Sendai Framework Monitoring Process Kicks Off

BONN, 8 December, 2017 - The Sendai Framework Monitoring Process took off this week as representatives from 85 UN Member States met in Bonn to share their knowledge and learn of the reporting requirements for the monitoring of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the global plan for reducing disaster losses adopted in March 2015.

The area of focus for the technical workshop was on the indicators for measuring targets seeking substantial reductions in (a) mortality (b) numbers of disaster affected, (c) economic losses, and (d) damage to critical infrastructure and on target (e) which sets a deadline of 2020 for a substantial increase in the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies.

Global targets (f) on enhancing international cooperation for the implementation of the framework and (g) on increasing availability and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments were also analysed.

The three-day meeting which finished today was organized by UNISDR and supported by the German government and attended by 170 representatives of countries, UN agencies, intergovernmental organizations and major stakeholder groups. It was particularly targeted at Sendai National Focal Points and representatives of national statistics offices. Support from the German Government enabled a number of representatives from least developed countries and small island developing States to attend.

Ms. Ingrid Jung, German Ambassador for the UN Liaison Office, Bonn, said: “In order to succeed with Sendai implementation we need to be able to measure the implementation progress at the international level. That is why Germany supports the Sendai Framework Monitoring Team here in Bonn in ensuring such measuring. We also need to ensure close linkage between the Sendai Monitoring Team and national risk reduction stakeholders to coordinate the monitoring process nationally.”

UNISDR’s support team for the Sendai Monitoring process is based in Bonn and is facilitating the process to ensure reporting on disaster losses for 2017 is completed by March 31, 2018 to inform reporting on implementation of the SDGs at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July which will focus on “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies.”

The Sendai Framework targets and indicators are also being used to measure progress on three critical SDGs: Goal 1, end poverty in all its forms everywhere; Goal 11, make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and Goal 13, take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Mr. Ricardo Mena, head of UNISDR’s Sendai Framework Monitoring Branch, said: “We have general agreement now that the first full two year reporting cycle for 2015-2016 will be completed by October next year. This will provide us with an important benchmark against which to measure future progress and important content for the 2019 edition of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction which will be a key ingredient in the discussions at the 2019 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction which will be held in Geneva.”

During the three-day technical workshop which launched the Sendai Framework Monitoring Process, participants learned about the Sendai Framework Monitor System including its data entry, analytical capabilities and levels of application at local, national, regional and global level. A number of countries also presented their progress to date in implementing the Sendai Framework.

Mr. Mohamed Zuhair, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and National Security, Maldives, said: “This workshop was a great opportunity to learn all the technical details about the Sendai Framework Monitor. Disaster risk reduction is a high priority for my country and having shared indicators with Sendai Framework and the SDGs will make our task much easier by reducing the reporting burden.”