Advocacy
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction
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LOCAL governments, due to their close proximity to citizens, have a role to play in raising awareness and consciousness among their populations in order to reduce the risk of disaster. In developing its strategy, each local government takes part in reducing the risk of disaster by putting in place policies that respect the environment and take into account appropriate urban planning, transport schemes, energy efficiency and strategies to prevent climate change, desertification and the greenhouse effect.
The Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (3WCDRR), which took place in Sendai, Japan, between 14 and 18 March 2015, resulted in a historic agreement by the international community to reduce disaster risk, and recognized local authorities and the local level as essential to achieving this. Strongly represented at the Conference, local and regional authorities showed the world that they are fully engaged in the risk reduction process at all levels.
For the first time, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 recognizes that local authorities have a crucial role to play in disaster risk reduction. The local level and local authorities are mentioned many times in the final text. The Sendai Declaration of Local Authorities emphasizes the need to connect the Sendai Framework for Action with the fight against poverty, the urban agenda, the fight against climate change and the Post-2015 agenda.
Role of UCLG ASPAC
UCLG ASPAC is actively engaged in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and the formulation of Hyogo Framework for Action 2 (HFA2) 2005-2015 that was globally adopted in 3WCDRR. An agreement with UNISDR in 2013 was signed endorsing the support of UCLG ASPAC as the coordinator of the Stakeholder Group of Mayors and Local Governments for DRR in Asia. As the coordinator of the Group, UCLG ASPAC organized a regional forum during the 3WCDRR. The forum brought together dozens of mayors and local governments in Asia-Pacific region to meet and share their ideas and hopes about things to do to reduce the damage caused by natural hazards.
UCLG ASPAC also organized a Pre-Conference of Mayors and Local Governments during the 6th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) in June 2014 in Bangkok.The meeting discussed the various inputs for the Post 2015 Framework for DRR and the Voluntary Statement of Mayors and Local Governments to the 6AMCDRR. These conclusions from the pre-conference were included in the Bangkok Declaration and Asia Pacific input for the HFA2.
UCLG ASPAC promotes the Local Government Self-Assessment Tool (LG SAT) for disaster risk reduction. It helps local authorities to set baselines, identify gaps, and plan actions as well as measure the results over time. Training for LG SAT was conducted with the Provincial Government of Jakarta which was determined useful in raising the awareness of board officials as well as in enhancing their knowledge on the issue of local resilience. Engagement with the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) as well could enable UCLG ASPAC to reach other local disaster boards in the country. Additionally, regional training of LG SAT in the Asia-Pacific region is planned for all local governments as part of the commitment.
