Amy Kirbyshire introduces CDKN's packed events schedule at the World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction and encourages readers to join the debates in person or online.

In March 2015, governments are heading to Japan to agree and adopt a new global plan for reducing disaster risk. The third World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) is the final step on the path to establishing the Post-2015 Framework for DRR, following an intensive series of regional consultations and international preparatory meetings. This landmark event comes ten years on from the adoption of the original framework, the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). It will be hosted in Sendai, the city hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

The WCDRR in Sendai is the first major event in a packed 2015 calendar for global policy. The months that follow will see the third Financing for Development conference held in Addis Ababa, the agreement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 21st international climate change conference in Paris (COP21). Collectively, these key conferences and agreements offer an unprecedented opportunity to make risk management and action on climate change a central pillar of development, and reduce ever growing disaster losses. The outcome of the Sendai conference could provide a signal for the rest of these agreements.

It had been hoped that the text for the HFA’s successor framework would be largely agreed at the preparatory meetings prior to the Sendai conference. However, a significant portion of the text is still in contention, including on some key issues. As a result, there is much to be discussed and agreed at the conference itself.

Recognising the significance of the Sendai opportunity, CDKN is working to support the achievement of a global agreement to reduce disaster risk that recognises the gravity of the climate change challenge, is coherent with the SDGs and climate deal, and which places poverty considerations at its core.

At the WCDRR, CDKN is supporting two side events:

• Challenges and opportunities of implementing the new risk reduction framework in South Asia. In this event we will ask panellists and the audience to participate in a discussion on two key issues for implementation of the Post 2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, namely monitoring and accountability, and finance. Panellists will be: Naimur Rahman, Indian DRR expert; Rizwan Naseer, Director General of Rescue 1122, Pakistan; Charlotte Benson, Disaster Risk Financing Specialist at the Asian Development Bank; Maj. Gen. Asghar Nawaz, Chairman of NDMA Pakistan; Meshbah ul Islam, Secretary for Disaster Management and Relief; Netatua Pelesikoti, Director of the Climate Change Division, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme; and Tom Mitchell, DRM Theme Leader, CDKN. The event will be chaired by Ali T Sheikh, Asia Regional Director for CDKN. Monday, 16 March 18:15 - 19:45, Sendai Civic Auditorium Room 3. Flyer available here.
• Measuring Disaster Resilience. This side event will provide an overview of the tools available for measuring resilience and outlines opportunities and challenges in their implementation to support the successful operationalisation of the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Panellists will include Puji Pujiono, Regional Advisor on Disaster Risk Reduction ICT, UNESCAP, and Ali T Sheikh, CDKN Asia Regional Director. Sunday, 15 March 17:30 - 19:30, Tohoku University Kawauchi-kita Campus C105.

Ahead of the conference CDKN and ODI are jointly hosting a public event to assess the current state of play. Gauging the Climate before Sendai will be held at ODI from 12pm to 1:30pm on 3rd March 2015. You can register to attend in person or online on the ODI website.

In addition, we have published a set of resources to assist decision makers and practitioners in navigating and understanding the key issues to be tackled at the WCDRR. Copies of these will be available at our booth in the WCDRR Public Forum, and can also be access online via the links below:

• Review of the Zero Draft of the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. An analysis of the pre-zero draft which identifies areas of promise, major shortfalls and recommendations for improvement.
• The future framework for disaster risk reduction: A guide for decision makers. This infographic-based Guide is organised into a set of modules, each representing important aspects of the successor to the existing Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). By presenting evidence in the form of data, facts and summary messages, the modules highlight what should be covered by a new agreement.
• South Asian experts’ top ten recommendations for a stronger post-2015 disasters agreement. This short publication presents feedback and recommendations which emerged from a workshop CDKN hosted with experts from the South Asia region following the release of the zero draft of the post-2015 framework for DRR.
• Risk-informed decision-making: an agenda for improving risk assessments under HFA2. This publication provides insights into the use of risk-related information in public investment decisions to manage risk, adapt to climate change and promote development.
• How should the new international disaster risk framework address gender equality? A CDKN paper exploring the challenges for addressing gender equality in the post-2015 framework for DRR.
• Equity and inclusion in disaster risk reduction: building resilience for all. Building on the gender equality paper above, this publication supports recommendations for the inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups throughout the post-2015 framework for DRR.

CDKN has also published a series of blogs on key issues and milestones on the road to Sendai.

CDKN will be attending the WCDRR, and would be pleased to hear from you.

• Ali T Sheikh, CDKN Asia Regional Director
• Kashmala Kakakhel, CDKN Asia Country Programme Manager
• Mihir Bhatt, CDKN India Programme Senior Advisor and Director of the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI)
• Tom Mitchell, CDKN Climate-Related Disaster Risk Management Theme Leader
• Amy Kirbyshire, CDKN Research Programme and DRM Theme Coordinator
• Virginie le Masson, CDKN Gender Lead

See also the Who's Who at Sendai flyer.

ODI has published additional resources relating to the post-2015 framework for DRR, and will also be attending Sendai and hosting side events; more information can be found on the ODI website.

Follow the debates on twitter with #WCDRR and @cdknetwork

 Image: flooding, courtesy World Bank picture library.