Workshop on the Understanding the Sendai Framework in coherence with SDGs at National Level: Development of Risk Reduction Strategies and Plans in Thailand

Background and Introduction

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is the global blueprint for disaster risk reduction (DRR). Adopted at the Third UN World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) in March 2015, it was the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda, with seven global targets and four priorities for actions. The Sendai Framework reinforces the shift from managing disasters to managing risk, and also establishes resilience-building as a shared vision of the 2030 Agenda.

Specifically, the Sendai Framework calls for strong political leadership, commitment, and involvement of all stakeholders at all levels from local to national and international to pursue a goal 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”.

Pursuit of such a comprehensive goal, requires a strategic approach and a well-defined plan to ensure efforts are coordinated, while still being inclusive of whole-of-society, and to ensure resources are efficiently used across all sectors and by all stakeholders. Reflecting this foundational requirement, Target E of the Sendai Framework calls to “substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020”. This precise target is shared with indicators of SDG 1 that calls for an end to poverty, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 13 on climate action.

Within the guidance and spirit of the Sendai Framework, the UN member states have requested UNISDR to continue its mandate of facilitating the implementation, review and monitoring of the Framework. Accordingly, the UNISDR provides technical support and training on disaster risk reduction with affiliated organizations to countries and relevant stakeholders to improve understanding of the Sendai Framework and disaster risk management, including planning for its implementation.

Workshop Objective

The workshop aims to strengthen the capacities to revise the National Disaster Risk Management Plan (2015) and enhance DRR implementation in Thailand.

Key workshop objectives are:

• Enhance understanding of disaster risk reduction and the Sendai Framework in context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
• Build common understanding of core elements of alignment of a national DRR strategy with the Sendai Framework;
• Identify means to implement and monitor the revised DRR strategy.

Expected Outcomes

• Advanced collaboration towards the revision and implementation of Thai national DRR strategy. 
• Scaled up coordination on how to work together to prevent creation of new risks, reduce existing disaster risks and impacts of disasters.
• Agreed plan forward towards enhanced DRR Governance framework in Thailand: DRR strategy revision, implementation planning, monitoring and evaluation.