Driving action for

disaster-affected communities:
Recommendations from Concern Worldwide for governments ahead of
the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in May

Between 22nd and 26th May, governments, NGOs, scientists, practitioners, and UN organizations
from around the world will meet in Mexico at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
to share experience, learning and strategies for the implementation of the Sendai Framework (SFDRR)
2015-2030.
The SFDRR was adopted by UN member states in March 2015 and provides a critical strategy for
building resilience and addressing the impact of disasters which represent a severe threat to millions
of people across the world. However, this global framework will only be relevant if it is effectively
implemented in each country by national governments and their partners.
We believe that this first global meeting around disaster risk reduction since the Sendai Framework
was adopted in 2015 must be seen as a concrete opportunity to set up a functional path to achieving
the seven targets by 2030.
This briefing is addressed to national governments who are developing their official statements on
progress towards implementation of the Sendai Framework for the Global Platform. It identifies six key
factors that need to be in place for effective implementation of the SFDRR and recommendations as
to how these can be achieved. We ask national governments to include these points in the official
statements made at the Global Platform.

1. Ensure policy coherence

The SFDRR sits alongside other global policy frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development (Sustainable Development Goals), and the Paris Agreement on climate change,
containing commitments to build the resilience of vulnerable people. Taken together, these policy
frameworks can support and reinforce each other but there is also a danger of confusion and conflicting
approaches if they are not tackled in a joined-up way.
Recommendation: Governments should ensure that the various global policy frameworks are
implemented at the national level in a coordinated and complementary way. This should include
the setting up of national and sub-national focal points with oversight of the implementation of
all relevant policy frameworks to make sure a coordinated approach is taken to both
implementation and monitoring.

2. Involve and empower local communities

Disasters are experienced at local level and it is affected people who often have the clearest
understanding of the risks they face. They are an important source of knowledge and technical
expertise for tackling disaster risk and they understand how disasters impact on different groups in their
community. There is therefore a need for more systematic collaboration between governments and
communities, and the CSOs that represent them, in the design, development and implementation of
DRR policies and strategies.
Recommendation: Target E of the Sendai Framework calls on governments to develop and
implement national and local DRR strategies by 2020. Governments should listen to the voices
of disaster-affected communities and involve them fully in the drafting and implementation of
these strategies and related policies and plans.
3. Devolve sufficient power and resources to local government
Strong local and regional government is an important factor in the success of community resilience-
building. Consultation of local communities, development of local disaster management plans,
collection and sharing of early warning information are some of the key aspects of resilience which will
be undermined if local or regional government is unable to play a significant role. This issue has been
recognized by the African Working Group for DRR which identifies decentralizing powers and
resources to catalyze actions at the local level1 as a strategic intervention area to be achieved by 2018.
Recommendation: Governments should follow this recommendation to devolve sufficient
responsibilities, authority and budget to regional and local governments to enable them to
better engage with disaster-affected communities and drive the implementation of SFDRR
on the ground.

4. Take an integrated approach to risk

Building resilience to disasters involves a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder approach which addresses
the range of different factors which make people vulnerable and the connections between them.
Implementing the SFDRR will therefore require an integrated approach at all levels, including in the
drafting and implementation of national and local DRR strategies, to mainstream and integrate disaster
risk reduction across all sectors.
Recommendation: Governments should coordinate planning and implementation across sector
ministries and departments and should take an integrated approach by setting out the roles and
responsibilities of all different actors at national and local level around disaster risk.

5. Support inclusive and people-centred Early Warning systems

An effective Early Warning system is a crucial component of resilience. These systems provide
information which can help prevent or reduce disaster impacts, stop slow onset disasters escalating
into full-scale crises and save lives and livelihoods.

Recommendation: Target G of the Sendai Framework calls on governments to substantially

increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster
risk information and assessments to people by 2030. Governments should work with a range
of actors to ensure that this information is provided in a way which is comprehensible and
useful to disaster-affected communities, and linked to locally supported education and
communication systems.

6. Enhance government accountability for implementing the Sendai Framework

and the SDGs, especially to vulnerable groups
Communities, including vulnerable groups (children and youth, persons with disabilities, older people,
women, indigenous peoples, refugees, internally displaced persons and migrants) within them, should
be provided with the information, resources and platforms required to monitor the implementation of the
SFDRR and SDGs at the local level. This will be key to ensuring effective measurement of the
implementation of the post-2015 frameworks on the ground and to hold decision makers to account
for this.
Recommendation: National and local governments should provide communities with the
information (in local languages), resources and opportunities to monitor the implementation
of the Sendai Framework and the SDGs in addition to other laws, policies and plans related
to DRR and resilience.

1 Africa Union Commission, 8th Session of Africa Working Group for DRR, Recommendations for Implementing Sendai Framework in Africa
www.preventionweb.net/files/temp/47863~awg8recommendations.pdf

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