UN/ISDR Releases Mid-Term Review of Hyogo Framework
9 March 2011: The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR) has released its Mid-Term Review of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, subtitled "Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters," which highlights progress made over the last five years in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and in raising the profile of disaster preparedness across international, regional, and national agendas.
The Review is aimed at critically analyzing the extent to which Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) implementation has progressed, as well identifying ways to assist countries and their institutional partners to increase commitment, resourcing, and efforts in its further implementation.
According to the Review, progress in DRR is occurring, especially institutionally in the passing of national legislation, establishing of early warning systems, and strengthening disaster preparedness and response. However the Review raises concerns about: the lack of systematic multi-hazards risk assessments and early warning systems factoring in social and economic vulnerabilities; the poor integration of DRR into sustainable development policies and planning at national and international levels; and the insufficient level of implementation of the HFA at the local level. Specifically, the Review highlights the need to integrate climate change adaptation and DRR at the national and local levels through integrated plans to enhance resilience of communities.
The Review also recognizes that guidance alone is not sufficient and that standards to ensure quality in the delivery of the guidance are necessary. It states that standards can be developed for the implementation of DRR at regional and national levels, but emphasizes the need for the international community to support governments in the implementation of the HFA in a more coherent and integrated fashion.
The Review recommends the development of a joint action plan to help generate and crystallize such coherence. On a post-2015 framework for DRR, the Review examines the pros and cons of a legally-binding agreement, and how it would work. In the context of an increased recognition of the inter-linkages between sustainable development, climate change and DRR, it further discusses the advantages and disadvantages in a separate framework on DRR as compared to its incorporation (or "mainstreaming") into wider frameworks.
The Mid-Term Review of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) was facilitated by the UN/ISDR Secretariat through a participatory approach, guided by the advice of the 2009 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), which requested a broad strategic review of the state of HFA implementation. [Publication: Hyogo Framework for Action Mid-term Review 2010-2011]