Advancing the Sendai Framework in Iran’s Health System By Professor Hamidreza Khankeh

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and disaster management policies in Bangladesh: How far we have come to make communities resilient?

OPINION article Front. Public Health, 28 September 2017Sec. Disaster and Emergency Medicine Volume 5 - 2017 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00263

PurposeThe 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) constitute an overarching global milestone for creating a better sustainable future worldwide. The risk component of the agenda under the SFDRR must be better embedded into the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and integrating disaster risk management policy with broader development objectives at national and subnational levels in many countries is still a work in progress. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the progress between the SDGs and the SFDRR in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and its complementary featuresDesign/methodology/approachComprehensive and contextualized analyses of the progress of SFDRR and SDGs related to the LAC region need to be fully addressed to examine synergies and trade-offs with the two global agendas. Based on empirical evidence from United Nations global reports, a literature review of DRR and DRM, as well as development planning evidence, this paper addresses the implications of building coherence between the SDGs and the SFDRR in the region.FindingsInterplay and connections of the two agendas are highlighted together with an analysis of coherence among indicators. Despite the richness of several indicators, the examined evidence suggests that derived from the current progress, indicators are unable to completely reflect the dynamics among disaster risk drivers for both the SFDRR and the SDGs in the region.Research limitations/implicationsData availability at UNIDSR as well as at the regional level can limit the scope of the research. When comparing and matching the agendas, results could be further improved upon new releases of data. SFDRR and SDGs have also ground for improvement and countries are doing well but still slow.Practical implicationsThe paper offers new insights and findings for decision/policy makers in Latina America and the Caribbean.Originality/valueThe paper offers an overall understanding of the progress and coherence among SFDRR and SDGs global frameworks and provides insights to identify the gaps and opportunities that need to be addressed to integrate disaster risk reduction into sustainable development planning at national and regional scales in LAC.

The tenth anniversary of the Journal of Disaster Research presents a worthy occasion for noting the Journal’s ongoing contributions to progressively reducing disaster risk while improving emergency preparedness. The Journal’s 58 issues have offered an efficient and enlightened venue for researchers, NGOs, NPOs, and officials to report findings, new methodologies, risk problems, and calls for collaborations related to disasters. Through mutual interactive learning processes, the Journal effectively encourages greater international opportunities for coworking and codesigning new agendas for research topics related to disaster. Every new disaster happens challenges us to work toward a greater understanding of natural hazards, physical and social vulnerability, human behavior, and the coping capabilities of our society. The fact that gaps are always to be found in our understanding requires that we make joint efforts to fill these gaps through the cross-boundary sharing of knowledge and experience. Within the last ten years, increasingly frequent and devastating catastrophes have pushed ever onward to identify areas of interdisciplinary collaboration for developing integrated, broadspectrum solutions for reducing disaster risk and enhancing resilience. The advocacy of cross-cutting synergy among the social sciences, natural sciences, traditional engineering and information technology is one of the keys focused on and implemented by the authors and editors of the Journal of Disaster Research in exploring new approaches to understanding disaster risk. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) in March endorsed moving forward based on the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). The SFDRR emphasizes increasingly active global participation of science and technology in fulfill the priorities pointing in key directions for our work. The first among the four top issues is “understanding risk,” followed by “Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk,” “Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience,” and “Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to ‘Build Back Better’ in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.” No matter whether you are a scientist, engineer, social worker, volunteer or government official, you will be taking part in creating and sharing illustrative and effective measures motivating and supplementing efforts in disaster risk reduction. The adverse, cascading impact wrought by disasters are evolving with the swift pace of population growth, urbanization, economic development, environmental degradation, and climate change. Their expanding impact requires ever more diverse and tailor-made solutions. Knowledge transformation changing mindsets must be based on solid research output such as that published in the Journal of Disaster Research. To solve problems, we must work hard to foster teamwork with decision makers who hold the keys to disaster risk management. Ensuring the best communication in disaster risk depends on how we work to change the landscape of disaster risk reduction. A demand-based approach to answering the inquiries of decision makers should be designed and developed to leverage policies and evidence-based knowledge. The concept of the common operating picture, for example, is an ideal tool for raising comprehensive situational awareness in emergency operations. Because scientific output is well organized and systemically displayed on geospatial platforms, disaster response efficiency and effectiveness have made great strides in modern science and technology. Likewise, collaboration with grassroots-level residents and stakeholders includes the obligation by the scientific community to build up and support these efforts. I expect the Journal of Disaster Research to continue leading the disaster research community in synergizing efforts and crystallizing wisdom making our world ever safer and more resilient.

This special issue focuses on “Build Back Better,” which is the key concept of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030). The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction provides United Nations member states and economies concrete actions to protect their economic development achievements from disaster risk. However, how “Build Back Better” can be measured and linked to disaster risk reduction remain unclear. Three papers here analyze the results of the “Life Recovery Survey Five Years After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake,” which was conducted in June of 2016. The first Life Recovery Survey was conducted four years after the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake to document the extent to which the disaster victims had been able to rebuild their lives. Subsequently, the survey was conducted every two years until ten years after the earthquake. The survey was also conducted in the areas affected by the 2004 Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake and the 2007 Niigata Chuetsu-Oki Earthquake. Five years after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, the present authors conducted a survey to document the actual situation of the disaster victims in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures, which were the hardest hit by the disaster. In addition, we analyzed the history of Nankai Trough earthquakes with the goal of preparing for the next Nankai Trough earthquake, which is predicted to occur in the near future. These results make it possible to identify issues and make recommendations on the kinds of systems that should be implemented. It is our hope that this special issue will provide basic data to elucidate these issues.

Review of National Multi-Hazard Early Warning System Plan of Pakistan in context with Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) is the global framework for disaster risk reduction adopted in 2015. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 outlines seven clear targets and four priorities for action. Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) is a decade-long research programme co-sponsored by the International Science Council and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). It is a global, multidisciplinary approach to dealing with the challenges brought by natural disasters, mitigating their impacts, and improving related policy-making mechanisms. This book presents the works of the IRDR Young Scientist Programme, showcasing works on characterization of hazard, vulnerability, and risk (Part 1), governance and management of disaster risks (Part 2), and emerging topics in DRR research such as post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, build-back-better approach, public health, role of young scientists, multi-stakeholder engagement, gender, and roles of indigenous knowledge (Part 3).KeywordsDisaster studiesHazardRisksVulnerabilityCapacity building

Globally, climate-related disasters (CRDs) have become a common phenomenon in the last few decades, increasing vulnerability and causing disaster mortality. To manage disaster risk, the global Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction (SFDRR) provides a solid action plan for disaster risk reduction (DRR) considering all the dimensions of vulnerability. However, countries are still less receptive at the local level to adopting the SFDRR. Also, the global research community did not explore vulnerability features based on the Sendai Framework nor integrated such features with the four priorities of SFDRR. Based on the case of Pakistan, this study seeks to bridge the gap through three objectives. The first objective of the study is to identify the vulnerability features cited in the SFDRR. In addition, the research aims to develop a new vulnerability model by integrating SFDRR’s four priorities. As a second objective, it is intended to develop a decision support framework for ranking and evaluating each of the SFDRR priority action areas under local conditions. A third objective is to assess the impact of climate-induced environmental, socioeconomic and political vulnerabilities on climate-driven mortality. To meet these three different objectives, the authors have adopted a multi-method approach by using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and binary logistic regression method (BLRM). Based on the assessment, the authors suggested some policy implications.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) has helped to reduce global disaster risk, but there has been a lack of progress in disaster risk reduction (DRR) for people living in fragile and conflict affected contexts (FCAC). Given the mounting evidence that DRR cannot be implemented through conventional approaches in FCAC, serious efforts must be made to understand how to meet SFDRR's goals. This paper offers a case study of international non-governmental organization GOAL's programming that responds to the protracted crisis in Syria, with a critical discussion on SFDRR and how to adapt humanitarian relief and disaster resilience.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) (2015–2030) was specifically initiated to advance Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policy globally, to further understand the complexity of disaster risk in our contemporary time. Despite the potency of the framework, its implementation remains low at the local level. This paper provides a portrait of the intellectual stance of SFDRR studies. Our bibliometric exploration over the survey period of 2015–2019 shows a total of 34 documents with an annual percentage growth of 15.9%, which implies the increase of research on SFDRR during the period of analysis. The UK ranked first in terms of the highest number of corresponding authors during the study period. In addition, the UK was top on the most cited country on the SFDRR documents indexed in WOS from 2015 to 2019, with a sizeable chunk of developed countries on the top. This paper recommends researchers (from well off countries) across climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction intellectual domains should encourage research collaborations which will improve teamwork with Universities and other research councils in transitions countries in a bid to improve their ability to inter alia, development of policies and communication of research outcomes to the final user. This paper concludes that public policymakers and stakeholders working at the local government level should rejig strategies towards implementing the SFDRR and other international frameworks of this manner.

Common gaps in the current reporting system regarding the progress of meeting the targets Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) implementation in low- and middle-income countries include (1) systematic bias towards central governments’ interests and narratives; (2) reports suffer from lack of independent process committed to evidence-based reporting; (3) progress reports do not reflect adequate aggregation of progress from sub-national levels. This research focuses on assessing the progress of SFDRR implementation at sub-national levels in Aceh province, Indonesia – the place where Indian Ocean Tsunamis killed around 170,000 people on Boxing Day 2004. The authors combined key informant interviews and content analysis of policy documents to collect evidence of the progress in the four SFDRR priorities for action. Two case villages in Aceh demonstrated challenges and opportunities at local levels. Findings suggest gaps in SFDRR implementation include a lack of deliberation of risk assessment and knowledge dissemination, discontinuity of regional DRR forums, lack of incentives for mitigation and shared commitments, and responsibility. Progress at village levels is equally challenging due to the lack of funding allocation, discontinuity of village-level preparedness, and lack of adoption of sustainable recovery and community participation. In summary, since the progress of implementing DRR across four priority areas of the SFDRR in Aceh is not optimal, Aceh authorities (e.g. provincial and district secretariats), provincial and district Disaster Management (DM) Agencies, and other relevant DM actors need to comprehensively improve DRR across all four Priorities for Action of the framework in the province.

At the first gathering of its kind on the role of science in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, over 750 scientists, policymakers, business people, and practitioners met in Geneva from January 27–29, 2016. The UNISDR Science and Technology Conference on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 featured experts from some of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. The conference brought together a diversity of science and technology community from all geographical regions, international partners and scientific disciplines, and a wide variety of other stakeholders including policymakers and nongovernmental organizations to discuss the barriers and opportunities to reducing disaster risk and loss in the coming 15 years. Attendees contributed to a lively and dynamic debate, including on social media using the hashtag #science4sendai and reporting blogs from many of the organizations represented. The Sendai Framework (UNISDR 2015a), agreed at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan in March 2016, was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 3 June 2015. It places unprecedented emphasis on the role of science and technology in disaster risk reduction and calls for a strengthening of networks, platforms, and research institutions, a refocus on research into disaster risk patterns, and examining causes and effects. Its goal is to ‘‘prevent new and reduce existing disaster risk through the implementation of integrated and inclusive economic, structural, legal, social, health, cultural, educational, environmental, technological, political and institutional measures that prevent and reduce hazard exposure and vulnerability to disaster, increase preparedness for response and recovery, and thus strengthen resilience’’ (UNISDR 2015a, Paragraph 17). The organizing committee of the conference, which included members of the UNISDR’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG), brought the wide range of stakeholders together to launch the UNISDR Science and Technology Partnership and the UNISDR Science and Technology Road Map to 2030 (UNISDR 2015b). The Road Map presents the expected outcomes under each of the four priorities for action outlined in the Sendai Framework, and proposes key actions that the UNISDR Science and Technology Partnership can undertake to fulfil the expected outcomes and to achieve the goal of the Sendai Framework. It also highlights ways for monitoring progress and reviewing needs. Both the Road Map and the Partnership were supported by the conference participants as promising ways forward to 2030. The conference discussions were arranged into four work streams that looked at opportunities to work & Virginia Murray virginia.murray@phe.gov.uk

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the current responses applied in Vietnam to the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and link these measures to priority actions highlighted in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). From there, strengths, limitations and recommendations on applying the SFDRR to build the pandemic resilience in the future are discussed. Design/methodology/approach The authors synthesize literature on response measures to the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam from January to June 2020 and compare to four priority actions of the SFDRR including understanding risk, strengthening governance, investing in risk reduction for resilience and enhancing preparedness for effective response and resilient recovery. Findings Vietnam has effectively controlled the pandemic with 401 infected cases and no death so far. Well preparation, timely policies’ implementation, risk communication and comprehensive approaches are key strategies. These measures are same as the four priority actions in the SFDRR. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study in Vietnam to link the COVID-19 response and the SFDRR, which can serve as an important example for other countries in responding to the pandemic. Some measures have surpassed SFDRR’s guidance, especially preventive responses applied nationwide with strong political will and the community’s commitment accompanied by sanctions. Cultural factors such as the habit of using masks to prevent air pollution have contributed to the good observance of wearing mask regulations during the pandemic. However, some areas that need more attention include specific solutions for vulnerable groups, limiting fake news and ensuring patient privacy.

This chapter considers various meanings and interpretations of “Build Back Better” (BBB). With the explicit mention of BBB in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), there has been a surge in literature dealing with or referring to BBB since 2015. The chapter first shows that there were several related ideas and research on BBB even before the SFRDD. It then shows the various meanings and interpretations observed mainly after the SFDRR in a consolidated matrix. From the viewpoint of “What and how to build back better?” it considers five targets and four alternative interpretations of the term “better,” i.e., safer, more efficient, faster, and more inclusive. Keeping the UN’s definition as the focus point, the chapter reorganizes BBB in more detail by consolidating its three aspects: the targets, the alternative interpretations of “better,” and related policies and systems.

Since the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction began in the 1990s, education has been recognized as having a cross-cutting role in disaster reduction by extending the people’s engagement to the creation and maintenance of sustainable communities internationally. During the same period, Japan has experienced large earthquakes, following which Japan has promoted comprehensive school safety and practical disaster education. Although conditions may vary between Japan and other countries, the approaches, issues and challenges of disaster education have much in common. The 2015-2030 Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), fully integrates education and includes the overall goal of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the full disaster management cycle, from prevention, mitigation and preparedness to response, recovery and rehabilitation. Minimizing loss and damage to educational facilities is included as one of global indicators of SFDRR. A comprehensive approach to school safety is emphasized, including the safety of the learning environment, disaster management and DRR education. An awareness of such commonalities, under the SFDRR, international cooperation for promoting education for resilient communities should be promoted in Japan and globally.