Learn more about international legal instruments and policy guidance which can help countries develop comprehensive and integrated policies and governance to strengthen multi-hazard/multi-risks approaches to DRR. 

Where do we stand

As the climate change adaptation and technological risks in transboundary water bodies become areas of particular importance for countries, the UNECE provides countries with policy guidance and needs-driven assistance. Timely action and decisions of the policy decision-makers are needed, and more than ever in a coordinated manner. The UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention; a global instrument with Parties beyond the UNECE region and significant engagement from focal points and stakeholders worldwide) offers mechanisms and guidance to coordinate measures to adapt water management practices, including related to river basins, to climate change across borders. The UNECE Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (Industrial Accidents Convention) assists countries in the identification of technological hazards and the management of related risks; it proposes viable guidance documents and technological risk management approaches, especially regarding industrial accident prevention, preparedness, and response. With a focus on enhancing transboundary cooperation, the UNECE Water Convention and Industrial Accidents Convention help countries worldwide progress towards the priorities and targets set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, working together on DRR and the prevention of accidental water through their Joint Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents. The EFDRR Roadmap also sets out the need to strengthen governance across multiple hazards and sectors as well as transboundary cooperation. 

Session guiding questions

1. How to build strong multi-sector, multi-risk policies and governance?   
2. Which type of policy and governance response to climate change could countries develop in the context of water-related and technological hazards/risks? 
3. How can multi-hazard risk management best be integrated into river basin management plans? 
4. How best to strengthen DRR and climate change adaptation to support implementation of the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement, while building on existing legal instruments, notably UNECE’s Water and Industrial Accidents Conventions? 

This section provides important information for those planning to attend the  side event: 

The Indonesia Master Plan for Disaster Management 2015-2045 underlines the optimization of the role of business institutions as one of the strategies to build community resilience."  (ref. RIPB/Master Plan for DM, page 151)

The 2022 Global Humanitarian Overview estimates that in 2022, 274 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection. This was a significant increase from the 235 million people with humanitarian needs in the previous year and which was already the highest figure in decades. It is clear that the risk landscape is becoming more complex and will require a whole of society approach in understanding the drivers of risk. As we move towards better understanding of risk, we urge the business community to contribute to and engage in addressing the underlying risks and drivers of vulnerabilities for the most at risk communities and in supporting the disaster risk reduction, prevention and mitigation efforts and effective humanitarian action and recovery.  

The Third Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference (MHEWC-III) invites national meteorological, and hydrological services (NMHSs), research/academia, regional organizations, civil protection agencies, the international community, private sector entities and other stakeholders to submit posters on early warning systems with a focus on multi-hazard early warning systems that enable early action to save lives and livelihoods. The theme of the Conference is ‘from Stock Take to Scale on Target G: Accelerating the Knowledge and Practice of MHEWS for Risk Informed Resilience’.

Posters will provide an opportunity for presenters to showcase their early warning initiative. The 10 best posters will be printed and showcased at MHEWC-III in Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali, Indonesia. Posters will also be showcased on the Conference website. Successful applicants will be invited to attend the poster session in person on the 23rd of May 2022 and discuss the content of their posters with attendees.

Join the session to learn more about the latest global best practices in inclusive DRR to achieve the goals of SFDRR and SDGs through action of Dhaka Declaration. 

Where do we stand  

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) underscored that gender, age, disability and cultural perspective should be integrated. As the mid-term review of SFDRR has been started during the pandemic situation, inclusive approach becomes more highlighted for effective disaster risk reduction. 

Article 59 of the Chair’s Summary in GPDRR 2017 mentioned as “The Global Platform recognized the importance of the Dhaka Declaration on Disability and Disaster Risk Management as practical guidance for inclusive implementation of the Sendai Framework. Countries were urged to implement the Declaration”. 

After that Dhaka Declaration has been promoted at international, regional and at national levels by different agencies. The Declaration was made available in the accessible format, translated into different languages and referred to during the development of inclusive DRR plans and roadmaps in the light of the Sendai Framework. 

However, Article 12 of Co-Chair’s Summary in GPDRR 2019 pointed out “Commitments towards an inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction, recognizing the indispensable role of disproportionately affected at-risk groups, including women, displaced people, persons with disabilities, elderly, and children in disaster risk reduction have not yet sufficiently translated into action” 

For achieving Priority Action 4 of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and for realizing the SDG’s key agenda of “leave no one behind”, Member States, the UNs, and Partners need to more actions on Dhaka Declaration. 

Session guiding questions

1. What kind of inclusive and local DRR actions has been implemented for achieving Dhaka Declaration amid pandemic situations? 
2. What kind of innovative and integrated approach has been adopted and what kind of challenges have been experienced?  
3. How can we ensure inclusive DRR in all disaster cycles? 
4. What are key elements and strategies for moving forward to achieve the goals of SFDRR and SDGs through action of Dhaka Declaration? 

The session will aim at technical officers and/or decision makers in the DRR sector, academia, and NGO. Participants may benefit from bringing their own laptop, with installed MS Office package.

Where do we stand

The INFORM initiative started in 2012 and includes organizations from across the multilateral system, including the humanitarian and development sector, donors, and technical partners. UNDRR so far has lead the creation of the INFORM Subnational models from Caucasus and Central Asia (the 2017 model and 2021 model update) and the South East Europe model in 2021. UNDRR is currently working to improve the model through a wider and improved selection of indicators and inclusion of local administrative units.  The model is also being updated for Central Asia.

Publication of the most recent results for both regions was in November 2021, followed by the creation of an interactive dashboard to support decisions makers use and process the results. In addition, several associated products were developed, such as an assessment of the health sector based on INFORM results for South East Europe countries, as well as an analysis and detailed overview of disaster risk in North Macedonia, which aims to form a base for further development of DRM in the country.

In the case of the subnational model for Southeastern Europe and Central Asia, progress is continuously communicated with counterparts in the region though an INFORM working group, the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe (DPPI SEE), the Center for Emergency Situation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CESDRR)  and bilaterally with Sendai Focal points and international partners. Also, links are being established with the initiatives currently present in the region (EU projects aimed for risk assessment at local level, MCR2030, UNDRR stress-testing) to broaden the impact.  In the medium term period, for INFORM success and institutionalization, it is critical to further mobilize stakeholders to contribute to the implementation the Sendai Framework by submitting their reports to the Sendai Framework Monitor, the creation of disaster loss databases (critical for risk models development) and development of DRR strategies at a national and local level.

Session guiding questions

1. How to mainstream use of the model for the countries involved? 
2. How can the use of the Index develop capacities, strengthen disaster reporting and databases creation?
3. How to enhance the use of the model in areas beyond DRM (support other sectors to use the full potential of INFORM)? 

This event will be live streamed using Zoom. Event participants, both on site and online, will participate in the discussion as the moderator will offer a Q&A session with both

Where do we stand 

According to the Sendai Framework Monitor, as of October 2021, 120 countries reported National and/or Local DRR Strategies in place. Yet this figure does not show how much progress have been achieved around the Global Target E in terms of the implementation of the DRR Strategies. There are still sizable shortfalls at both national and local levels, and more importantly, huge gaps in the quality and coverage of the Strategies. 

National and Local DRR strategies are essential elements of any functioning DRR governance system. One of the important roles of a National level Strategy is to guide the local level government in developing appropriate Local Strategies in accordance with the National Strategy. The challenge is to roll out the national model to be properly adapted in every local government, in accordance with its own unique characteristics, and how to secure necessary resources for its implementation. At local level, reflecting the lessons learnt of previous disasters and multi-stakeholder involvement for its implementation is the key to success. Sharing success stories is essential for other localities to start their planning process.  

High quality DRR Strategies should be prepared and implemented globally since even a large amount of aid will not be effective if the governance function is paralyzed. The roles of international organizations and aid agencies are also indispensable in this regard. UNDP has signed an agreement with UNDRR to contribute to Sendai Monitoring at the country level and to help each country develop disaster loss and damage statistics. 

Session guiding questions

1. What are the essential elements of a high-quality DRR Strategy that will accelerate pre-disaster DRR investment? 
2. What is the most effective pre-disaster investment on DRR to be materialized by high-quality DRR strategy?  
3. What are the keys to successfully transform a DRR Strategy into actual actions? 
4. How can a National Strategy be rolled-out into Local Strategies? 
5. How can a government develop disaster statistics and continue monitoring with limited human resources and capacity? 
6. How should international organizations and aid agencies support the rolling out and implementation of DRR Strategies? 

The First Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference (MHEWC-I): Saving Lives, Reducing Losses was organized by IN-MHEWS and took place on the 22nd and 23rd of May 2017 in Cancún, Mexico, as a pre-event to the Fifth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2017 (GP2017). The Second Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference (MHEWC-II) took place on the 13th and 14th of May 2019 as a pre-event to the Sixth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2019) at the Headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva. 

Building on the progress and achievements of the first two conferences, the Third Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference (MHEWC-III) is planned to take place 21-22 May 2022 at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali, Indonesia. MHEWC-III provides a unique opportunity to review key accomplishments, share skills, experience, and expertise within an active MHEWS network. Attendees will exchange and explore how the community can scale efforts in MHEWS implementation to better deliver on the aspirations of MHEWS the Sendai Framework, Paris Agreement, and Sustainable Development Goals.  Moreover, practical training opportunities to support and enhance understanding and utilization of key advances in science will be organized. Training is envisioned to include modules on artificial intelligence, new data sources/information, communication standards / technologies, monitoring and evaluation to track the effectiveness of MHEWS.

The First Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference (MHEWC-I): Saving Lives, Reducing Losses was organized by IN-MHEWS and took place on the 22nd and 23rd of May 2017 in Cancún, Mexico, as a pre-event to the Fifth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2017 (GP2017). The Second Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference (MHEWC-II) took place on the 13th and 14th of May 2019 as a pre-event to the Sixth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2019) at the Headquarters of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva. 

Building on the progress and achievements of the first two conferences, the Third Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference (MHEWC-III) is planned to take place 21-22 May 2022 at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center, Bali, Indonesia. MHEWC-III provides a unique opportunity to review key accomplishments, share skills, experience, and expertise within an active MHEWS network. Attendees will exchange and explore how the community can scale efforts in MHEWS implementation to better deliver on the aspirations of MHEWS the Sendai Framework, Paris Agreement, and Sustainable Development Goals.  Moreover, practical training opportunities to support and enhance understanding and utilization of key advances in science will be organized. Training is envisioned to include modules on artificial intelligence, new data sources/information, communication standards / technologies, monitoring and evaluation to track the effectiveness of MHEWS.

Session guiding questions

1. Who are the partners working in the early warning system space?
2. What are possible opportunities for partner collaboration?