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  3. Words into Action guidelines: National disaster risk assessment

Words into Action guidelines: National disaster risk assessment

Documents and publications
WiA
Source
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
Publication Year
2017
Number of pages
p. 77

In 2016 the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) commissioned the development of guidelines on national disaster risk assessment (NDRA) as part of a series of thematic guidelines under its “Words into Action” initiative to support national implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. 

The present Guidelines are the result of the collaboration between over 100 leading experts from national authorities, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, academia, think tanks and private-sector entities. They focus on Sendai Framework’s first Priority for Action: Understanding Disaster Risk, which is the basis for all measures on disaster risk reduction and is closely linked to the other three Priorities for Action.

The Guidelines are intended to: 

(a) Motivate and guide countries in establishing a national system for understanding disaster risk that would act as the central repository of all publicly available risk information. This national system would lead the implementation and updates of national disaster risk assessment for use in disaster risk management, including for risk-informed disaster risk reduction strategies and development plans;

 (b) Encourage NDRA leaders and implementing entities to aim for holistic assessments that would provide an understanding of the many different dimensions of disaster risk (hazards, exposures, vulnerabilities, capacities). The assessments would include diverse types of direct and indirect impacts of disaster – such as physical, social, economic, environmental and institutional. They would also provide information on the underlying drivers of risk – such as climate change, poverty, inequality, weak governance and unchecked urban expansion.

The Guidelines are designed to allow freedom in reading various sections according to the interests and needs of the users. They consist of three main parts:

Part one – Main body: This part provides policy guidance on what it takes to conduct a successful disaster risk assessment and focuses on the three stages of the assessment process:

Stage I: Preparing and scoping

Stage II: Conducting risk analysis

Stage III: Using the results for disaster risk management and development decisions.

Part two – Special topics: This part consists of modules on specific issues to be considered when designing and carrying out a national disaster risk assessment.

Part three – Hazard specific risk assessment: This part consists of modules covering more in-depth information on conducting risk assessment for specific hazards.

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Part one: Governance system, methodologies, and use of results
Part two: L. Cross-border risk assessment
Part two: Special topics (All modules)
Part two: A. Public communication for disaster risk reduction
Part two: B. Why invest in probabilistic risk assessment?
Part two: C. Cross-sectoral and multi-risk approach to cascading disasters
Part two: D. Direct and indirect economic impact
Part two: E. Health aspect in disaster risk assessment
Part two: F. Data management throughout the national risk assessment process
Part two: G. Use of geospatial data in implementing NDRA
Part two: H. Citizens’ participation and crowd sourcing
Part two: I. Supporting DRR investment decision making
Part two: J. Developing risk assessment to support sovereign risk financing and risk transfer
Part two: K. Consideration of marginalized and minority groups in NDRA
Part three: Hazards (All modules)
Part three: 1. Earthquake
Part three: 2. Tsunami
Part three: 3. Landslide
Part three: 4. Flood
Part three: 5. Biological
Part three: 6. Wildfire
Part three: 7. Coastal erosion
Part three: 8. Sea-level rise
Part three: 9. Natech
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About Words into Action
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Keywords
Hazards
Cyclone
Earthquake
Flood
Land Slide
Technical Disaster
Wild Fire
NBC - Nuclear, Biological, Chemical
Themes
Advocacy & Media
Risk Identification & Assessment
Insurance & Risk Transfer
Governance
GIS & Mapping
Economics of DRR
Disaster Risk Management
Inclusion

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