ISDR Asia Partnership (IAP) meeting of 2015

The main focus of this IAP will be to discuss the way forward from the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) and implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in the Asian Region.

1. To reflect on the WCDRR and unpacking the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR)
2. To discuss the preparation of the 1st Ministerial Conference towards implementation of the SFDRR
3. To discuss the development of the ‘Asia Regional SFDRR implementation plan’

Background:

In March this year, representatives from 187 countries adopted the ‘Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030' (SFDRR), making it the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda during the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) held in Sendai, Japan in March 2015.

With an overarching intended outcome of “The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries”, the framework aims to “Prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk through the implementation of integrated and inclusive economic, structural, legal, social, health, cultural, educational, environmental, technological, political and institutional measures that prevent and reduce hazard exposure and vulnerability to disaster, increase preparedness for response and recovery, and thus strengthen resilience”.

Governments also adopted: a political declaration, which expresses the commitment of Heads of State and Government to implement the Sendai Framework; and a resolution regarding voluntary commitments of stakeholders, inviting further commitments and the creation of partnerships to implement the Framework.

In order to strengthen disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk, the frameworks calls on governments and stakeholders to actively engage in the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, the regional and sub-regional platforms for disaster risk reduction and the thematic platforms in order to forge partnerships, periodically assess progress on implementation and share practice and knowledge on disaster risk-informed policies, programmes and investments, including on development and climate issues, as appropriate, as well as promote the integration of disaster risk management in other relevant sectors.

The ISDR Asia Partnership (IAP), so far has been the operational arm of the Regional Platforms in Asia. The partnership has been an informal multi-stakeholder forum with the role to facilitate implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-15 (HFA) in the Asia region. The IAP launched in 2004 and subsequently expanded in 2007 including regional inter governmental organizations, governments, civil society organizations, UN and international organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors. Since 2007, the IAP has emerged as the support mechanism for the Asia Regional Platform for DRR and has been meeting twice a year.

The fundamental role of the IAP so far has been to support the political leadership of the regional platform through series of Asia Ministerial Conferences (AMC- DRR); to support the biennial progress review of the HFA implementation; and to improve regional coordination and coherence through regional experience sharing.

The 1st Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction after the advent of the SFDRR 2015-2030 will be hosted by the Government of India in 2016. As a follow up from the 6th Asian Ministerial Conference outcome and as a requirement of the SFDRR implementation, the intended outcome of the 1st Ministerial Conference in India will be to an ‘Asian Regional implementation plan of the SFDRR’. The IAP forum will mainly work as the consultation mechanism and provide technical input for the preparation of the AMCDRR and development of the regional implementation plan.

The SFDRR has been placed as a continuation of the DRR effort from the HFA 2005-15 era. However, the SFDRR priorities and goals require a different and more focused approach towards implementation of the framework at all levels. This will also imply a change in the way the Asia partnership forum has been functioning so far. This IAP will also provide an opportunity to it’s members to discuss the required change in the partnership to make it more effective towards meeting the expectation of the SFDRR needs and requirements.

Target Audience

Participants will be mainly from the IAP members that includes representatives of national governments (mainly HFA Focal points/ alternate HFA Focal Points), organizations part of the key stakeholders groups, sub-regional inter governmental organizations, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), bilateral donors, UN & International organizations, civil society organizations and media.