UN/ISDR - UNDP
The Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
On-line Conference
 
A framework to guide and monitor disaster risk reduction
from 25 August to 26 September 2003
 
 
Introduction
basic document
Guidelines
Focus
Topic 1
 
Technical support by
 
 
 
 
 
A Draft Framework to Guide and Monitor Disaster Risk Reduction
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) Secretariat and UNDP are developing a framework for understanding, guiding and monitoring disaster risk reduction at all levels. The ultimate goal of this collective and iterative endeavour is to encourage and increase appropriate, effective disaster reduction practices.
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Introductory note
Benefits

By systematically compiling information about disaster reduction initiatives using an agreed framework benefits are expected to include abilities to:

  • Relate and integrate disaster risk management issues into sustainable development;
  • Establish generic standards and guidelines for disaster reduction;
  • Help establish priorities within the domain of disaster reduction;
  • Develop systematic, comprehensive data and
    information about disaster reduction;
    Provide a basis for research in disaster reduction;
  • Compare approaches and analyze trends;
    Identify existing gaps and address them through new or improved programmes, policies, or plans;

The process should result in an increased commitment by governments and other stakeholders for disaster risk reduction. The process will draw from, and feed into, existing practices, institutional and policy-making / planning processes. It strives to be transparent and engage as many actors as possible in the development and testing of the framework, starting by addressing the international community, with the objective of reaching national and local levels.

Users will include decision-makers in Governments and agencies, project managers, researchers, NGO's, communities and educators

The framework is provided as a starting point an initial core set of principles and goals to understand, and thus guide and monitor, disaster risk reduction. As one reads to the right across the framework in any thematic area and component, the columns suggest increasingly specific descriptions and measures in a systematic fashion, with the aim to define related benchmarks. (It is difficult to characterize this column without making special reference to the type of hazards affecting your unit of analysis (region, country, community, etc.) Nevertheless, these criteria are kept at a generic level).

All stakeholders are invited to contribute their experience and participate in the refinement of the course of action needed to develop the framework. In particular, views and concrete recommendations are invited on:

  • The process and added value of the framework, its uses and users, its benefits, as well as potential challenges;
  • The proposed thematic areas, components and characteristics;
  • How can progress achieved in disaster risk reduction be monitored and assessed.

Objectives

  • The objectives of the consultative process to develop a framework are to:
    Develop a wider and increased understanding of disaster risk reduction practices and enhance their effectiveness. Users at any level should be able to adapt and utilize it according to their own needs and specific situation;
  • Identify the elements of disaster reduction so that achievements can be recorded systematically and compared over time;
  • Define benchmarks and other indicators that can be used to monitor efforts and assess progress in disaster risk reduction.

The UN and international community is the first target audience. By increasing its own performance in managing and co-ordinating its responsibilities related to disaster reduction within the wider development context, it will better serve other actors along the chain.

 

 
Draft framework to understand, guide and monitor disaster risk reduction
 
THEMATIC AREA 1: POLITICAL COMMITMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS (GOVERNANCE)
Thematic areas/ Components
Characteristics

Criteria for benchmarks (very tentative)

ScaleIntl Reginl Natinl Local

Data
Availablty
Measure
feasibility

Who
Political commitment

 

Policy and planning

  • Shift in approach from response to risk reduction
  • Promotion of disaster reduction including in reconstruction process
  • Integration of risk reduction in development planning and sectoral policies (poverty eradication, social protection, sustainable development, climate change adaptation, desertification, energy, natural resource management, etc)
  • National risk reduction strategy
  • Percentage of GDP invested
  • Disaster reduction in Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers
  • Participation in regional and international activities, programmes, networks and structures (including major conventions)
     
Legislation
  • Laws, acts and regulations
  • Accountability
       
Resources
  • Resource mobilization and allocation: financial (innovative and alternative funding, taxes, incentives), human, technical, material
  • Percentage of budget allocation
  • Experienced staff
  • Administrative evidence
     
Institutional aspects Organizational structures
  • Interministerial, multidisciplinary & multisectoral approaches
  • Implementing and coordinating mechanisms
  • Decentralization, civil society and community participation, local institutions
  • Existence of disaster reduction committees or platforms with defined scope and activities
  • Periodic review of committee activities and accomplishments
     
Normative framework
  • Codes, standards, norms
  • Enactment mechanisms
  • Existence of systems to control compliance and enforcement ·      Requirement  of compliance by law
     
 
THEMATIC AREA 2: RISK IDENTIFICATION
Thematic areas/ Components
Characteristics

Criteria for benchmarks (very tentative)

ScaleIntl Reginl Natinl Local

Data
Availablty
Measure
feasibility

Who
Risk assessment
  • Hazard analysis: characteristics, impacts, historical and spatial distribution, multi-hazard assessments, hazard monitoring including of emerging hazards
  • Vulnerability and capacity assessment: social, economic, physical and environmental, political, cultural factors
  • Risk monitoring capabilities, risk maps, risk scenarios
  • Hazard maps
  • Historical record of hazards and their impacts (catalogues, inventories)
  • Vulnerability and capacity indicators developed and systematically mapped and recorded
     
Impact assessments
  • Loss/impact assessment,
  • Socio-economic and environmental impact assessment
  • Loss analysis
  • Percentage of development projects and investment based on independent risk and environmental impacts assessments, including in post disaster phases
     
Forecasting and early warning systems
  • Forecast and prediction
  • Warning processing and dissemination
  • Response
  • Use effectiveness indicators developed by IATF WG2 (to be available in October 2003)
     
 
THEMATIC AREA 3: KNOWLEDGE  MANAGEMENT
Thematic areas/ Components
Characteristics

Criteria for benchmarks (very tentative)

ScaleIntl Reginl Natinl Local

Data
Availablty
Measure
feasibility

Who
Information management and communication
  • Official information and dissemination programmes and channels
  • Public and private information systems (including disaster, hazard and risk databases & websites) and networks for disaster risk management (scientific, technical and applied information, traditional knowledge), timely end user products 
  • Documentation and databases on disasters
  • Professionals and public networks
     
Education and training
  • Inclusion of disaster reduction from basic to higher education (curricula, material development and institutions)
  • Vocational training
  • Dissemination and use of traditional/ indigenous knowledge.
  • Community training programmes.
  • Referenced educational material
  • Number of courses and institutions
     
Public awareness
  • Official public awareness policy and programmes with associated material, guidelines and instructions
  • Media involvement in communicating risk
  • Coverage of disaster reduction related activities by media
  • Visibility of disaster reduction day
     
Research
  • Comprehensive research agenda for risk reduction
  • Related methodological development including for planning and progress assessment 
  • Regional and international cooperation in research, science and technology development.
       
 
THEMATIC AREA 4: RISK MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS
Thematic areas/ Components
Characteristics

Criteria for benchmarks (very tentative)

ScaleIntl Reginl Natinl Local

Data
Availablty
Measure
feasibility

Who
Environmental and natural resource management
  • Interface between environmental management and risk reduction practices, in particular in wetland and watershed protection and restoration, integrated water resource management; reforestation, agricultural practices, ecosystem conservation
  • Use of wetland or forestry management to reduce flood risk
  • Trends in deforestation rate
  • Use of environmental impact assessments in disaster reduction planning
   
Social and economic development practice
  • Social protection and safety nets (social solidarity strategies, e.g. PRSPs)
  • Financial instruments (involvement of financial sector in disaster reduction: insurance/reinsurance, risk spreading instruments for public infrastructure and private assets, micro-credit and finance, revolving community funds, social funds)
  • Sustainable livelihoods strategies
  • Percentage of poor population having access to social protection and safety nets
  • Use of safety nets and social protection programmes in recovery process
  • Extent of insurance coverage.
  • Coverage of micro-finance services in high disaster risk area, evidence of take up
   
Technical measure
  • Land use planning, urban and regional planning
  • Implementation and control mechanisms for specific risk (construction, infrastructure, desertification and flood control techniques, hazard control structures)
  • Compliance with international standards, codes and norms

 

  • Reduced percentage of construction or building projects in floodplains and other mapped hazard- prone areas
  • Enforcement of zoning plans
  • Percentage of official buildings in compliance with standards (heath facilities, schools, lifelines, energy supplies, other critical facilities)
  • Retrofitting
   
 
THEMATIC AREA 5: PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Thematic areas/ Components
Characteristics

Criteria for benchmarks (very tentative)

ScaleIntl Reginl Natinl Local

Data
Availablty
Measure
feasibility

Who
 
  • Effective communication and coordination system between response entities
  • Contingency planning
  • Preparedness planning
  • Logistics, infrastructure
  • Emergency response networks and plans (national/local, private/public), regularly updated and tested
  • Coverage of community training and community based preparedness
  • Emergency funds and stocks
   
 
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