UNISDR
From HFA-PEDIA
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UNISDR at a glance
At the 2005 World Conference on Disaster Reduction, 168 Governments adopted a 10-year plan to make the world safer from natural disaster. The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) is a global blueprint for disaster risk reduction efforts during the next decade with the goal to substantially reduce disaster losses by 2015 - in lives, and in the social, economic, and environmental assets of communities and countries.
The United Nations Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), established by General Assembly Resolution A/RES/54/219 in 2000 and further elaborated in the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, has the mission to facilitate and monitor the implementation of the HFA by the ISDR system partners. As per the 2005 Report of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly: A/60/180, UNISDR functions include:
- Tracking overall implementation of the Hyogo Framework facilitating reviews of experience and preparing progress reports.
- Promoting a global culture of risk reduction and serving as a disseminator of information and communication materials, advocated with broad interagency collaboration and networks of expertise.
- Facilitating and servicing the successor to the Inter-Agency Task Force; set up as the main United Nations forum for continued and concerted efforts around natural disaster reduction, e.g. defining strategies to promote international cooperation, managing oversight board and encouraging policy development.
- Supporting national platforms for disaster risk reduction with information and policy advice.
- Serving as the United Nations system focal point for coordination and harmonization of policies and strategies for disaster risk reduction; promoting synergy between humanitarian issues and socioeconomic development.
- Advocating resource mobilization, establishing tracking and reporting systems and administering the Strategy Trust Fund for Disaster Reduction.
About UNISDR
United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction secretariat (UNISDR)
General description
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) was adopted by United Nations Member States in 2000 and is owned by local, national, regional and international organizations (A/RES/54/597, A/RES/56/195). The secretariat to ISDR is UNISDR, an entity within the United Nations Secretariat. UNISDR is led by an Assistant Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and overseen by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, who also serves as the Chair for the wider ISDR system of partnerships. The mandate of UNISDR is to act as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure that disaster risk reduction becomes integral to sound and equitable development, environmental protection and humanitarian action.
The mission of UNISDR is to be an effective coordinator and guide for all the ISDR partners, globally and regionally, and to:
- Mobilize political and financial commitments to disaster risk reduction and Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (HFA);
- Develop and sustain a robust, multistakeholder system;
- Provide relevant knowledge and guidance.
Core functions of UNISDR include:
- Inter-agency and stakeholder coordination for disaster risk reduction policy development, reporting, information sharing and support to national efforts, at regional and global level;
- Monitoring the implementation of HFA and reporting on progress (core indicators), including publishing the biennial Global Assessment Report, organizing regional platforms and managing the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction;
- Coordinating preparation of policy guidelines for the HFA priority areas, in particular linking disaster risk reduction to the climate change adaptation and mitigation;
- Conducting advocacy, awareness campaigns and media outreach;
- Providing information services and practical tools, such as virtual libraries, and assembling databases of good practices, country profiles, events calendar, electronic workspaces;
- Promoting national multi-sector coordination mechanisms for disaster risk reduction (national platforms) and advising UN Resident Coordinators and ISDR system partners.
UNISDR administrates the UN Trust Fund for Disaster Reduction and is partner to the World Bank in the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. UNISDR headquarters is based in Geneva, Switzerland, with a liaison office in New York. It works through regional and sub-regional offices in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Americas and Europe and supports the thematic platforms on recovery (in Kobe) and early warning (in Bonn).
UNISDR at a glance
The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction was launched by the General Assembly of the United Nations to provide a global framework for action with the objective of reducing human, social, economic and environmental losses due to natural hazards and related technological and environmental phenomena. The UNISDR aims at building disaster resilient communities by promoting increased awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development. In January 2000, through its resolution 54/219, the General Assembly established two mechanisms for the implementation of the ISDR, the Inter-Agency Secretariat and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction. This was reconfirmed in resolution 56/195 in December 2001. UNISDR builds on the learning from IDNDR, the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action and the Geneva Mandate of 1999.
The General Assembly also calls upon governments to establish national platforms or focal points for disaster reduction, and to strengthen them where they already exist, with a multi-sector and inter-disciplinary approach.
Mission
The UNISDR aims at building disaster resilient communities by promoting increased awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development, with the goal of reducing human, social, economic and environmental losses due to natural hazards and related technological and environmental disasters.
UNISDR Objectives
Obtaining Commitment from Public Authorities
This objective is addressed through increased multi-sector coordination at all levels, risk management strategies, and the allocation of appropriate resources including development of new funding mechanisms. Disaster reduction should not be dealt with as a separate policy issue but as a cross cutting in relevant fields of government (health, agriculture, food security, environment, etc.) aiming at policy integration among the various sectors.
Increasing Public Awareness
Increasing public awareness and public participation on how to reduce vulnerability to hazards is a key area to UNISDR’s work. This involves programs related to formal and non-formal education and addresses the issues through public information, education and multi-disciplinary professional training. Media and school systems have a crucial role to play in this respect.
Stimulating Inter-disciplinary and Multi-sector Partnerships
Along with the expansion of risk reduction networking amongst governments at national and local levels, stimulating partnerships aims at achieving greater involvement of the private sector, academic institutions, NGOs and community based organisations (CBOs). This calls for strong coordination mechanisms, such as appropriate institutional structures for disaster risk management, preparedness, emergency response and early warning, as well as the incorporation of disaster reduction concerns in national planning processes. Efforts to link natural resource management with disaster reduction should also be encouraged.
Fostering Better Understanding and Knowledge of the Causes of Disasters
This is mainly approached through the transfer and exchange of experience and greater access to relevant data and information. The issues to be addressed in this context are the assessment and analysis of gender specific socio-economic impacts of disasters, disaster databases, coping strategies of different social groups, early warning processes, as well as the promotion of scientific research, valuing of indigenous knowledge and the development and transfer of knowledge and technology.
UNISDR Functions
- Tracking implementation of the Hyogo Framework and facilitating reviews of experience and preparing progress reports;
- Promoting a worldwide culture of risk reduction, acting as a “clearing house” for information and communication materials, advocated with broad interagency collaboration and networks of expertise;
- Facilitating and servicing the Global Platform, the Management Oversight Board and regional and thematic platforms and networks and supporting cooperation among members;
- Supporting national platforms for disaster risk reduction with information and policy advice, acting as a broker for the provision of technical expertise and resources to national and thematic programmes;
- Advocating resource mobilization, establishing tracking and reporting systems, and administering the UN Trust Fund for Disaster Reduction.
UNISDR System
UNISDR is a system of partnerships including governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, international financial institutions, scientific and technical bodies, and specialised networks as well as civil society and private sector. The overall objective of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) system is to generate and support a global disaster risk reduction movement to reduce risk to disasters and to build "a culture of prevention" in society as part of sustainable development. The UNISDR system supports nations and communities to implement the Hyogo Framework. UNISDR’s basic structure includes a Global platform for DRR, a Management oversight board, an inter agency group that developed UNISDR joint work programme, thematic and regional platforms and the UNISDR secretariat.
UNISDR Secretariat
The UNISDR secretariat launched in 2000 (A/RES54/219) serves as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of natural disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster – reduction activities of the United Nations system and regional organisations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields (A/RES/56/195) The secretariat services the UNISDR system. Core functions of the secretariat include:
- Follow up on the implementation of HFA and report on progress
- Facilitate policy guidelines for the priority areas
- Conduct awareness campaigns and high level policy dialogues
- Provide information services and tools
- Support national platforms and coordination efforts in these areas through its regional programmes
The secretariat collaborates with the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery launched in 2006, in support of the implementation of HFA.
Who we are
The secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) is the UN inter-agency secretariat with the mandate to coordinate, promote and strengthen disaster risk reduction on a global, regional, national and local level. UNISDR secretariat is working towards a world without needless losses from disaster – following a guiding mission to catalyze, facilitate, and advocate for action that will protect lives and livelihoods from the impact of natural hazards.
The UNISDR headquarters is based in Geneva, Switzerland. It works through regional offices in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe.
UNISDR's mission
Catalyze, facilitate and mobilize commitment and support for the implementation of the ISDR system and the Hyogo Framework for Action in partnership with national, regional and international actors of the ISDR system (ISDR partners in action) to reduce disaster risk.
ISDR Secretariat Mandate
UNGA Mandates
UNGA resolution A/RES/56/195, 21 December 2001 (after review of the first 2 years of functioning of ISDR, as set out in the founding resolution of A/RES/54/219)
“6. Stresses that the inter-agency secretariat for the Strategy should be consolidated and enhanced to perform its functions effectively, in particular to serve as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster-reduction activities of the United Nations system and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields;”
This is a strong coordination mandate for the secretariat underpinning all other functions. The HFA and the processes initiated with IATF in 2005 – captured in "Strategic Directions to support the implementation of HFA" (IATF May 2005) and the USG led process to strengthen the ISDR system (first draft launched at IATF Oct. 2005 for consultation with Member States and inter-agency Reference Group appointed by IATF and endorsed by MOB) resulted in the ISDR system paper for the first session of the Global Platform. This paper lays out the core functions of each body of the ISDR system.
Mandates from the Hyogo Framework for Action
(endorsed by UNGA resolution A/RES/59/233, 22 December 2005)
HFA, paragraph 33, lays out the expected functions for the ISDR system, and indicates that these ISDR partners and functions will be supported (facilitated, coordinated) by the secretariat. Key words from this mandate include:
- • Develop matrix of roles and responsibilities to follow-up on implementation of HFA;
- • facilitate coordination of UN system and with regional organizations activities on DRR for the implementation of HFA;
- • facilitate consultative processes to develop guidelines and policy tools for each priority area;
- • develop generic indicators to monitor progress in implementation of HFA, in conformity with MDGs;
- • support national platforms through coordinated regional programmes and facilities;
- • compile good practice, lessons-learnt and databases to share information and maintain web-based «clearing-house»;
- • prepare periodic reviews and reporting;
- • register partnerships.
Functions of the UNISDR / ISDR secretariat
(SG Report to UNGA, A/60/180, August 2005)
“(c) A strengthened [ISDR] secretariat would have the following core functions:
- • Tracking the overall implementation of the Hyogo Framework, facilitating reviews of experience and preparing progress reports
- • Promoting a worldwide culture of risk reduction, acting as a “clearing house” for information and communication materials, advocated with broad interagency collaboration and networks of expertise
- • Facilitating and servicing the successor to the Task Force [the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction], the management oversight board and regional and thematic platforms and networks, encouraging policy development and reviews, and supporting cooperation among members
- • Supporting national platforms for disaster risk reduction with information and policy advice, acting as a broker for the provision of technical expertise and resources to national and thematic programmes
- • Serving as the focal point within the United Nations system for the coordination and harmonization of policies and strategies for disaster risk reduction, encouraging synergy between the humanitarian and socioeconomic development policies and strategies of the United Nations system
- • Advocating resource mobilization, establishing tracking and reporting systems, administering the UN Trust Fund for Disaster Reduction”
What we do
We build and support partnerships and networks with development and humanitarian groups worldwide, to build disaster resilience and promote disaster risk reduction. Partners include UN agencies, governments, international organizations, NGOs, civil society and the private sector.
We advocate for more government action on disaster risk reduction. We promote the integration of disaster reduction policies and legislation into sustainable development planning, for example by supporting multi-stakeholder national, regional and thematic platforms on disaster risk reduction.
We inform people by producing information and education materials, and promoting scientific and technical research, including guidance on disaster risk reduction strategies, protection and preparedness measures. We have developed an information clearinghouse that is also an interactive online information tool – PreventionWeb – for use by the disaster risk reduction community.
We communicate with all stakeholders in society who are concerned with disaster prevention. We work with journalists to raise awareness of the importance of disaster prevention – often neglected by the media in the aftermath of disasters. We reach out to communities that are potentially at risk from the impact of natural hazards, by communicating about disaster prevention at a local level.
We campaign, together with partners, to build awareness of disaster risk reduction, and reduce communities’ vulnerability to the impact of hazards. Our campaigns aim to strengthen disaster risk reduction policies and to influence the attitudes of decision-makers and society at large, towards dealing with disaster risk.
We promote the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) – a set of guidelines, adopted by 168 countries worldwide, on how to integrate Disaster Risk Reduction policies into national development agendas. We work to build a common understanding of the HFA and to make its priorities of mitigating the impact of natural hazards and reducing vulnerability a political and socioeconomic reality.
The Secretariat of the ISDR has been established as a flexible structure with core staff composed of a small number of substantive officers and managed by a Director under the direct authority of the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs. In additional to the core staff, consultants and personnel are considered on the basis of special funding for specific activities to be carried out by the Secretariat in connection with its key functions.
Responsibilities
ISDR Secretariat functions and responsibilities as per Secretary General’s report A/54/497: (English, French, Spanish)
- To serve as the focal point within the United Nations system for the coordination of strategies and programmes for natural disaster reduction, and to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields;
- To support the inter-agency task force in the development of policies on natural disaster reduction;
- To promote a worldwide culture of reduction of the negative effects of natural hazards, through advocacy campaigns;
- To serve as an international clearing house for the dissemination and exchange of information and knowledge on disaster reduction strategies; and
- To backstop the policy and advocacy activities of national committees for natural disaster reduction.
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) – UNISDR Key messages
1. Disasters are not 'natural'. They can often be prevented and their impact mitigated.
2. Social conditions shaped by humans – such as poverty and inequality – increase people’s vulnerability to hazards. The lack of physical resources and awareness to cope with shocks is what causes disasters when natural hazards strike.
3. Disasters do not only cause immediate human suffering and destruction but impede long-term development by keeping people trapped in a vicious spiral of poverty.
4. Disaster risk reduction is about saving lives and livelihoods – by changing people’s mindsets. It is about shifting from response to prevention and reducing communities’ vulnerability.
5. People have a right to live in safety and with dignity. Countries have a responsibility to protect their citizens. Disaster risk reduction policies should therefore be systematically integrated into sustainable development strategies.
6. Health and education are essential for reducing societies’ vulnerability. Governments have a responsibility to provide for these services and protect their buildings – thus making communities more resilient to disasters.
7. Early warning systems can be life-saving. If alarms are sounded before disaster strikes human loss can be avoided.
8. Educate to build a culture of prevention. People need to be provided with knowledge, skills and resources in order to be able to protect themselves from disaster risk.
9. A safe and healthy environment is vital. It is everybody’s responsibility to protect the environment - to mitigate the impact caused by natural hazards.
10. Climate change starts with disaster risk reduction. Climate change is predicted to increase frequency and intensity of storms, floods and droughts. Communities need to be prepared to be able to deal with the impact of climate-related hazards.
11. Be prepared when disaster strikes. People need to be equipped with the necessary skills and resources in order to be able to respond effectively to disasters – to save lives.
12. Old things can be priceless – like communities’ traditional knowledge about early warning on natural hazards.
13. Disaster risk reduction is everybody's responsibility. All of us may be affected by hazards - be it an earthquake, hurricane or floods. Lives and livelihoods can be saved when disaster risk reduction is made a priority.
(See also: Disaster risk reduction)
Summary for UN Resident Coordinators
June 2008:
ISDR system:
The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (HFA), endorsed by 168 countries in 2005, serves as the overall framework for implementing disaster risk reduction world-wide. The ISDR system supports nations and communities to implement the Hyogo Framework. ISDR is a system of partnerships including governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations, international financial institutions, scientific and technical bodies and specialized networks as well as civil society and the private sector (ISDR partners in action). The ISDR system’s basic structure includes a Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, a Management Oversight Board, an Inter-Agency Group that developed an ISDR System Joint Work-Programme, thematic and regional platforms and the ISDR secretariat (UNISDR).
ISDR secretariat:
The UNISDR (ISDR secretariat), launched in 2000 (A/RES/54/219) serves as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster-reduction activities of the United Nations system and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields (A/RES/56/195). The secretariat services the ISDR system and administrates the UN Trust Fund for Disaster Reduction. Core functions of the secretariat include: follow-up on the implementation of HFA and report on progress, facilitate policy guidelines for the priority areas including by linking disaster risk reduction to the climate change negotiations, conduct awareness campaigns and high-level policy dialogues, provide information services and tools, and support national platforms and coordination efforts in these areas, through its regional programmes. (See more: www.unisdr.org; www.eird.org; www.preventionweb.net)
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery
In 2006 the World Bank launched the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) in support of the implementation of the HFA and ISDR system. The GFDRR is among the ISDR partners in action.
URL: www.gfdrr.org.
History of the UNISDR Mandate
1987
Guiding Strategy: International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR)
General Assembly Resolution: A/RES/42/169 (decides to designate the 1990s as the IDNDR)
1988-1989
Guiding Strategy: International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR)
General Assembly Resolutions:
- - A/RES/43/202 (preparations)
- - A/RES/44/236 (proclaims IDNDR, 2nd Wed. of Oct. Intl. Day, adopts Int. Framework for IDNDR)
1990
Guiding Strategy: International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR)
Secretariat: IDNDR Secretariat (Works closely with UNDRO)
General Assembly Resolution: A/RES/45/185
1994
Major Conference: World Conference on Natural Disaster Reduction, Yogohama
Guiding Strategy: Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action for a Safer World
Secretariat: IDNDR Secretariat
General Assembly Resolution: A/RES/49/22
2000
Guiding Strategy: International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR)
Secretariat: UN secretariat to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
Global Coordination: Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction (IATF/DR)
Regional, National Coordination: National Platform for Disaster Reduction (refer to ECOSOC1999/63 IDNDR: successor arrangements)
General Assembly Resolutions:
- - A/RES/54/219
- - A/54/497 (Sec.Gen report)
2002
Major Conference: World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg
Guiding Strategy: Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
Secretariat: UN/DESA
General Assembly Resolutions:
- - A/RES/56/195
- - A/RES/57/256
- - A/RES/58/215
2005-present
Major Conference: World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR), Kobe
Guiding Strategy: Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters
Common Statement of the special session on the Indian Ocean disaster: risk reduction for a safer future
Secretariat: UN secretariat to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
Global Coordination: ISDR System
Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (Successor to IATF/DR)
Regional, National Coordination: Regional Platform (For Asia – 2007 Delhi Declaration)
General Assembly Resolutions:
- - A/RES/58/214
- - A/60/180 (Sec.Gen report)
- - A/61/229 (Sec.Gen report)
- - A/RES/59/231
- - A/RES/60/195
- - A/RES/61/198
- - A/RES/62/192
2007
Major Conference: UNFCCC COP13
Guiding Strategy: Bali Action Plan – Decision of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention
Secretariat: UNFCCC
General Assembly Resolution: FCCC/CP/2007/L.7/Rev.1
Other
Margareta Wahlstrom was appointed as Assistant Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action in the Secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction on November 17, 2008.
