Regional workshop on the DELTA Resilience (Disaster & Hazardous Events, Losses and Damages Tracking & Analysis

Background

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 emphasizes the importance of understanding disaster risk in all its dimensions. Accurate and disaggregated data on disaster losses and damages are crucial for informed decision-making and effective risk reduction strategies. To support countries in this endeavor, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), in collaboration with partners, has developed the Disaster Tracking System (DELTA) for hazardous events and losses and damages. The tracking system leverage experience on supporting country-owned loss databases enabled by the open-source and methodological toolkit Desinventar.net which enabled over 100 country-owned, sub-nationally disaggregated disaster loss databases to be maintained since the 1990s. To respond to emerging needs, leverage technology innovations and support larger data applications and use cases, an enhanced system has been developed in close collaboration with data users, producers and other regional and international organizations who work on specific thematic or sector issues. Partner UN entities have supported advancing data standards, metrics and methods for different types of losses and impacts, including IOM for disaster displacement, FAO for agri-food, UNEP and UNU-EHS for biodiversity and ecosystem services losses, etc. Recognizing the diverse challenges faced by Arab countries in disaster related data management, this regional workshop aims to build capacities on tracking losses, identify technical assistance needs, raise awareness on enhanced tools, standards and frameworks and advance planning for countries to establish country institutionalized Disaster Tracking System.

Target audience: 

National Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Focal Points, National Statistical Offices, Ministries of Environment (Climate change focal points), Civil Protection Authorities, National Hydro Meteorological and Geological offices, National Geospatial/Geographic institutes, Public Health institutes, and other relevant stakeholders from Arab Member States.

Workshop structure

The two-day workshop will include: 

• Day 1: Introduction to DELTA, methodologies, data standards, open-source software and data application. The sessions will delve into aspects related to the relevance of tracking hazardous events and disaster impacts, the data model and alignment with international frameworks, overview of disaster data challenges in the Arab region.
• Day 2: Orientation on data ecosystem maturity assessments, hands-on training sessions on DELTA functionalities; group discussions on integration strategies; development of national action plans.