In 2021, the social and economic impact of COVID-19 continued to magnify risk exposure and vulnerability worldwide, with at-risk populations hit hardest, as the world entered its second year of the pandemic. Amidst the changing geo-political landscape and public health crisis, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) continued to emphasize our message that #PreventionSavesLives, leading the way on innovation and planned risk-reduction strategies to strengthen resilience, enhance technical cooperation assistance and increase capacity-building efforts with partners.
In line with its Strategic Framework 2016-2021, UNDRR supported Member States in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and investing in preventative action, to accelerate Sustainable Development Goal targets.
Our risk landscape is increasingly volatile, compounded by risk drivers such as climate change, conflict, displacement, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss and the ongoing pandemic, which continues to exacerbate systemic and deeply entrenched economic and social inequalities. It is at the intersection of understanding risk and reducing disaster impact where UNDRR best illustrates its added value.
Throughout the year, UNDRR strived to innovate its operations by strengthening monitoring frameworks, ramping up virtual work arrangements, and incentivizing stakeholders to invest in and evolve comprehensive, equitable, localized, and meaningful plans of action. These plans can lead to sustainable outcomes for millions, particularly the hardest to reach, hardest hit, and most vulnerable to disasters, to ensure no one is left behind.
Each new year brings new challenges but also possibilities. Let us reflect on our achievements in 2021, and continue to work together for a more resilient, more sustainable and more equitable world in 2022 and beyond.
Mami Mizoturi
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
2021 Highlights
Risk: a new normal
While 2020 brought the world a global pandemic, 2021 ushered in a new normal, largely dominated by risk. Throughout the year, the COVID-19 global pandemic continued to be felt in all corners of the globe, creating and exacerbating a range of challenges, not only related to health, but also those with economic, social and political consequences. Within that context, UNDRR’s work largely focused on the systemic and interconnected nature of risk, and how it can trigger cascading impacts that unevenly harm society’s most marginalized.
During conferences, panels and meetings, UNDRR spoke to the idea that systemic, interconnected challenges require systemic, interconnected solutions. Because the enormous gap for financing disaster risk reduction persists, UNDRR colleagues repeated a familiar message: resilience is not an extra cost but a wise investment. Fortunately, this message is increasingly hitting home, with COVID-19 and climate change raising awareness about risk more now than ever. Particularly, at the COP26 held in November, resilience featured high on the political and business agendas.
Improving risk-informed decisions
The Global Risk Assessment Framework (GRAF) was rolled out to support Member States in better understanding risk and making risk-informed decisions by offering an improved data eco-system. In close collaboration with UN Country Teams and Humanitarian Country Teams, the rollout included pilots in Bangladesh, Costa-Rica, Eswatini, Fiji, Pakistan, Somalia and Sudan. Participating countries received guidance on improving risk-data use and systemic risk analysis.
Through support from UNDRR’s Global Risk Assessment Framework (GRAF), national institutions are sharing high-quality risk information to strengthen risk knowledge. As shocks are becoming more complex, our cooperation with UNDRR is focusing on assessing systemic risks, including from climate change, to guide financial decision-making and public investment, with particular focus on the protection of public infrastructure to avoid loss and damage and encourage early recovery in case of disaster events
– Mr. Carlos Picado, Head of National Emergency Commission, Strategic Development Unit, Costa Rica
Accelerating Sendai Framework implementation
The year began with UNDRR adopting a new Strategic Framework for 2022-2025 and Work Programme for 2022-2023, which focused on accelerating implementation of the Sendai Framework, while continuing to embody the message that disasters do not have to devastate.
Exploring the systemic nature of drought
With water-related hazards becoming a key concern around the world, UNDRR launched the GAR Special Report on Drought 2021 in June, in collaboration with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). The report explored the systemic nature of drought and how it affects health and well-being, as well as stymies achievement of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals. Other key policy guidance and knowledge products were developed at regional level, with the launch of the Regional Assessment Report for Arab States, and for the Americas and the Caribbean.
Inspiring resilience
Cities have been on the frontline of the COVID-19 emergency and feature highly in UNDRR’s priorities. Making Cities Resilient 2030, which was developed and implemented through an alliance of UNDRR and key partners, grew to include 641 participating cities, covering a combined population of over 420 million people. MCR2030 has been embraced as a tool for building resilience, making cities safer, preventing risks and promoting innovation and investments.
Campinas [São Paulo, Brazil] is recognized as an international leader in building resilience and is committed to working to integrate various municipal agencies, the community, and the private sector to implement public policies for disaster risk reduction and, especially at this time, seeking to develop coping mechanisms with inclusion policies in post- COVID recovery.
– Mr. Dário Saadi, Mayor of Campinas, in recognition of the city becoming an MCR2030 Resilience Hub
Incheon, Korea, home to 2.8 million people, has seen a rise in natural hazards like floods, heatwaves, landslides, earthquakes, and human-induced accidents such as industrial fires. In response, city officials signed up to the MCR2030 initiative and integrated disaster risk reduction approaches across vital sectors in ten districts.
As a Resilience Hub, Incheon City stakeholders are committed to implementing an ambitious three-year action plan that will further strengthen local resilience and can inspire partner cities.
Fostering coherence across regional agendas
In late 2021, four Regional Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction were held in different parts of the world: Jamaica (Americas and the Caribbean), Kenya (Africa), Morocco (Arab States) and Portugal (Europe and Central Asia). The outcome documents from these platforms, as well as from the Asia-Pacific Partnership Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction, which took place in December, provide guidance on integrated risk management.
The goal is to foster coherence across different agendas: sustainable development, climate action, humanitarian response and the preservation of biodiversity and ecological systems.
Reviewing progress and setting new priorities
Six years after the Sendai Framework was adopted, its Midterm Review kicked off with the adoption of General Assembly resolution A/RES/76/204 on Disaster Risk Reduction. Member States determined that the Midterm Review will conclude with a high-level meeting of the General Assembly, to be held in May 2023. The Midterm Review offers an opportunity to renew political commitment and identify risk-reduction priorities for the remaining implementation period of the Sendai Framework 2015-2030.
Creating synergy between DRR and climate action
On the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) on 13 October, UNDRR and WMO launched the Centre of Excellence on Disaster and Climate Resilience. The initiative will ensure synergy between DRR and climate action. It will convene climate and disaster risk reduction thought leaders and practitioners for joint research, capacity development and advocacy. Twelve United Nations and non-United-Nations organizations joined the Centre and participated in the first steering committee meeting.
The UNDRR regional office in Africa marked IDDRR by holding an event on disaster risk reduction and climate resilience with the African Union Commission and Dubai Expo featuring the development of new situation rooms in Ethiopia, Niger and Kenya.
Catalysing action through partnership
UNDRR coordinated and chaired the UN Senior Leadership Group on DRR for Resilience (UN SLG), as well as the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Focal Points Group, which is comprised of 43 United Nations entities. UNDRR also supported Member States in ensuring coherence with the implementation of internationally agreed agendas, releasing some 13 intergovernmental outcome documents that integrated DRR and provided guidance for risk-informed policy-setting and action at national level.
To scale up DRR in humanitarian action, UNDRR provided critical data to strengthen interagency engagement, addressed gaps in humanitarian actors’ DRR capacity and developed a training package on Scaling up DRR in Humanitarian Action.
Parliamentarian engagement also strengthened throughout the year, with the launch of a toolkit for parliamentarians by UNDRR and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) as a basis for further accelerated action on DRR to achieve the SDGs. Similarly, UNDRR engaged as a key partner for the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), including in the launch of a new CVF Parliamentarian group on Sendai Framework and Paris Agreement.
Youth engagement rose in all Regional Platforms for DRR, leading to more inclusive and impactful disaster risk reduction initiatives globally. UNDRR organized the first-ever Youth Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction prior to the Regional Platform in the Americas and the Caribbean. 300 young changemakers participated in the event from the region, resulting in a Youth Declaration on DRR. Youth were also central to the design and implementation of the Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism, taking the lead in engaging stakeholders at the 2021 High-level Political Forum (HLPF) and Financing for Development Forum, as well as providing inputs for the Food Systems Summit and COP26.
Enhancing knowledge and awareness
UNDRR’s global advocacy and engagement across all platforms continued to rise in 2021. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG), Mami Mizutori, took part in many in-person and virtual appearances, sharing content which was redistributed across multiple digital media. UNDRR garnered extensive media coverage for COP26, demonstrating the relevance of DRR as part of the climate emergency.
Meanwhile, UNDRR increased advocacy and communication efforts, raising awareness of disaster risk themes including drought, food security, tsunamis, earthquakes, flooding, biological hazards, nature-based solutions and links with social, economic and health spheres.
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and World Tsunami Awareness Day focused on Sendai Framework target F, to substantially enhance international co-operation on DRR. #OnlyTogether proved to be UNDRR’s most successful outreach campaign to date, generating 500 million social media impressions across the two days.
The Words Into Action (WiA) series, jointly developed by UNDRR and communities of experts, focused on nature-based solutions and traditional knowledge in DRR. Multimedia packages were created for existing WiA publications, making the information more easily accessible and usable.
Supporting resilience and risk reduction
The top ten donors to UNDRR — Sweden, Japan, Germany, the United States of America, Norway, the European Commission, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Australia and Switzerland — each contributed more than USD 1 million in 2021. A special note of appreciation was expressed to the Government of Israel and SM Prime Holdings for contributing to UNDRR for the first time.
UNDRR would like to thank all its donors, without whose generous contribution UNDRR’s crucial work in accelerating global efforts in disaster risk reduction to ensure a more resilient and more sustainable future for all would not be possible.
Credits:
UNDRR - Unsplash / Hasan Almasi - ADB / Asian Development Bank - Climate Visuals Countdown / Anthony Ochieng - Chris Huby / UN - SSereepaowong - ADB / Asian Development Bank - USAID / flickr - GGGGGUK / flickr - Antoine Tardy / UNDRR - Climate Visuals Countdown / Turpin Samuel