Innovations

Shift from disaster loss to disaster risk

Shift from disaster management to disaster risk
management;
Shift from what to do? to how to do?
Focus on people-centred preventive approach to DRR
Primary responsibility of States for DRR
Shared responsibility for DRR with stakeholders All of
Society Engagement and Partnership
Scope includes slow-onset, man-made and bio hazards;
Set of global targets;
Set of guiding principles;
Innovations
Articulation of governance to manage disaster risk,
including role of national platforms;
Understanding, tackling disaster risk drivers;
Preparedness to build back better;
Strengthened accountability for disaster risk management;
Recognition of stakeholders and their roles;
Mobilization of risk-sensitive investment;
Global and Regional Platforms vehicles for coherence,
monitoring and periodic reviews;
Resilience of health infrastructures, cultural heritage, and
work places;
Expected Outcome
Focus on disaster risk in addition to HFA focus on
disaster loss
Focus on livelihoods, health and physical and cultural
assets, in addition to lives and social, economic and
environmental assets

The substantial reduction of 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 (paragraph 16)
Goal
Focus on preventing new disaster risks, reducing
existing disaster risks that also strengthen resilience
Calls various measures to prevent and reduce hazard
exposure and vulnerability, increase preparedness and
recovery
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 (paragraph 17)
Gender-Sensitive Guiding Principles
Engagement from all of society through empowerment and
inclusive, accessible and non-discriminatory participation, paying
special attention to people disproportionately affected by
disasters, especially the poorest. A gender, age, disability and
cultural perspective in all policies and practices; and the
promotion of women and youth leadership; in this context, special
attention should be paid to the improvement of organized
voluntary work of citizens.
Inclusive risk-informed decision-making based on the open
exchange and dissemination of disaggregated data, including by
sex, age and disability.
Role of Stakeholders
Shift from considering stakeholders as victims and vulnerable
to agents of change and focus on empowerment and inclusion

Emphasis on the value of engaging women, children, youth,

persons with disabilities, the elderly, indigenous people, and
migrants

Specific focus on the role of Civil Society, volunteers,

organized voluntary work & community-based organizations,
the Academia, scientific and research entities and networks,
the Business, professional associations & private sector
financial institutions, the Media and Parliamentarians
Sendai Framework for DRR
and Role of Women
The outcomes of WCDRR in Sendai signal a turning point by
recognizing womens indispensable role in disaster preparedness,
management, response and recovery.

SFDRR emphasized that:

women and their participation are critical to effectively
managing disaster risk and designing, resourcing and
implementing gender-sensitive disaster risk reduction policies,
plans and programmes;
and adequate capacity building measures need to be taken to
empower women for preparedness as well as build their capacity
for alternate livelihood means in post-disaster situations.
Why gender-sensitive DRR?
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a fundamental pillar of sustainable
development and requires an All of Society Inclusive Approach.

Disasters affect men and women, and boys and girls, differently. Also, men
and women, and boys and girls prepare for, respond and recover from
disasters differently. These differences in the impacts, response and
recovery are grounded in context specific gender relations, which stem from
context specific social, economic, political and institutional factors.

The specific vulnerabilities and capacities of men and women, as well as

the gender based dynamics in disaster context are often not obviously
visible. Gender analysis reveal these often subtle but vital considerations
that impede development efforts from reaching their goals. Focusing
attention on the distinct gender-specific capacities and vulnerabilities to
prevent, prepare, confront, and recover from disasters is of vital importance
for effective resilience building measures.
Why gender-sensitive DRR?
Due to existing socio-economic conditions, institutional mechanisms,
cultural and traditional beliefs and practices, women and girls are more
likely to be disproportionately affected by disasters, including increased loss
of livelihoods, gender-based violence, and even loss of life during and in the
aftermath of disasters.

Yet, women at every level play a constructive and productive role in disaster
risk reduction, in risk management historically and today. Women and girls
possess skills and capacity to prepare for, respond to and recover from
crisis, to manage risk and build resilience like men and boys.

However, womens capacities, their role as change agents are often

overlooked in the disaster context, where women are frequently categorized
as a vulnerable group. We need to depart from the traditional view of
womens incapability and stereotyping.
Womens Leadership in DRR
Promoting and mobilizing womens leadership and gender equality in building
resilience is critical to the sustainability and fruition of risk reduction efforts.

Dedicated, sustained and targeted actions needed through:

Long term efforts to break down barriers such as gender inequality and
discrimination against women, which systematically hinders womens equal
participation and leadership;
Efforts and investments to increase womens opportunities, resources and
capacities to engage in disaster risk reduction.
Education, equal access to training, capacity building, and information are
critical to strengthen the engagement and participation of women.

Strengthening womens leadership in DRR requires addressing the issue of

RESOURCES, technical and financial including gender budgeting in disaster
risk reduction, the issue of REPRESENTATION at all levels, in all sectors and
in all risk reduction analysis, planning and implementation, and finally the
fundamental issue of RIGHTS to ensure that women rights are respected.
Womens Leadership in DRR
Accountability needs to be strengthened through monitoring progress with
clear indicators in implementing Sendai outcomes in a gender responsive
manner with linkages to international frameworks, agreements and
commitments related to gender equality and DRR e.g. reporting on
CEDAW, CSW and related UN resolutions, etc.

Gender analysis is a core component in development and DRR planning

and programming. Using sex and age disaggregated data and gender
analysis is an essential planning tool for developing local and national
development and risk reduction plans. Important to take measures to
address womens sexual and reproductive needs and to prevent gender-
based violence including human trafficking in the events of disasters.

The global DRR and development community need to further advance this
agenda, and bring gender equality and womens empowerment at the core
of risk sensitive development.