UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction

Together with the World Health Organization Sasakawa Health Prize and the UN Environment Programme Sasakawa Environment Prize, the United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction is one of three prestigious prizes established in 1986 by founding Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, Mr. Ryoichi Sasakawa. It is worth approximately US $50,000 and is shared among the Laureates. Nominees also receive Certificates of Distinction and Merit.

UNISDR is the administrator of the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction (isdr-sasakawa@un.org).

The 2013 theme is about "Acting As One"

It is designed to draw out examples of DRR initiatives reflecting one of the discipline's most fundamental tenets: that DRR is everybody's business. The $50,000 award will be decided by an independent jury of four experts from Asia, the America, Africa and Europe.

2011: Cities of San Francisco (Philippines), Santa Fe (Argentina), and the District of North Vancouver (Canada)

San Francisco was recognized for its innovative use of the Purok system; Santa Fe for effectively communicating risk to citizens; the District of North Vancouver for providing as much information where possible to its community.

2009: Dr. Eko Teguh Paripurno, Indonesia

Dr Paripurno is the Director of the Research Center for Disaster Management of the University of National Development in Yogyakarta and consultant to local and national governments as well as to various civil society organizations.

2007: Professor Yoshiaki Kawata, Japan and Tony Gibbs, Caribbean engineer in building safety,

Professor Kawata was awarded for his promotion of research and knowledge about past disasters. Mr Gibbs is also being awarded for his advocacy and leadership role in sharing his knowledge with engineers, architects, builders and the general public.

2005: Mr. Chimeddorj Batchulluun, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mongolia

Mr. Batchulluun provided a model for effective risk reduction combining traditional and cultural values with modern technical capabilities to increase the resilience of herding communities in Mongolia.

2004: Dr. Omar Dario Cardona, Colombia

Dr. Cardona is a Colombian earthquake engineer known internationally for his pioneering approaches to vulnerability reduction and risk management. He has made a remarkable contribution introducing the concept of structural seismic vulnerability.

2003: Mrs. Tadzong, née Esther Anwi Mofor, Provincial Chief of Service for Planning and Guidance, Ministry of National Education, Cameroon

Mrs. Tadzong is the driving force behind the Global Centre for Compliance, Hazard and Disaster Management which was created to help victims and survivors after a serious industrial accident.

2002: Professor Dr. Serguei Balassanian, President, Armenian Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior (AASPEI), Armenia

Professor Balassanian was recognized for his long-term dedication to seismic disaster risk reduction, and for mobilizing the scientific and political community on disaster reduction.

2001: Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC), Germany

GFMC was selected unanimously for its long-term commitment to disaster reduction and continued research activities for their reduction of wild land fires worldwide, as well as for its multiple cooperation projects in developing countries, involving local communities.

2000: Fondo para la Reconstrucción y el Desarrollo Social del Eje Cafetero (FOREC), Colombia

FOREC's innovative approach lies in the application of a public management model for disaster reconstruction, based on the full participation and involvement of NGOs in the rehabilitation process.

Previous Laureates

• 1999 - Prof. Mustafa Erdik, Turkey
• 1998 - H.E. Mr. Ji Cai Rang, China,Prof. Wang Ang-Sheng, China
• 1997 - Observatorio Sismológico del Sur-Occidente (OSSO), Colombia and Dr. A.S. Arya, India
• 1996 - Dr. Ian Davis, United Kingdom
• 1995 - No Laureate
• 1994 - National Emergency Commission, Costa Rica
• 1993 - Dr. Vit Karnik, Czech Republic
• 1992 - Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School, Ecuador
• 1991 - Mr. Franco Barberi, Italy
• 1990 - Mr. Julio Kuroiwa, Peru
• 1989 - Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, Ethiopia
• 1988 - ESCAP/Typhoon Committee, Philippines
• 1987 - Ratu Kamisese Mara, Fiji