Accelerating implementation of DRR and resilience in infrastructure at the UNDRR Risk Reduction Hub

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an aerial view of a house that has been destroyed

Advancing Risk Reduction efforts through the Sendai Framework

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s (UNDRR) Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction has recently undergone a formal Mid-term Review (MTR SF) to take stock of implementation and impact since its launch in 2015, understand what context shifts have occurred, and identify how to accelerate uptake to 2030 and beyond. The learnings and recommendations of an extensive review are summarised in this report, which will be discussed at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on 18 and 19 May 2023.

Simultaneously, the UNDRR is coordinating a Risk Reduction Hub on the margins of the official sessions of the High-Level Meeting to include an array of side events and thematic engagements in order to discuss advancing risk reduction efforts across sectors, regions, and contexts. These events are for governments, experts, and stakeholders, including and beyond traditional Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) actors, to discuss how the calls to action contained in the Political Declaration can be taken forward and to offer concrete solutions that can be the genesis of initiatives or coalitions emanating from the MTR SF.

Infrastructure is the backbone of a safe, functioning and prosperous society. It underpins the implementation of sustainable development, and it plays a vital role in the implementation of DRR and resilience. The resilience of infrastructure systems has been recognised in the MTR SF report as a key area of action to support the implementation of the Sendai Framework. Member States and stakeholders are advised to ‘place the Principles for Resilient Infrastructure at the heart of developing infrastructure systems, both in upgrading existing systems and integrating risk assessments and data into future projects’.

ICSI at the UNDRR Risk Reduction Hub

ICSI, with support from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), undertook a consultation in Summer 2022 with the global engineering community and submitted a report entitled The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030: Reflections and insights from the Global Engineering Community as a voluntary contribution to the MTR SF. In light of this contribution, ICSI is delighted to be hosting an event at the Risk Reduction Hub in partnership with the ICE, the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and Resilience Rising, entitled ‘Accelerating Implementation of DRR and Resilience in Infrastructure’.

The event will convene stakeholders from the infrastructure sector to discuss how the calls to action and recommendations of the Sendai Framework Midterm Review report can be progressed in the context of infrastructure, focussing on concrete solutions and pathways to risk-informed infrastructure systems that support sustainable development for all. In particular, it will:

  • Provide a space for non-state actors and government representatives to convene and share their perspectives on the outcomes of the Mid-term Review of the Sendai Framework in relation to the infrastructure sector.
  • Identify the transformations needed for improved multi-disciplinary cross-sector collaboration among experts to tackle complex challenges.
  • Promote and highlight case studies of solutions and actions from participants and audience, as well as the resolution of barriers.
  • Drive awareness of the global engineering perspective on DRR and resilience, offering recommendations and solutions from trusted experts.
  • Enhance and enable cross-sector and cross-regional collaboration, with a view to replicate innovative solutions.
  • Introduce the Principles for Resilient Infrastructure Handbook and discuss how it can be operationalised.

The session will feature a keynote address from Abhilash Panda, Head of Financing Resilience, De-risking investment & Infrastructure Resilience at UNDRR, followed by a panel discussion on key priority areas identified by the Sendai Framework Midterm Review. The Principles for Resilient Infrastructure Handbook will also be discussed and there will be time for contributions from the audience. The event aims to bring together actors from across the lifecycle of infrastructure, including policymakers, owner-operators, investors, private sector, professional and industry associations, academia and civil society. It will be open to all interested stakeholders attending the Risk Reduction Hub on the day.

 

Accelerating Implementation of DRR and Resilience in Infrastructure
📅 17 May
⏰13:15 – 14:45 EDT
📍 United Nations Headquarters, New York

 

Read more about the Risk Reduction Hub here.