Global Risk Assessment Framework (GRAF): Strengthening Methods for Risk Analysis & Risk data governance in Sudan

Background
This National workshop on “Global risk assessment framework -Strengthening Methods for Risk Analysis & Risk data governance in Sudan” is being organized jointly by the National Council of Civil Defence, the Government of Sudan, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

The adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction created new requirements and new opportunities for those involved in building resilience to the shocks to which societies are exposed and articulated the need for an improved understanding of risk in all its dimensions. In response to this challenge, UNDRR was called upon by experts to establish a process to co-design and develop the Global Risk Assessment Framework (GRAF), to inform decision-making and transform risk governance. The goal of GRAF is to provide options for decision-makers to reduce risk by making it easy to understand the composition of risk, what concrete measures can be considered to reduce it, to integrate risk reduction within existing strategies, initiatives, and resources, and to facilitate investment in those measures.
Among other, activities of the GRAF focus on developing a suite of methods for understanding and depicting the levers and drivers of risk and associated potential tipping points. The expectation is that users will be able to apply the method to risks that are relevant to their contexts and capacities, so scalability, transferability, and interoperability are essential qualities of the eventual product. The objective is to highlight fragility and strength, interconnectedness, and some levers to reduce the risk that might not be evident. The methodology will clearly demonstrate the systemic nature of risk and interconnections.

Objectives:
The workshop aims at increasing the awareness of disaster risk assessment and reduction methods as promoted by the Global Risk Assessment Framework (GRAF) with special consideration of systemic (cascading risks). At the end of the workshop participants are expected to have an overview and better understanding of four different steps of risk assessments and methods of identifying underlying factors and developing risk reduction options. This will include finding and utilizing spatial and other data as well as models used in different steps of assessments.

Workshop approach
UNDRR will introduce the four steps of the risk assessment with detailed presentations. Each topic will be followed by some exercises. Most of these will be done in group work with discussions of the results in the plenum. In addition, there will be a quiz. An evaluation at the end of the second day gives the participants the opportunity for feedback. Files will be provided via a cloud location (Google Docs, Dropbox, or equivalent). The following subjects will be covered during the three days workshop sessions.

Target audience
The primary audience of the workshops is national governmental experts and technical staff involved in risk assessment and reduction. This includes members of national disaster management institutions, offices dealing with natural hazards, finance, development or land use planning, and concerned sectors like water, agriculture, health, energy, or similar institutions. Depending on the organizational landscape the civil society (NGOs) or the private sector (e.g. business associations) could participate as well.

Duration and logistics

The meeting will be held virtually over three days session.