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United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)

Introduction: A risk-informed approach to inclusive and sustainable development

This document provides a response to the letter of the President of the Economic and Social Council requesting input to the thematic review of the 2019 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF). It explains how disasters effect inclusiveness and equality and ways in which disaster risk reduction supports inclusiveness, equality, and empowerment, as well as how the how the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030) makes a significant contribution to ensuring no one is left behind through a risk-informed approach to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each section highlights progress, areas requiring urgent attention and risks that undermine the achievement of the SDGs, as well as areas where the HLPF can provide guidance and recommendations to accelerate progress.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) jointly organises with host countries Global, Regional, and Sub-Regional Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction recognizes these Platforms as important international mechanisms for strategic advice, coordination and partnership development for disaster risk reduction which have been instrumental in the development of policies and strategies and the advancement of knowledge and mutual learning.

General Assembly resolution 73/231 reaffirms the importance of the Global Platform to assess and discuss progress on the Sendai Framework and advance coherence between disaster risk reduction, sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation. The resolution recognizes the outcomes of the Global Platform and the Regional Platforms as contributions to the HLPF and stresses the importance of considering disaster risk reduction in the deliberations and outcomes of the HLPF in 2019.

Four years since its adoption, the Sendai Framework is yielding positive results, building on the success of Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015). There are also gaps and challenges in implementation that require urgent attention at global, regional, national and local levels that, left unaddressed, risk the achievement of the SDGs by 2030. Perseverance is therefore needed to reduce existing disaster risk and ensure that development policies, programmes and investments do not create new disaster risk.

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