Chapter 7: Risk reduction accross the 2030 Agenda

The Sendai Framework's intended outcome is a "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" by 2030. The goal towards this, described in paragraph 17, is:

The Sendai Framework outlines seven targets and four priority areas for action to strengthen resilience by preventing new and reducing existing disaster risks. The four priority areas are: (1) understanding disaster risk, (2) strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk, (3) investing in DRR for resilience and (4) enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and "build back better" in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

This section describes the types of country data required for monitoring the seven Sendai Framework targets. Such an overview will assist understanding of how the monitoring system gathers and uses data.

The global targets listed in Table 7.1 require measurement of three separate but interconnected types of indicator:

• The first type measures the concrete outcomes at the national level of implementing risk reduction in accordance with the Sendai Framework, in terms of a reduction in losses and disaster impacts. This includes reductions in mortality (Target A), number of people affected (Target B), direct economic loss (Target C) and damage to critical infrastructure and disruption to basic services (Target D). These targets measure some of the main benefits that implementing the Sendai Framework will bring for countries.
• The second type relates to Targets E and G and is a qualitative measure of how Member States have established the political and institutional mechanisms to enable them to reduce risk in line with the Sendai Framework, namely the development of DRR strategies and progress in the areas of multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWSs) and risk information.
• The third type measures enhancements in international cooperation in line with Target F, which is not a measure of a concrete outcome or national implementation, but of the level and type of support for DRR from within the international community.

7.2.1 Targets A to D - disaster losses

Targets A, B, C and D are targets to reduce the losses attributed to disasters relating to mortality (A), number of people affected (B), economic loss relative to GDP (C) and damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services (D). Each of these targets has several indicators of loss and damage. For example, Target A seeks a reduction in mortality caused by disasters and is measured by two indicators: number of deaths and number of missing people.

Each of these indicators may be presented in a more detailed way by disaggregating in relation to specific criteria/variables. For example, both of Target A's loss indicators (dead or missing) can be disaggregated by age, sex, income level, disability, hazard and location. As a consequence, what appears as one number will, in reality, be many numbers that describe the different facets of the main indicator.

The purpose of disaggregated data is to add value and analytical power to the information. Data disaggregated by age or sex, for example, will assist evidence-based understanding of how disasters differently affect children, youth, people with disabilities, older people or women in different stages of their life cycle. Disaggregation by hazard supports a heightened understanding of the impact of specific hazards and risks on a given community.

Given the complexity of this process, paragraph 24(d) of the Sendai Framework recommends that countries "systematically evaluate, record, share and publicly account for disaster losses and understand the economic, social, health, education, environmental and cultural heritage impacts, as appropriate, in the context of event-specific hazard-exposure and vulnerability information."

7.2.2 Target E - risk reduction strategies

Targets E and G differ from Targets A-D and F, in that they are qualitative in nature. Consequently, the nature of the data and thus the processes required to collect the data are distinct. Instead of taking numbers from a data source such as loss reports or national budget figures, those who report on Targets E and G must be familiar with the policy framework for DRR in their countries.

Target E, whose deadline for achievement is 2020, has two global indicators: (a) the number of countries that adopt and implement national DRR strategies in line with the Sendai Framework and (b) the percentage of local governments that adopt and implement local strategies in line with national strategies.

When reporting, Member States need to first identify the existence of national and local strategies, then apply 10 evaluative criteria of alignment of the national disaster strategy with the Sendai Framework. In this way, an indicative total "score" of the strategy's alignment is possible from a series of qualitative judgments. Evaluators of the criteria will need expertise in DRR as well as familiarity with the strategies and relevant institutional architecture, legislation, availability of information, and programmes and processes associated with DRR in their country. There is a subjective element, as intermediate scores can be assigned optimistically or pessimistically with the corollary impact on the assessment score. But for as long as they are consistent over time and recognized as a qualitative measure of a different type than data such as disaster loss statistics, the criteria provide a useful methodology to assess national risk reduction strategies.

7.2.3 Target F - international cooperation

Target F requires the provision of financial data on international cooperation from recipient countries and provider countries.

Provide country data: Data for this target includes that reported on an annual calendar year basis by statistical reporters on international cooperation in national administrations. A statistical reporter, usually located in the national aid agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or Ministry of Finance or Economy, is responsible for the collection of development assistance statistics in each country/agency. Historically, neither all donors nor recipients have systematically produced data pertaining to DRR; therefore, the requirements of the Sendai Framework reporting are expected to catalyse systematic collection of this data.

Recipient country data: OEIWG also encouraged recipient countries to provide information on the estimated amount of national DRR expenditure. By calculating national DRR expenditure using data from national accounts, recipient countries can estimate the proportion of total expenditure on national DRR actions that is accounted for by official international support. This responds to the observations of OEIWG members of the importance of demonstrating government policy leadership (of developing countries) in measuring the target.

7.2.4 Target G - availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information

Target G entails a series of qualitative measures to assess progress in substantially increasing "the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to the people by 2030." It has six global indicators, relating to the quality of MHEWSs, as well as that of disaster risk information and assessments. One of the indicators (G-6) is a unique output indicator that quantifies the impact and effectiveness of early warning information in terms of evacuated people.

Reporting for Target G requires a complex set of qualitative data around effective national systems for MHEWSs, for which guidance is provided in the UNISDR technical guidance manual. The guidance is based on the deliberations of OEIWG that have also been informed by experts, through open consultations. The guidance also draws on the MHEWS checklist.

The centrality of risk reduction to sustainable urbanization and development and CCA is unquestioned and hardwired into the post-2015 global development agendas. Ongoing effort at global, regional and national levels demonstrate a collective intention to foster and implement holistic and risk-based approaches to generating resilient and sustainable economies and societies. While data availability and capacities to realize this ambition are gradually increasing, activities are also scaling up at international, regional, national and subnational levels and define a direction of travel that will be explored in more detail in Part III. However, it is critical to maintain momentum and continue coordinating global and national efforts in terms of strengthening statistical capacity and reporting moving forward. If those who are furthest behind are to be reached first, a sense of urgency is needed. This should be translated into political leadership, sustained funding and commitment for risk-informed policies supported by accurate, timely, relevant, interoperable and accessible data.