The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which was adopted by the Member States of the United Nations in 2015, is designed to support the reduction of existing level of risks and prevent new risks from emerging. In particular, it aims at substantially reducing disaster risk and losses of life, livelihoods and health, and losses of economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.

The first priority for action of the Sendai Framework – understanding disaster risk – outlines a set of recommendations for ensuring that policies, measures and investments use risk information properly targeted towards reducing risk effectively. Challenges still remain in using risk information in policy design, planning and investments. In order to find good approaches to addressing this issue and share existing knowledge in an accessible format, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) commissioned the development of guidelines on national disaster risk assessment as part of a series of thematic guidelines under its “Words into Action” initiative to support national implementation of the Sendai Framework.

The Guidelines contribute to achieving the Sendai Framework target (g) on making disaster risk information available to people. They are also a testament to the great collaboration and partnerships among Member States and UNISDR technical partners in identifying good practices and sharing with others and so the Guidelines also contribute to achieving target (f) on enhancing international cooperation, by making good practice and know-how available to developing countries.

Embedding disaster risk assessment and integrating it into the very culture of governance and daily work are key to empowering all actors with an improved understanding of disaster risk. The Guidelines recommend that States establish a national system for understanding disaster risk that should be integrated with related policy and planning mechanisms. The Guidelines attempt to make a contribution to the significant amount of work that is needed to develop tools and methods, to offer further guidance and to create partnerships to support countries in achieving this.

See: https://www.undrr.org/publication/words-action-guidelines-national-disaster-risk-assessment