INCLUSIVE DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT:
GOVERNMENTS, COMMUNITIES AND GROUPS ACTING TOGETHER
High Level Multi-stakeholder Partnership Dialogue
CONCEPT NOTE
BACKGROUND
The Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction will be held from 14 to 18
March 2015 in Sendai City, Japan. The Conference aims to complete the assessment and
review of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), adopt a post-2015
framework for disaster risk reduction, and identify modalities of cooperation based on
commitments to implement the new post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
The sessions at the World Conference will represent an accumulation of experiences gained
on the implementation of disaster risk reduction shared, for example, during the extensive
consultations on a post-2015 framework; at the Global and Regional Platforms for Disaster
Risk Reduction; and at relevant international gatherings like the UN Conference on
Sustainable Development, Rio+20, in 2012. The Third UN World Conference on Disaster
Risk Reduction will build on existing and successful partnership as well as to launch
innovative and concrete new ones, and will include three High Level Multi-stakeholder
Partnership Dialogues including one on “Inclusive Disaster Risk Management: Governments,
Communities and Group Acting Together”.
CONTEXT
What do we mean by inclusive disaster risk management and why should we strive to achieve
it? The success of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) has been built on the
collaborative action of various stakeholders working with government. Improved strategic
and operational government-led partnerships are a corner stone of such inclusivity. Since the
HFA was established, inclusivity has changed a perception of victimization and vulnerability
(including but not limited to women and girls, children and youth, persons with disability,
older people, and those in disadvantaged communities) to one of working with governments
in the planning, design, implementation, and monitoring of disaster risk reduction.
At the same time, inclusive representation and engagement has yet to be fully realized. Some
learning from the HFA includes the need for understanding of the context, knowledge and
capacities of groups subject to more risk. Assessing the success factors where inclusive
disaster risk reduction has been achieved provides important insights going forward.
The post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction calls for an inclusive approach. This
dialogue will illustrate effective approaches for inclusive disaster risk management and
identify specific suggestions in support of the implementation of the post-2015 framework
for disaster risk reduction.
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TIMING AND VENUE
The High Level Multi-stakeholder Partnership Dialogue “Inclusive Disaster Risk
Management: Governments, Communities and Groups Acting Together” will be held in
Exhibition Hall 1 of the Sendai International Centre on 17 March 2015, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
PARTICIPANTS
The partnership dialogue will be interactive and open to all conference participants. Each
dialogue will have two co-Chairs, a small number of panelists/speakers, and a professional
moderator. Each of the five UN regional groups will be invited to nominate one chair. Japan,
as host, will serve as the sixth co-Chair.
OBJECTIVES
The High Level Multi-stakeholder Partnership Dialogue will provide an opportunity for
interactive and focused discussions on key priorities, commitments and actions in support of
the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction, as it relates to inclusive disaster risk
management.
OUTCOMES
The outcomes of the multi-stakeholder partnership dialogue will be reported to the
Conference at its closing plenary meeting and be included in the final report of the
Conference.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
The interactive discussion will be guided by the following questions:
1. What are the critical success factors for inclusive disaster risk management?
2. What are the roles of different actors to facilitate this going forward?
3. How can we enhance monitoring of inclusive disaster risk management?
STRUCTURE
In addition to the co-Chairs, four to five high level speakers will be selected by the co-Chairs,
on the advice of the Conference secretariat, to deliver key note addresses.
There will be no prepared list of speakers. At the discretion of the co-Chairs, priority in the
order of speakers will be given to those speaking at the level of Head of State or Government
or at the ministerial level, followed by high level representatives of other stakeholders.
The dialogue will aim to achieve a balance among speakers from all stakeholders. In order to
provide for maximum participation, interventions should not exceed three minutes. Speakers
will request the floor by raising their nameplate. Each dialogue session will be webcast.
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