Science Technology Commitment to support implementation of Sendai Framework

This report asserts that the more widespread integration of science into disaster risk reduction policy making will depend on science being ‘useful, useable and used’. The case studies in the report describe specific examples of scientific learning being employed to enhance disaster risk reduction, providing evidence that science is useable for disaster risk reduction. The case studies were selected from across the breadth of scientific disciplines and from all parts of the globe. They demonstrate that science can: (i) be driven by the need to address the adverse effects of disasters on lives, livelihoods, economies and societies (ii) enable more focused disaster risk assessment (iii) reduce the impact of disasters by better forecasting (iv) improve disaster risk mitigation programmes.

This document reports on the outcomes from a survey initiated by GRF Davos on behalf of the UNDRR Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) amongst Disaster Risk Reduction platforms and networks. The STAG’s current understanding is that the “platforms” have a scientific and technological basis revolving around risks and disasters, whereas the “networks” have more of a coordination function at their core with respect to key areas of disaster risk reduction (DRR).

The survey served the STAG to get a closer insight into the structure and the working mechanisms of the platforms and networks and to get an overview on how to make better use of the platforms and networks in supporting the UNDRR systems work, as well as the see if a network of networks shall be put in place to strengthen DRR activities.

Day two of the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan featured a working session on how to apply science and technology to disaster risk reduction decision-making.

The voluntary commitment of the Science and Technology Major Group to develop an international partnership to mobilize science for action on disaster risk reduction and resilience building, working with the UNDRR Science and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) was presented.

The conference brought together the full diversity of the science and technology community, policy makers, practitioners and researchers from all geographical regions, at local, national, regional and international levels to discuss how the science and technology community will best support the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

The science and technology community, as well as other stakeholders, came together at the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) Science and Technology Conference held 27- 29January 2016 in Geneva. The Conference produced the ‘Science and Technology Roadmap to Support the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030’ and accompanying partnerships as the main outcome.

The first meeting of the newly appointed UNDRR-STAG discussed priorities and action of the group for the next 2 years, as well as working modalities with regional science and technology advisory groups and other UNDRR partner groups such as the private sector, parliamentarians, and civil society organizations.

The principal goal of the G-STAG was to improve resilience to disasters and thus the wellbeing of people through better scientific and technological understanding and enhance science based decision making at the global, regional and national levels. It did so in providing scientific and technical advice to UNDRR and coordinating strategic engagement of science, research and technology institutions in the implementation of the Sendai Framework.

The work of the G-STAG was guided by the ‘Science and Technology Roadmap’ and its expected outcomes, actions, and deliverables under each of the four priority of actions of the Sendai Framework.

The UNDRR STAG has been called upon by the Sendai Framework as an essential global partnership group providing technical advice and support in the formulation and implementation of disaster risk reduction activities worldwide.

Key objectives of their event are as follows:
- To share and review progress in the implementation of science-based policy making, risk sensitive development as a basis for enhanced engagement between science and policy for risk-informed decision making across the 2030 Agenda;
- To identify the key knowledge gaps and opportunities to strengthen the contributions of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary science base to delivering the Sendai Framework including through the operationalization of the Global Science and Technology Road Map;
- To commit collectively to enhanced collaboration for an integrated science approach to DRR, CCA and sustainable development;
- To fill the current gap in knowledge and application of new technologies for DRR and resilience.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) through its Science and Technology Advisory Group (STAG) established a working group on ‘Data’ that has been active during 2018 and 2019. This is a part of the UNDRR drive to enhance implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and achieve risk-informed development through science-based decision making at local, national and regional level. The Data Working Group (DWG) has been coordinated with a selection of people working with approaches to disasters and who are active in making data work for DRR. This DWG report completed in draft at the end of 2019 and now finalised presents concept, activities and the implications derived from networking, interviews and sharing of policy, practice and ideas in international forums that contributed to the outlook presented here.

Recognizing the importance of research, scientific and technical information for disaster risk reduction, UNDRR established a Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG), which provides technical advice and support in the formulation and implementation of activities carried out by the disaster risk reduction community. The work of the STAG encompasses all aspects of the scientific and technical dimensions of risk reduction, with particular emphasis on the needs of low-and-middle income countries.