International Efforts for Disaster Management UPSC

Best Disaster Management Notes for UPSC. Best Disaster Management Books for UPSC. Best Disaster Management Faculty for UPSC. International Efforts for Disaster Management UPSC. Disaster Management UPSC. Disaster Management UPPCS.


International Efforts for Disaster Management UPSC

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), formerly known as UNISDR, is the central organization within the UN system that deals with disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Function:

  • Promote a global shift from disaster response to disaster risk reduction
  • Support implementation of the Sendai Framework
  • UNDRR provides resources and guidance to help countries develop national and local DRR strategies.
  • UNDRR promotes DRR on the global stage, engaging with governments, international organizations, and civil society to raise awareness about the importance of disaster preparedness.
  • UNDRR emphasizes the importance of investing in DRR as a cost-effective way to reduce future disaster losses.
  • They advocate for strengthening communities’ capacity to withstand disasters and recover more quickly.

Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) (2005-2015)

The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) was a significant international agreement for disaster risk reduction (DRR) that covered the period 2005-2015. It marked a decade-long commitment by 168 countries to reduce disaster losses around the world.

Substantial reduction of disaster losses by 2015: This ambitious goal aimed to lessen the human, social, economic, and environmental impacts of disasters through proactive measures.

Priorities for Action:

The HFA outlined five key priorities for achieving its goals:

Ensuring DRR as a national and local priority: This emphasized mainstreaming DRR into national development policies and establishing strong institutional frameworks for implementation.

Identifying, assessing, and monitoring disaster risks: Enhancing early warning systems and conducting vulnerability assessments were crucial aspects of this priority.

Using knowledge, innovation, and education: The framework stressed the importance of education, public awareness campaigns, and scientific research to build a culture of safety and resilience.

Reducing the underlying risk factors: Addressing factors that heighten vulnerability to disasters, like poverty, environmental degradation, and poor land-use practices, was a core part of the HFA.

Strengthening disaster preparedness for effective response: The framework advocated for better planning, coordination, and resource allocation for emergency response and recovery efforts.

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

Sendai Framework UPSC

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 is a major international agreement adopted in 2015 by UN member states. It serves as a global roadmap for reducing disaster risk over a 15-year period (2015-2030).

The Sendai Framework envisions a world where people live in harmony with nature and can withstand all types of hazards.

The primary goal is to substantially reduce disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.

Priorities for Action:

The Sendai Framework outlines four priorities for action to achieve its goals:

Understanding disaster risk: This involves enhancing knowledge about disaster risk through better data collection, risk assessments, and scientific research.

Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk: Effective governance requires strong institutions, policies, and laws to reduce disaster risk. This includes fostering international cooperation and participation of all stakeholders including people with disabilities and indigenous people.

Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience: This emphasizes the importance of proactive investments in risk reduction measures like early warning systems, safer infrastructure, and ecosystem management.

Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction: The Sendai Framework promotes preparedness through planning, drills, and public awareness campaigns. It also advocates for reconstruction efforts that build back better by incorporating risk reduction measures to prevent future disasters.

Targets and Monitoring:

The Sendai Framework sets seven global targets for disaster risk reduction to be achieved by 2030. These targets are monitored through a set of 38 indicators.

  1. Reduce disaster mortality: This target aims to substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, compared to the average per 100,000 population between 2005-2015.
  2. Reduce the number of people affected: This target focuses on significantly reducing the number of people globally affected by disasters by 2030, compared to the average per 100,000 population between 2005-2015.
  3. Reduce direct economic loss: This target aims to reduce direct economic loss relative to global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.
  4. Reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services: This target focuses on minimizing damage to critical infrastructure, such as hospitals and power grids, and disruptions to basic services like water and sanitation caused by disasters.
  5. Increase the number of countries with national and local DRR strategies: This target emphasizes the importance of national and local planning. It aims to see a significant increase in the number of countries with disaster risk reduction strategies in place by 2030.
  6. Early warning systems: This target highlights the importance of preparedness. It aims to ensure that by 2030, all countries have multi-hazard early warning systems in place and functional at the community level.
  7. Global cooperation for DRR: This target recognizes the need for international collaboration. It aims to enhance international cooperation for effective implementation of the Sendai Framework and support developing countries in disaster risk reduction efforts.

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR)

The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) is an annual event held on October 13th to promote a global culture of awareness and action for reducing disaster risks. It’s a day to acknowledge the progress made in preventing and reducing disaster losses, and to encourage further efforts at all levels.

Established in 1989 by the United Nations General Assembly, initially as International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction.

Renamed to International Day for Disaster Reduction in 2009, reflecting the broader range of hazards covered.

The theme for 2024 is “Empowering the next generation for a resilient future”. This theme highlights the importance of educating and empowering youth to play a vital role in building disaster-resilient communities.

Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015) vs. Sendai Framework (2015-2030)

Hyogo Framework UPSC vs. Sendai Framework UPSC

1. Duration and Timeline:

Hyogo Framework: Covered a period of 15 years from 2005 to 2015.

Sendai Framework: Also spans 15 years but from 2015 to 2030.

2. Focus and Approach:

Hyogo: Its main focus was to integrate disaster risk reduction into national policies and plans, aiming at building resilience of nations and communities.

Sendai: Builds upon the foundations laid by the Hyogo framework but shifts the focus from disaster management to managing risks. It emphasizes understanding risk in all its dimensions – vulnerability, exposure, and hazard characteristics.

3. Priorities for Action:

Hyogo: Had five priorities for action – ensuring DRR is a national and local priority, identifying, assessing and monitoring risks, enhancing knowledge, reducing underlying risk factors, and strengthening preparedness.

Sendai: Proposes four specific priorities – understanding disaster risk, strengthening disaster risk governance, investing in DRR for resilience, and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and recovery.

4. Targets:

Hyogo: Did not have quantifiable global targets. It aimed for a substantial reduction of disaster losses in the lives and social, economic, and environmental assets of communities and countries.

Sendai: Sets out seven clear global targets, including a significant reduction in global disaster mortality, the number of affected people, and direct disaster economic loss.

5. Stakeholders:

Hyogo: Primarily emphasized the role of national governments as the main actors in DRR.

Sendai: Widens the spectrum of stakeholders, recognizing that DRR is a shared responsibility that should involve governments, the private sector, civil society, and communities.

6. Measurement and Monitoring:

Hyogo: Had a more generic approach to monitoring progress, which sometimes made it difficult to measure the real impact of implemented strategies.

Sendai: Provides a more specific methodology for monitoring and review. It has a set of 38 indicators to measure progress toward its seven global targets, making it easier for countries to track their achievements.

7. Themes Emphasized:

Hyogo: While it covered many areas, there was less emphasis on health, the environment, and the economic impact of disasters.

Sendai: Addresses these gaps and particularly focuses on health and well-being, technological hazards, and the economic cost of disasters. It also emphasizes the importance of a multi-hazard approach.

In essence, while the Hyogo Framework set the stage and initiated the process of embedding disaster risk reduction into global, national, and local policies, the Sendai Framework takes a more holistic, inclusive, and target-oriented approach to ensure a broader reduction in disaster risks and losses.

FactorsSendai Framework (2015-2030)Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015)
Duration15 years10 years
Focus and ApproachWider approachNarrow approach
Priorities for Actionfour priorities for actionfive priorities for action
Targets7 targetsNo targets
StakeholdersPPP, Civil societyMore role of Gvt actors
Measurement & MonitoringSet of 38 indicators to measureDifficult to measure
Themes EmphasizedMulti-hazard approachLess emphasis on social capital
Hyogo Framework UPSC vs Sendai Framework UPSC

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030) in India

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in India has witnessed a paradigm shift over the years, from a reactive approach to a more proactive, holistic, and integrated one. This change was influenced by various national and international frameworks, including the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015) and the subsequent Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030).

Measures taken in India for DRR before the Sendai Framework (up to 2015):

Legislative and Policy Initiatives: The Disaster Management Act, 2005 provided a legal and institutional framework for disaster management in India. It led to the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs), and District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs).

National Policy on Disaster Management (NPDM): Formulated in 2009, the NPDM emphasized a shift from the traditional response-centric approach to a more proactive, preparedness-driven approach.

Building Capacity: Focus on the establishment and strengthening of the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for specialized training and response.

Integration with Developmental Plans: Efforts were made to integrate DRR into developmental plans and projects, recognizing that sustainable development can reduce vulnerability.

Emphasis on Local Level Preparedness: The 73rd and 74th amendments of the Constitution, which empower local governance bodies, became instrumental in decentralizing disaster management to the grassroots level.

Measures taken after the signing of the Sendai Framework (post-2015):

Alignment with Sendai Priorities: India aligned its national plan with the four priorities of the Sendai Framework. This resulted in the formulation of the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP) in 2016, which emphasizes DRR and encourages a collective approach involving government, NGOs, and communities.

Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): India initiated the CDRI in 2019 to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems.

Risk Assessment and Early Warning Systems: Emphasis on developing technological capabilities for early warning, including cyclone warnings, earthquake alerts, and flood forecasts.

Focus on Local Capacities: India strengthened community-based and school safety programs, understanding that localized preparedness is the first line of defense.

Enhanced International Cooperation: Engaging with countries, especially in the South Asian region, to share best practices, technology, and knowledge on DRR.

Shift in disaster management approach

Reactive approach >>> Proactive approach

Over the years, the Government of India has moved away from a reactive approach to disaster management, focusing primarily on relief and rehabilitation, to a more proactive, holistic, and integrated approach emphasizing prevention, preparedness, and mitigation along with relief and rehabilitation. This shift acknowledges the importance of reducing risks and vulnerabilities while strengthening resilience at multiple levels.

The traditional 3 Rs (Rescue, Relief & Restoration) are now being replaced by 3 Ps (Prevention, Preparedness & Proofing).

Addressing the challenge of Naxalism is not easy and requires persistent and concerted efforts at various levels of governance, and from different sections of society.


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