Platform For Disaster Risk Reduction Research Articles

How Does the Central Government Make a Remark in the International Arena of Disaster Risk Reduction? Focusing on the Frequency of Statement Publication at the UN Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

This study aims to clarify the attitudes of each member state on disaster risk reduction (DRR), and the issues that need to be addressed in the international arena of DRR, to move forward with the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). To this end, we focused on the last three United Nations meetings of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) after the agreement on the SFDRR and analyzed the frequency of publication of official statements by each member state. In addition, the status of these official statements was analyzed in terms of the actual geographical distribution of disaster risk. We clarified that (1) the GPDRR is not necessarily aware of the situation and opinions of all member states; (2) the trends between the frequency of official statement publication and the actual amount of risk are not always closely related; (3) the member states in the Asian and Pacific Ocean region were more active in presenting official statements than those of other continents; in other words, the attitudes of Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and some African member states, which also have high disaster risks, were shared less frequently in the international arena; (4) some least-developed member states are actively making official statements and expressing their intentions despite the limited human and financial resources. The results of this study would be helpful for member states that have not yet made official statements in the past GPDRR to advance their official statement publication and situations in the international arena.

Understanding the impacts of floods on learning quality, school facilities, and educational recovery in Indonesia.

This research is among the first pieces of work to use the comprehensive school safety (CSS) framework to assess the impacts of floods on quality learning and education infrastructure. The CSS framework is employed here to identify the level of disruption to education services following floods in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2013. The paper poses three key questions, concerning: (i) disruption to children's access to quality education during the flood emergency in 2013 and the early recovery phase; (ii) the impact of the floods on a school's physical infrastructure; and (iii) the effectiveness and level of success of the 2013 flood responses by relevant stakeholders. Combining quantitative and qualitative strategies, the paper examines the experiences of 100 schools in Jakarta. The findings suggest that the CSS framework offers a more nuanced approach to assessing post-disaster education needs. Moreover, it is also relevant for examining the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and relative losses in the education sector.

Sendai Framework’s Global Targets A and B: Opinions from the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction’s Ignite Stage 2019

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015−2030 set seven global targets of which the first two targets are to reduce disaster deaths (target A) and diminish the number of affected people globally (target B) by 2030. To realize these targets, the United Nations General Assembly’s Expert Working Group provided indicators to measure progress as well as terminologies for these targets in 2017. Research around these targets is nascent. This article contributes to the understanding of the targets by exploring: (1) what are the conditions that may hinder achieving targets, as well as those that may accelerate their achievement at the national and local levels; and (2) which types of organizations should lead a country’s effort to reduce disaster deaths? These questions were answered by opinion survey research carried out at the Sixth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. The participants identified disaster risk reduction efforts, early warning systems, awareness, finance and investment (among others) as the important facilitating factors to achieve targets A and B. Minimal investment in human security, lack of response and coordination, uncertainty of climate change, poor information, lack of campaigns and low budget allocation (among others) are considered as the important hindering factors for these targets by the participants. The findings also suggest that the facilitating and hindering variables of targets A and B are interconnected with global target E (disaster risk governance and capacity building). The majority of the participants thought that it is the national government who should lead in a country’s effort to reduce disaster deaths. Based on these findings, a few recommendations have been made to improve policy and practice related to the indicators as well as to reimagine theories so that targets A and B can be realized in alignment with target E at the national and local levels by 2030.

Assessing knowledge creation process: A case of the National Disaster Management Agency of Gambia

The Disaster Risk Management policy and strategy of Gambia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) have technical challenges and require knowledge creation to enhance capacities to lessen the adverse effect of risks and probabilities of disasters in The Gambia. Also, limited or no resources and leadership support to knowledge creation. The research aimed to assess the current condition of knowledge creation process in NDMA on socialisation-sharing experiences from tacit knowledge, externalisation-voicing tacit to explicit, combination-structuring explicit, and internalisation-expressing explicit to tacit (SECI) and role of leadership in the knowledge creation process. Detailed interviews, questionnaires, and WhatsApp call employed with four questions targeted five staff informants from NDMA and eight partner institutions with one informant from each. The research adopted a qualitative case study and content analysis to analyse the data using Voyant tools looking at the subject and concept. The research found that SECI has unearthed NDMA strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and leadership bureaucracy coupled with fear factors to build capacities leading to coup d’état for positions. Therefore, SECI has been unnoticed and uncoordinatedly implemented from “Happy Corner” with experiential knowledge and the National Platform for disaster risk reduction (DRR).

Identifying the underlying risk factors of local communities in Chile

PurposeThe purpose of the instrument is to favour and strengthen, in a timely and relevant manner, the processes of design, planning, investment, execution and evaluation of various public and private initiatives in the territory, thereby strengthening the preventive, responsive and adaptive capacities of the communities, institutions and territory. The instrument allows the generation of a single single-community diagnosis, a definition of a baseline which leads to progress assessment at different levels and provides specific risk management recommendations to municipalities.Design/methodology/approachThe definition of the purpose and design of this tool was the result of the work in a year by a group of national experts from the public, private, organised civil society and academia members of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. This initial stage has sought to capture the different sectoral visions with a multidimensional approach that considers the territorial differences cautioning that local governments are key actors to achieve risk reduction, and they are also the first respondents and responsible for managing their territory and community. In order to help local governments, to understand their situation, the experts’ group established that the assessment should consist of a guided self-diagnosis using a survey. The dimensions considered are as follows: governance, territorial planning, socio-economic and demographic conditions and climate change and natural resources. The four dimensions encompass in total 41 variables that are considered relevant for the disaster risk management discipline.FindingsThe rural to semiurban municipalities classified as medium or low development, according to the national standard, present a high-risk level in the dimension of territorial ordering. The municipalities that show a moderate to low dependence on the common municipal fund have a low risk in all the evaluated dimensions, related to greater financial autonomy and own or self-management of resources. The municipalities with low percentage of poverty by income are better evaluated in all the dimensions showing a low level of the Communal Underlying Risk Factors Index (CURFI). A high percentage of communes with a low level of the CURFI have low-urban growth in the last 15 years.Research limitations/implicationsOne of the main difficulties was raising awareness amongst the mayors that the reduction of the underlying factors does not necessarily imply monetary investment, understanding the scarcity of local government resources. The important thing was to sensitise them that the diagnosis per se was already a result to manage risk in their community.Practical implicationsTo be able to count for the first time in Chile with a methodology that allows diagnosing risk-based conditions and to target structural and non-structural measures aimed at reducing these factors in local governments. Additionally, it will be possible to monitor the reduction of the underlying risk factors (URF), for accompanying the work of the municipalities in terms of knowing if they have been able to implement the individualised recommendations that are provided.Originality/valueThe methodology was formulated by reviewing and considering the methodologies applied in different regions of the world, which generally coincide in the dimensions that group the main underlying factors of disaster risk. However, the numerical treatment of the variables obeys to novel statistical processing (multicriteria method), which provides robustness to the model and, therefore, to the results obtained.

The UN Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction as a Special Form of Interstate Cooperation Implementation

Introduction: the purpose of the paper is to study the UN Global platform for disaster risk reduction as a format of the international intergovernmental conference. Methods: the methodological framework for the study is a set of methods of scientific knowledge, among which the main are the methods of comparison, consistency, analysis. Results: the UN global platform for disaster risk reduction is a global, interim event for the implementation of The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. It takes place in the form of a multi-level forum involving various participants. Its purpose is the exchange of experience and discussion of pressing problems in the implementation of certain areas of the universal disaster risk reduction program. The author highlights both positive and negative aspects of this forum, reveals its theoretical and practical essence. Conclusions: the study showed that the global platform is indeed an international intergovernmental conference of an expanded format. The increased interest in the event indicates its importance, quality and effectiveness.

OpenDKP: Designing an Open Data Knowledge Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management

재난위기 경감 및 관리 분야에서의 오픈 데이터는 재난의 예방, 완화, 준비, 대응 및 복구 등의 전체 재해 위험 관리 프로세스와 타분야 도메인 간 연계분석 등에 있어서 매우 중요한 역할을 한다. 본 연구에서는 재난 위험 감소 및 관리 분야의 최적 설계된 재난 데이터 수집, 관리, 배포 및 분석을 위한 지식 공유 플랫폼을 제안하였다. 본 연구에서는 개방형 데이터 지식 포털, API 게이트웨이, 재난 지식기반 플랫폼 및 빅데이터 분석 플랫폼과 같은 모듈형 플랫폼으로 구성된 개방형 데이터 플랫폼의 아키텍처 설계를 소개한다. 본 제안 시스템은 재난 대응 기술개발을 지원할 뿐만 아니라 재난 위험 완화 및 재난 대응, 재난 복구 및 위험 평가 연구를 위한 지식 허브로서도 중요한 역할을 할 수 있을 것이다.

A REVIEW OF THE OUTCOME OF THE GLOBAL PLATFORM FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN 2019: AN AZERBAIJANI PERSPECTIVE

The main objectives of successful disaster risk reduction activities are the integration of risk reduction into national recovery programs, the development of policies and the progress of capacities designed to enhance and innovate preventive measures, awareness and risk assessment. This includes the analysis of threats and other vulnerabilities, as well as the development of knowledge, such as education, training of the population, in addition to emergency response protocols and the development of forecasting and early warning systems. A number of states have now become actively involved in the strengthening of their national capacities for disaster preparedness and risk reduction. Efforts are being made to ensure a systematic approach to identifying and assessing risks and minimizing the social and economic consequences of disasters. Therefore, the Global Platform's contributions to states and to other stakeholders have been of significant importance. Countries such as the Republic of Azerbaijan are currently in the process of creating their own strategies concerning disaster risk reduction. It is also important to recognize the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2019 as a platform for viewing and analyzing the progress that the Republic of Azerbaijan has made on the Sendia Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction since 2015.Keywords: disaster risk reduction, Global Platform, AzerbaijanJEL Classifications: Q5, O2, I3, F5, R5DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.8524

Evolution of disaster risk governance in Greater Manchester: a case study from the UK

In the face of 21st century challenges including globalisation, urbanisation, climate change and anti-microbial resistance, disaster risk governance must ensure top-level buy-in from city leaders. The Sendai Framework calls for focused action in strengthening disaster risk governance. Over the last decade Greater Manchester has transformed its disaster risk governance to reflect a more sophisticated understanding of resilience. At the start of this century, the UK experienced a series of crises that led to modernisation of its civil protection arrangements. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 enabled Greater Manchester to formalise existing partnership structures to strengthen the local platform for disaster risk reduction. This created the multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder Greater Manchester Resilience Forum which coordinates civil protection activities for nearly 3 million residents. The UK recognises that local and national platforms need to work together and this alignment is delivered through a specialist Government team working closely with the Forum. In 2014 Greater Manchester joined the UNISDR’s Making Cities Resilient Campaign. Use of the campaign’s toolkit led to a review of governance and renewed trans-disciplinary collaboration across multiple thematic local partnerships. A role model city within the campaign, Greater Manchester also participated in an EU-funded project (USCORE) to pilot the UNISDR’s Disaster Resilience Scorecard. Outcomes highlighted the importance of place-based assurance together with relevant metrics to inform decisions. This case study draws on this experience of strengthening disaster risk governance arrangements, a journey which will continue as Greater Manchester works with the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities initiative.

Area Business Continuity Management, A New Approach to Sustainable Local Economy

The flooding of the Chao Phraya River in Thailand and the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, both of which occurred in 2011, reminded us of the risks of business disruption and further impacts on national, regional, and global economies through supply chains when disasters occur anywhere in the world. Considering the increasing economic losses attributable to disasters, the fourth session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (2013) aimed to promote resilience and foster new opportunities for public-private partnerships as part of an overall approach to improving risk governance. Furthermore, it highlighted that a growing world requires a new approach to development action, emphasizing the private sector&rquo;s role in managing disaster risks. One of the most significant private sector contributions to disaster risk management is the creation of the business continuity plan/planning (BCP) and business continuity management (BCM) systems, which were standardized as ISO22301 and disseminated in many business enterprises around the world. However, a BCP or BCM system has been neither formulated for nor implemented in most local enterprises in industry agglomerated areas, even though these are located in areas vulnerable to disasters. Moreover, in the case of large-scale disasters, a business enterprise’s capacity may be too limited to mitigate damages and maintain operations through its own efforts, even if BCPs are prepared. The main reason for this is the disruption of public infrastructure and services. In order to minimize the negative economic impacts or economic losses, particularly in the case of a large-scale disaster that disrupts the fundamental infrastructure in certain areas, it is important to conduct risk assessment on a proper scale and to prepare scenario-based disaster management plans for area-wide damage mitigation. In addition, it is essential to have integrated resource management and strategic recovery plans to support each enterprise&rquo;s BCM actions in coordination with public sector activities. Considering this backgrounds, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the ASEAN Coordination Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Center) launched the “Natural Disaster Risk Assessment and Area Business Continuity Plan Formulation for Industrial Agglomerated Areas in the ASEAN Region” project in February 2013. The project introduced the new concept of the Area BCP, which, based on a risk assessment of the area, designates a framework and direction for coordinated damage mitigation measures and recovery actions by stakeholders, including individual enterprises, industrial area managers, local authorities, and infrastructure administrators, to allow business continuation of the industrial area as a whole. The project also established Area BCM as a cyclic process of risk assessment, sharing risk and impact information, determining a common strategy of risk management, developing the Area BCP, implementing and monitoring the planned actions to continuously improve the Area BCM system, and coordinating among stakeholders, in order to improve the capability for effective business continuity of the area. This paper aims to evaluate the progress of the project and to explore lessons from the applied process of Area BCM and its benefits.

Area Business Continuity Management, a New Opportunity for Building Economic Resilience

As experienced recently, business disturbance in certain area by large scale disaster weakens community resilience through ravaging jobs, and further impacts on national, regional and the global economy. The efficacy of prearranged Business Continuity Plans (BCP) in private enterprises becomes insufficient when disruption of common resources such as energy, water, transportation and communications occurs.Considering the recent increasing economic damages by disasters and recognizing the private sector as actor and partner of disaster management, the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (2013) highlighted agendas including private sector's progressively aligning risk reduction efforts and developing business practices, fostering new opportunities for public-private partnerships.Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) started a project of disaster risk assessment and formulation of “Area BCP”, as a new concept of disaster risk management in industrial agglomerated areas based on recent lessons. The Area BCP is a framework and direction of coordinated damage mitigation measures and recovery actions of stakeholders including individual enterprises, industrial area managers, local authorities and administrator of the infrastructures in order for business continuation of a certain area as a whole. The Area Business Continuity Management (Area BCM) then generates the cyclic process of sharing risk information, formulating the Area BCP and implementing preparedness measures and effective recovery actions in case, in coordination among stakeholders, to improve the capability of effective business continuity in the area.The first Area BCM experiments were introduced in Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam where are highly agglomerated by various industries and, at the same time, exposed to increasing risk of disasters. After the multi-hazard risk assessment and business impact analysis, the project identified dominant disaster types and possible scenarios of impacts on the area business continuity. Based on the scenario, the stakeholders, from private and public sides, are now formulating the Area BCP. We will report the progress of the project and current lessons from the practical management.

Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in development: from risk to resilience – a report on first session of NPDRR at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, India

Purpose – Due to climate change and a considerable increase in man-made disasters, disaster risk management has gained a lot of importance. This article aims to summarize the proceedings of two days of discussion on natural and human-induced disasters organized by National Institute of Disaster Management at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The objective is to evolve a holistic national strategy for inclusion of disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies and programs into the mainstream of developmental activities. The libraries worldwide are witnessing a series of disasters, and DRR is one of the much-discussed topics within the library community. The literature on disaster risk management in libraries is scanty, and with less research being done, needs urgent attention. The library conferences in India and abroad hardly address the theme “DRR”; therefore, this report will be of interest to librarians and policy makers for libraries. Design/methodology/approach – This report includes selected presentations and discussion during thematic and plenary sessions and provides a review of some of the events of the first session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR). The author's observation/participation and discussion on vital areas, namely disaster resilience, capacity building, risk insurance, global warming and climate change, created insight in preparation of this report. Findings – A multi-stakeholder NPDRR has been constituted by the Government of India, with Home Minister as Chairman, in Resolution No. 47-31/2012-DM-III on 26 February 2013. The event was attended by various stakeholders such as policy makers, administrators, professional disaster managers, UN organizations, multilateral organizations, scientists, technocrats, academicians, corporate and private sectors, community leaders, representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (grass roots-level institutions in India preferably called a “village panchayat”), and NGOs. India is amongst 80 countries which have a national platform on disaster risk management like the NPDRR. The theme generated a lot of discussion on risk financing mechanisms, long-term recovery and rehabilitation, and holistic strategy for multi-hazard DRR. Originality/value – This is an important topic in the area of disaster risk management which includes disaster resilience, capacity development, and policy planning. This discussion forum facilitated the enhancement of knowledge and the integration of DRR into the mainstream of development.

Managing risk: from the United Nations to local-level realities – or vice versa

The outcomes of the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction show that making cities and rural areas safe from disasters and climate change impacts and enhancing citizens' resilience is everybody's business and part of the larger sustainability challenge. Under the theme ‘Resilient People, Resilient Planet’, the session took place on 19–23 May 2013 in Geneva, Switzerland. This paper underlines the significance of some of its outcomes, including the role of civil society and science in risk reduction and adaptation planning, and questions the common understanding that adaptation needs and benefits are local while mitigation needs and benefits are global. Although initially criticized for excluding civil society perspectives, the Fourth Session of the Global Platform was ultimately successful in recognizing the importance of including all communities and the significance of personal responsibility and behavioural change in order to achieve a more integrated risk governance system. This is also a significant step towards the realization that wealth in high-income countries can drive risk in low-income countries, and that adaptation is likely to have global feedback links, which have not yet been explored. It is hoped that the further regional consultation processes associated with the post-2015 development of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA 2) will build on these outcomes to create concrete action plans, which are based on local-level realities and science that is appropriately linked to them. In this context, systems thinking, inter-disciplinary research and trans-disciplinary collaborations are crucial for narrowing the persistent gap between local-level realities, science and policy.

Journal of Flood Risk Management

Journal of Flood Risk Management

Gender Dimensions in the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Gender Dimensions in the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction