programmes
and relevant institutional mechanisms for the implementation
of the Framework for Action, including through financial and
technical assistance and for capacity building in disaster risk
reduction as an effective and sustainable means to prevent and
respond to disasters.
27. Disasters in Africa pose a major obstacle to the African
continent’s efforts to achieve sustainable development,
especially in view of the region’s insufficient capacities
to predict, monitor, deal with and mitigate disasters. Reducing
the vulnerability of the African people to hazards is a necessary
element of poverty reduction strategies, including efforts to
protect past development gains. Financial and technical assistance
is needed to strengthen the capacities of African countries,
including observation and early warning systems, assessments,
prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
28. The follow-up on the World Conference on Disaster Reduction
will, as appropriate, be an integrated and coordinated part of
the follow-up to other major conference in fields relevant to
disaster risk reduction.[17] This should include specific reference to progress on disaster
risk reduction taking, into account agreed
development goals, including those found in the Millennium Declaration.
29. The implementation of this Framework for Action for the period
2005-2015 will be appropriately reviewed.
B. States
30. All States should endeavour to undertake the following tasks
at the national and local levels, with a strong sense of ownership
and in collaboration with civil society and other stakeholders,
within the bounds of their financial, human and material capacities,
and taking into account their domestic legal requirements and
existing international instruments related to disaster risk
reduction. States should also contribute actively in the context
of regional and international cooperation, in line with paragraphs
33 and 34.
(a) Prepare and publish national baseline assessments of the
status of disaster risk reduction, according to the capabilities,
needs and policies of each State, and, as appropriate, share
this information with concerned regional and international bodies;
(b) Designate an appropriate national coordination mechanism
for the implementation and follow up of this Framework for Action,
and communicate the information to the secretariat of the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction;
(c) Publish and periodically update a summary of national programmes
for disaster risk reduction related to this Framework for Action,
including on international cooperation;
(d) Develop procedures for reviewing national progress against
this Framework for Action, which should include systems for cost
benefit analysis and ongoing monitoring and assessment of vulnerability
and risk, in particular with regards to regions exposed to hydrometeorological
and seismic hazards, as appropriate;
(e) Include information on progress of disaster risk reduction
in the reporting mechanisms of existing international and other
frameworks concerning sustainable development, as appropriate;
(f) Consider, as appropriate, acceding to, approving or ratifying
relevant international legal instruments relating to disaster
reduction, and, for State parties to those instruments,
take measures for their effective implementation;[18]
(g) Promote the integration of risk reduction associated with
existing climate variability and future climate change into strategies
for the reduction of disaster risk and adaptation to climate
change; ensure that the management of risks associated with geological
hazards, such as earthquakes and landslides, are fully taken
into account in disaster risk reduction programmes.
C. Regional organizations and institutions
31. Regional organizations with a role related to disaster
risk reduction are called upon to undertake the following
tasks within
their mandates, priorities and resources:
(a) Promote regional programmes, including programmes for
technical cooperation, capacity development, the development
of methodologies
and standards for hazard and vulnerability monitoring and
assessment, the sharing of information and effective mobilization
of resources,
in view of supporting national and regional efforts to
achieve the objectives of this Framework for Action;
(b) Undertake and publish regional and sub-regional baseline
assessments of the disaster risk reduction status, according
to the needs identified and in line with their mandates;
(c) Coordinate and publish periodic reviews on progress
in the region and on impediments and support needs, and
assist
countries,
as requested, in the preparation of periodic national summaries
of their programmes and progress;
(d) Establish or strengthen existing specialized regional
collaborative centers, as appropriate, to undertake research,
training, education
and capacity building in the field of disaster risk reduction;
(e) Support the development of regional mechanisms and
capacities for early warning to disasters, including
for tsunami.[19]
D. International organizations
32. International organizations, including organizations of the
United Nations system and international financial institutions,
are called upon to undertake the following tasks within their
mandates, priorities and resources:
(a) Engage fully in supporting and implementing the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction, and cooperate to advance integrated
approaches to building disasterresilient nations and communities,
by encouraging stronger linkages, coherence and integration of
disaster risk reduction elements into the humanitarian and sustainable
development fields as set out in this Framework for Action;
(b) Strengthen the overall capacity of the United Nations system
to assist disaster-prone developing countries in disaster risk
reduction through appropriate means and coordination and define
and implement appropriate measures for regular assessment of
their progress towards the achievement of the goals and priorities
set out in this Framework for Action, building on the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction;
(c) Identify relevant actions to assist disaster-prone developing
countries in the implementation of this Framework for Action;
ensure that relevant actions are integrated, as appropriate,
into each organization’s own scientific, humanitarian
and development sectors, policies, programmes and practices
and that
adequate funding is allocated for their implementation;
(d) Assist disaster-prone developing countries to set up national
strategies and plans of action and programmes for disaster risk
reduction and to develop their institutional and technical capacities
in the field of disaster risk reduction, as identified through
the priorities in this Framework for Action;
(e) Integrate actions in support of the implementation of this
Framework into relevant coordination mechanisms such as the United
Nations Development Group and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee
(on humanitarian action), including at the national level and
through the Resident Coordinator system and the United Nations
Country teams. In addition, integrate disaster risk reduction
considerations into development assistance frameworks, such as
the Common Country Assessments, the United Nations Development
Assistance Framework and poverty reduction strategies;
(f) In close collaboration with existing networks and platforms,
cooperate to support globally consistent data collection and
forecasting on natural hazards, vulnerabilities and risks and
disaster impacts at all scales. These initiatives should include
the development of standards, the maintenance of databases, the
development of indicators and indices, support to early warning
systems, the full and open exchange of data and the use of in
situ and remotely sensed observations;
(g) Support States with the provision of appropriate, timely
and well coordinated international relief assistance, upon
request of affected countries, and in accordance with agreed
guiding
principles for emergency relief assistance and coordination
arrangements.[20] Provide
this assistance with a view to reducing risk and vulnerability,
improving capacities and ensuring effective arrangements
for
international cooperation for urban search and rescue assistance.[21] Ensure that arrangements for prompt international response
to reach affected areas are being developed at national and local
levels and that appropriate linkages to recovery efforts
and
risk reduction are strengthened;
(h) Strengthen the international mechanisms with a view to supporting
disaster stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable
physical, social and economic recovery and to reducing future
risks. This should include support for risk reduction activities
in post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation processes and sharing
of good practices, knowledge and technical support with relevant
countries, experts and United Nations organizations;
(i) Strengthen and adapt the existing inter-agency disaster management
training programme based on a shared, inter-agency strategic
vision and framework for disaster risk management that encompasses
risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery.
E. The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
33. The partners in the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction,
in particular, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction
and its members, in collaboration with relevant national, regional,
international and United Nations bodies and supported by the
inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for
Disaster Reduction, are requested to assist in implementing
this Framework for Action as follows, subject to the decisions
taken upon completion of the review process[22] of the current mechanism and institutional arrangements:
(a) Develop a matrix of roles and initiatives in support of
follow-up to this Framework for Action, involving individual
members of
the Task Force and other international partners;
(b) Facilitate the coordination of effective and integrated
action within the organizations of the United Nations system
and among
other relevant international and regional entities, in
accordance with their respective mandates, to support the implementation
of this Framework for Action, identify gaps in implementation
and facilitate consultative processes to develop guidelines
and policy tools for each priority area, with relevant national, regional and international expertise;
(c) Consult with relevant United Nations agencies and organizations,
regional and multilateral organizations and technical and scientific
institutions, as well as interested States and civil society,
with the view to developing generic, realistic and measurable
indicators, keeping in mind available resources of individual
States. These indicators could assist States to assess their
progress in the implementation of the Framework of Action.
The indicators should be in conformity with the internationally
agreed
development goals, including those contained in the Millennium
Declaration; Once that first stage has been completed, States
are encouraged to develop or refine indicators at the national
level reflecting their individual disaster risk reduction priorities,
drawing upon the generic indicators.
(d) Ensure support to national platforms for disaster reduction,
including through the clear articulation of their role and
value added, as well as regional coordination, to support the
different
advocacy and policy needs and priorities set out in this Framework
for Action, through coordinated regional facilities for disaster
reduction, building on regional programmes and outreach advisors
from relevant partners;
(e) Coordinate with the secretariat of the Commission on Sustainable
Development to ensure that relevant partnerships contributing
to implementation of the Framework for Action are registered
in its sustainable development partnership database; (f)
Stimulate the exchange, compilation, analysis, summary and dissemination
of best practices, lessons learned, available technologies
and programmes, to support disaster risk reduction in its capacity as an international information
clearinghouse; maintain a global information platform on
disaster risk reduction and a web-based register “portfolio” of
disaster risk reduction programmes and initiatives implemented
by States and through regional and international partnerships;[23]
(g) Prepare periodic reviews on progress towards achieving
the objectives and priorities of this Framework for Action,
within
the context of the process of integrated and coordinated
follow-up and implementation of United Nations conferences and
summits
as mandated by the General Assembly,[24] and
provide reports and summaries to the Assembly and other
United Nations bodies,
as
requested or as appropriate, based on information from
national platforms, regional and international organizations
and other
stakeholders, including on the follow-up to the implementation
of the recommendations from the Second International Conference
on Early Warning (2003).[25]
F. Resource mobilization
34. States, within the bounds of their financial capabilities,
regional and international organizations, through appropriate
multilateral, regional and bilateral coordination mechanisms,
should undertake the following tasks to mobilize the necessary
resources to support implementation of this Framework for Action:
(a) Mobilize the appropriate resources and capabilities of relevant
national, regional and international bodies, including the United
Nations system;
(b) Provide for and support, through bilateral and multilateral
channels, the implementation of this Framework for Action in
disaster-prone developing countries, including through financial
and technical assistance, addressing debt sustainability, technology
transfer on mutually agreed terms, and public–private partnerships,
and encourage North–South and South–South cooperation;
(c) Mainstream disaster risk reduction measures appropriately
into multilateral and bilateral development assistance programmes
including those related to poverty eduction, natural resource
management, urban development and adaptation to climate change;
(d) Provide adequate voluntary financial contributions to the
United Nations Trust Fund for Disaster Reduction, in the effort
to ensure the adequate support for the follow-up activities to
this Framework for Action. Review the current usage and feasibility
for the expansion of this fund, inter alia, to assist disaster-prone
developing countries to set up national strategies for disaster
risk reduction.
(e) Develop partnerships to implement schemes that spread out
risks, reduce insurance premiums, expand insurance coverage and
thereby increase financing for postdisaster reconstruction and
rehabilitation, including through public and private partnerships,
as appropriate. Promote an environment that encourages a culture
of insurance in developing countries, as appropriate.
| 1 |
Vulnerability
is defined as: “The conditions determined by physical,
social, economic, and environmental factors or processes,
which increase the susceptibility of a community to the impact
ofhazards”. UN/ISDR. Geneva 2004. |
| 2 |
Hazard
is defined as: “A potentially damaging physical event,
phenomenon or human activity that may cause the loss of life
or injury, property damage, social and economic disruption
or environmental degradation. Hazards can include latent
conditions that may represent future threats and can have
different origins: natural (geological, hydrometeorological
and biological) or induced by human processes (environmental
degradation and technological hazards)” UN/ISDR.
Geneva 2004. |
| 3 |
The
scope of this Framework for Action encompasses disasters
caused by hazards of natural origin and related environmental
and technological hazards and risks. It thus reflects a holistic
and multihazard approach to disaster risk management and
the relationship, between them which can have a significant
impact on social, economic, cultural and environmental systems,
as stressed in the Yokohama Strategy (section I, part B,
letter I, p. 8). |
| 4 |
Some
of these frameworks and declarations are listed in the annex
to this document. |
| 5 |
Review
of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World
(A/CONF.206/L.1). |
| 6 |
As
per General Assembly resolution 58/214 of 23 December 2003. |
| 7 |
Resilience: “The
capacity of a system, community or society potentially exposed
to hazards to adapt,by resisting or changing in order to
reach and maintain an acceptable level of
functioning andstructure This is determined by the degree to which the social
system is capable
of organising itself toincrease this capacity for learning from past disasters
for better future protection
and to improve riskreduction measures.” UN/ISDR. Geneva 2004. |
| 8 |
The
Johannesburg Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on
Sustainable Development,Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August-4 September 2002, paragraphs 37 and 65. |
| 9 |
As
reaffirmed at the twenty-third special session of the General
Assembly on the topic “Women2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”. |
| 10 |
The
establishment of national platforms for disaster reduction
was requested
in Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/63 and in
General Assembly resolutions
56/195, 58/214, and 58/215. The expression “national
platform” is a generic term
used for national mechanisms for coordination and policy
guidance on disaster risk reduction that need to be multi-sectoral
and inter-disciplinary in nature, with public,
private and civil society participation involving all concerned
entities within a country (including United
Nations agencies present at the national level, as appropriate).
National platforms represent the national mechanism for the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction. |
| 11 |
See
footnotes 1, 2 and 3 for the scope of this Framework for
Action. |
| 12 |
See
footnotes 1, 2 and 3. |
| 13 |
As
recommended in General Assembly resolution 58/214. |
| 14 |
“Structural
measures refer to any physical construction to reduce or
avoid possible impacts of
hazards, which include engineering measures and construction of hazard-resistant
and protective
structures and infrastructure. Non-structural measures refer to policies, awareness,
knowledge development, public commitment, and methods and operating practices,
including participatory mechanisms and the provision of information, which can
reduce risk and related impacts”. UN/ISDR.
Geneva, 2004. |
| 15 |
According
to the principles contained in General Assembly resolution
46/182. |
| 16 |
In
compliance with General Assembly resolution 58/118 and OAS
General Assembly resolution 2018
(xxxiv-0/04). |
| 17 |
As
identified in General Assembly resolution 57/270 B. |
| 18 |
Such
as the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication
Resources for Disaster
Mitigation and Relief Operations (1998), which entered into force 8 January 2005. |
| 19 |
The
United Nations Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation established
by the Secretary-General
made an urgent appeal to halve loss of human life caused by major water related
disasters, including
tsunami, by 2015. |
| 20 |
Defined
by General Assembly resolution 46/182. |
| 21 |
Work
towards the consistent implementation of General Assembly
resolution 57/150. |
| 22 |
A
review process regarding the institutional arrangements within
the United Nations pertaining to
disaster reduction is currently being carried out and will be completed, following
the World
Conference on Disaster Reduction, with an evaluation of the role and performance
of the International
Strategy for Disaster Reduction. |
| 23 |
To
serve as a tool for sharing experience and methodologies
on disaster reduction efforts. States and
relevant organizations are invited to actively contribute to the knowledge-building
process by
registering their own effort on a voluntary basis in consideration of the global
progress of the
Conference outcomes. |
| 24 |
General
Assembly resolution 57/270B, follow-up to United Nations
conferences, and the General
Assembly resolutions on Implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster
Reduction, which
request the Secretary-General to report to the second committee of the General
Assembly under
“ Sustainable development” (54/219, 56/195, 57/256 58/214, 58/215,
59/231). |
| 25 |
General
Assembly resolution 58/214. |
Annex
Some multilateral developments related to disaster risk reduction
Among the multi-lateral frameworks and declarations that are
of relevance to this document there are the following:[1]
- The International
Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action
for the Sustainable Development
of Small
Island Developing States,[2] held in Mauritius in January 2005, calls for increased
commitments to reducing the
vulnerability
of mall island developing States, due to their
limited capacity
to respond to and recover from disasters.
- The Agenda
for Humanitarian Action adopted by the International Conference
of the Red Cross and
Red Crescent in December
2003 includes a goal and actions to “reduce the risk and impact
of disasters and improve preparedness and response mechanisms”.
- The Johannesburg
Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development,[3] held in 2002, paragraph
37 requests
actions under the chapeau: “An integrated,
multi-hazard, inclusive approach to address
vulnerability, risk, assessment
and disaster management, including prevention,
mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery,
is an essential element of a safer world
in the 21st century”, supporting the
International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
as the first action. The theme of “vulnerability,
risk reduction and disaster management” is
included in the multi-year programme of work
of the Commission
on Sustainable
Development in 2014-2015, and as a cross-cutting
theme throughout the programme.
- The third
Action Programme for Least Developed Countries,[4] adopted in 2001, requests action
by development partners
in view of giving priority attention to these
countries in the substantive
programme and institutional arrangements
for the implementation of the International Strategy
for Disaster Reduction.
- The Millennium
Declaration[5] of
Sept
|