Skip to main content

UNDRR Logo

Knowledge

  • Global Assessment Report (GAR)
  • PreventionWeb

Special events

  • Global Platform
  • International Day for Disaster Reduction
  • World Tsunami Awareness Day

Toolbar tools

  • Sendai Framework Monitor
  • Voluntary Commitments

Platforms

  • UNDRR Africa
  • UNDRR Americas
  • UNDRR Arab States
  • UNDRR Asia-Pacific
  • UNDRR Europe
  • About UNDRR
    About us
    As the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR convenes partners and coordinates activities to create safer, more resilient communities.
    Learn more

    We Mega Menu - About us

    • Our work
    • Our impact
    • Head of UNDRR
    • Funding
    • Our team
    • History
    • Work with us
  • Implementing the Sendai Framework
    The Sendai Framework
    is the global roadmap for reducing human and economic loss as a direct result of disasters.
    Learn more

    We Mega menu - Sendai Framework 1

    • What is the Sendai Framework?
    • Monitoring the Sendai Framework
    • Voluntary Commitments
    • The Sendai Framework in action
    • Training
    • The Sendai Framework and the SDGs
    • Global Platform for DRR
    • Regional platforms

    We Mega menu - Sendai Framework 2

    • Partnerships
      • Partners and stakeholders
      • Initiatives
  • News & events
    News & events
    UNDRR organizes the Global, Regional and National Platforms on Disaster Risk Reduction and facilitates training workshops around the world.
    Learn more

    We Mega Menu - News & Events

    • Latest news
    • Media centre
    • Event calendar
    • DRR platforms
    • International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
    • World Tsunami Awareness Day
    • Awards

    We Mega Menu - News & Events 2

    • Global Platform for DRR
    • Regional Platforms
      • Africa
      • Americas & Caribbean
      • Arab States
      • Asia & Pacific
      • Europe & Central Asia
  • Research and publications
    Research and publications
    We invest in collecting and analysing risk data through a range of tools, knowledge products, and mobilising like-minded partners.
    UNDRR publications

    We Mega menu - Knowledge 2

    • Global Assessment Report (GAR)
    • UNDRR publications
    • UN resolutions & reports
    • Terminology

    We Mega menu - Knowledge 1

    • PreventionWeb
    • Words into Action
    • Global Risk Analysis and Reporting
  • Where we work
    Where we work
    UNDRR works with partners around the world to reduce disaster risk and build resilient communities.
    Learn more

    We Mega Menu - Where we work 1

    • Africa
    • Americas & Caribbean
    • Arab States
    • Asia & Pacific
    • Europe & Central Asia

    We Mega Menu - Where we work 2

    • Bonn Office
    • Kobe Liaison Office
    • New York Liaison Office
    • Office for North East Asia and Global Education and Training Institute
    • Suva Sub-regional Office
  1. Documents and publications

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction as a vehicle for conflict prevention: Attainable or tenuous?


Documents and publications
Working papers
Author(s)
Peters, Katie; Peters, Laura E. R.; Walch, Colin
Source
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Publication Year
2019
Number of pages
29 p.

This paper contributes to the growing debate about the potential alignment, synergies, and shared ambitions between DRR and conflict prevention, but also points to counter arguments that DRR does not or could not influence conflict dynamics. Specifically, the authors consider DRR – and the delivery of the Sendai Framework – in terms of 1) potential opportunities to influence conflict dynamics through the prevention or mitigation of disasters, 2) challenges in considering the prevention of disasters and conflict together, and 3) lack of concrete evidence that DRR can or could seek to contribute to conflict prevention. It is important to clarify that this is not an empirically driven paper. The aim is to draw parallels between the well-researched drivers of conflict and the priorities of the Sendai Framework, balanced against other claims that DRR-related activities have a limited impact on conflict dynamics.

While this study is exploratory in nature and based on limited empirical evidence, emerging research findings coupled with anecdotal evidence from DRR practitioners implementing programmes in violent conflict contexts suggest that a nuanced understanding of the intersections between DRR and conflict prevention is needed. The paper is structured as follows. First, the authors establish the key terms used to underpin the collective understanding of disasters, disaster risk reduction, conflict and conflict prevention. Next, the paper considers the extent to which DRR and conflict prevention align in theory – through socio-economic, governance and political and institutional factors. The authors then explore the extent to which they align in practice through early warning systems and food security.

The paper concludes by evaluating whether the linking of DRR and conflict prevention is an attainable or tenuous endeavour, and the relevance of the findings for advancing implementation of the Sendai Framework Target E by 2020. The authors note the limitations of the paper and outline areas for future research to build on the nascent body of empirical evidence on the cross-cutting potential of the Sendai Framework. Doing so holds potential to elevate the Sendai Framework to a central position within the international prevention agenda, which reaffirms the importance and relevance of attaining Target E as a first step towards that ambition. 

This paper is a contribution to the 2019 edition of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR 2019).

To cite this paper: 

Peters, K.; Peters, L. et al. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction as a vehicle for conflict prevention: attainable or tenuous?. Contributing Paper to GAR 2019

Share this
www.undrr.org/quick/11765 Copy to clipboard
Go back
Also featured on

PreventionWeb

Download
Download file Download file Download file
Related information
Related links
The Sendai Framework: A roadmap for conflict prevention
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction as a tool for conflict prevention
Disaster risk reduction strategies: Navigating conflict contexts
Climate change, conflict and security scan: Analysis of current thinking
Double vulnerability: The humanitarian implications of intersecting climate and conflict risk
More about fragility and disasters
Keywords
Themes
Fragility and conflict
Disaster Risk Management

Stay in touch

Sign up for UNDRR updates

UNDRR Tools

  • Making Cities Resilient
  • PreventionWeb
  • Sendai Framework Monitor
  • Voluntary Commitments

Contact us

Sendai Framework

© UNDRR

Footer

  • Fraud Alert
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Sustainable Development Goals Logo