Aditya V. Bahadur (ODI), Amy Kirbyshire (ODI/CDKN), Kashmala Kakakhel (Lead Pakistan/CDKN) and Mihir Bhat (AIDMI) present  Insights from the front lines of disaster risk, following an expert consultation in the region.

The pre-zero and zero drafts of the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) have now been released and the process to forge this global agreement in March 2015 is fast gaining momentum. It is therefore, increasingly important to ensure that the views of policy-makers and practitioners from countries at great risk of disaster losses are considered adequately.

We have produced a short document which presents the key recommendations of experts working on DRR in Nepal, Pakistan and India on issues that must be included in subsequent drafts of the Post-2015 Framework for DRR.  We collected their insights during interviews and at a workshop organised by All India Disaster Mitigation Institute (AIDMI) with support from the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, LEAD Pakistan (CDKN), IDS Nepal and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in Kathmandu in October 2014. Discussants included senior government policy makers as well as prominent members of civil society who have shaped debates on DRR in South Asia (see acknowledgements).

These experts commented on the pre-zero draft, just before the release of the zero draft; this note considers both to provide suggestions for points to be included in forthcoming drafts of the Framework.

The experts provided recommended strengthening of the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (HFA2) in ten key areas; concerning:

1. Greater role for communities in monitoring progress on the HFA2.
2. National and sub-national peer reviews.
3. Mandating climate compatible disaster risk management: minimising greenhouse gas emissions in the course of disaster response and recovery activities.
4. Highlighting institutional arrangements for integrating DRR and climate change adaptation.
5. More attention to the value of environmental buffer zones for risk reduction in urban areas.
6. Need for fuller engagement on matters of social vulnerability and inclusion.
7. Knowledge and data management: enhanced protocols for knowledge generation and knowledge management.
8. Clarity on leadership needs at the national level and technical expertise required in institutions that are mandated with implementing DRR activities.
9. Mainstreaming DRR in national budgets.
10. Role of Local Financial Institutions as key stakeholders in DRR processes.

Read the full summary of South Asia disaster expert recommendations: Insights from the front line of disaster risk: Ten key recommendations from experts on the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.

Image: displaced children, India, copyright Dilung Kirat, flickr.com.