The Federal Government, with support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has developed a draft National Plan of Action for the implementation of disaster risk reduction, known as the Sendai Framework (2015-2030). Bennett Oghifo reports
A draft National Plan of Action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework (2015-2030), a global initiative on disaster risk reduction, has been developed for Nigeria.
The draft National Plan of Action was developed last week at a meeting of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), a nationally owned and led multi-stakeholder forum with special emphasis on Disaster Risk Management. The platform reflects the commitment of the federal government to implement national and local Disaster Risk Management (DRM) activities while linking up to international efforts. The platform was inaugurated on July 13th, 2010 by the then Vice President.
Platform on DRR meets…
Last week’s meeting of the National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction that produced the draft National Plan of Action was organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It held at Rockview Hotel, Abuja from the 21st to 22nd February, 2017.
Participants were drawn from State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), State Ministries of Environment, Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Local Governments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Academia, Paramilitary, Media, Organised Private Sector, Faith based Organisations (FBOs) and International Development Partners.
Some dignitaries, at the event, presented remarks, addresses and goodwill messages. These included: Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi; Director- General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA); Chairman, House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness; Chairman, House committee on Internally Displaced persons; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Internally displaced persons; a representative of the Local Governments; a representative of the Academia; Representative of the UNDP; and representative of the Ambassador of France.
At the meeting, UNDP Nigeria reaffirmed its belief in the crucial role of a fully functional National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in Nigeria. “Today’s meeting, amongst others, will reposition and revitalise the platform towards the development of a Programme of Action for the Sendai Framework, strengthened NEMA and SEMA compact, while laying a good foundation for better multi stakeholder response and management of disasters in the country.”
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi thanked “the UNDP and the entire UN System for their continuous support and, especially, for co-sponsoring this year’s meeting of the platform. Our partnership with the UNDP has been very rewarding in every facet of disaster risk management in the country.”
The process…
The meeting discussed The Hyogo framework (2005 – 2015), and its successor, the Sendai Framework (2015 – 2030). Also, the meeting considered the outcomes of the African Regional Platform meeting held in Mauritius (2016), which recommended the need for National Plan of Action (PoA) for each country, to implement the Sendai framework.
Before developing the draft National Plan of Action for the implementation of disaster risk reduction, the National Platform reviewed and harmonised the implementation of existing and current frameworks into development policies, planning and programmes.
The platform then adopted the following resolutions, in a communique issued at the end of its meeting: that Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies, States and Local Governments should develop and implement locally oriented programmes of action to actualise the Sendai framework.
The participants also affirmed the need to mainstream DRR into plans, policies and programmes of Government at all levels; emphasised the importance of gender mainstreaming in DRR activities and calls on Government to take appropriate action in this regard; recommended that adequate budgetary allocation for DRR be made by all tiers of government; re-affirmed the need for States to establish and strengthen SEMAs and for local governments to establish Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), to perform the critical roles of DRR.
They advocated for the use of established institutions such as NOA, NAN, the Media, etc, for effective advocacy and awareness programmes at the grassroots level; that MDAs, to designate desk officers for Disaster Risk Reduction in their various establishments; resolved to leverage on science, technology, academia and indigenous knowledge to provide DRR solutions; agreed to set up a technical committee to come up with recommendations for the strengthening of the National Platform on DRR; recognised the need to Institutionalise DRR policies in all sectors of our national life; resolved that the National Platform shall meet twice yearly on rotational basis across the geopolitical zones. The next meeting is scheduled to hold in October, 2017 in Calabar, Cross River State.
Sendai Framework…
The Sendai Framework is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement which recognises that the State/nation has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders, including local government, the private sector and other stakeholders.
It aims for the following outcome: 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.
The Sendai Framework is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted at the Third UN World Conference in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015. It is the outcome of stakeholder consultations initiated in March 2012 and inter-governmental negotiations from July 2014 to March 2015, supported by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction at the request of the UN General Assembly.
The Sendai Framework is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. The HFA was conceived to give further impetus to the global work under the International Framework for Action for the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction of 1989, and the Yokohama Strategy for a Safer World: Guidelines for Natural Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Mitigation and its Plan of Action, adopted in 1994 and the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction of 1999.
The Sendai Framework is built on elements which ensure continuity with the work done by States and other stakeholders under the HFA and introduces a number of innovations as called for during the consultations and negotiations.
Many commentators have identified the most significant shifts as a strong emphasis on disaster risk management as opposed to disaster management, the definition of seven global targets, the reduction of disaster risk as an expected outcome, a goal focused on preventing new risk, reducing existing risk and strengthening resilience, as well as a set of guiding principles, including primary responsibility of states to prevent and reduce disaster risk, all-of-society and all-of-State institutions engagement. In addition, the scope of disaster risk reduction has been broadened significantly to focus on both natural and man-made hazards and related environmental, technological and biological hazards and risks. Health resilience is strongly promoted throughout.
The Sendai Framework also articulates the following: the need for improved understanding of disaster risk in all its dimensions of exposure, vulnerability and hazard characteristics; the strengthening of disaster risk governance, including national platforms; accountability for disaster risk management; preparedness to “Build Back Better”; recognition of stakeholders and their roles; mobilisation of risk-sensitive investment to avoid the creation of new risk; resilience of health infrastructure, cultural heritage and work-places; strengthening of international cooperation and global partnership, and risk-informed donor policies and programs, including financial support and loans from international financial institutions.
There is also clear recognition of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and the regional platforms for disaster risk reduction as mechanisms for coherence across agendas, monitoring and periodic reviews in support of UN Governance bodies.
UNISDR has been tasked to support the implementation, follow-up and review of the Sendai Framework.
