• The primary goal of the SFDRR is to achieve a significant reduction in disaster risk and disaster-related losses in lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. This involves implementing measures to prevent new disaster risks, reduce existing risks, and strengthen resilience.
• The framework emphasizes the importance of building resilience at all levels, including communities, institutions, and infrastructure. Resilience involves the capacity to anticipate, absorb, adapt to, and recover from the impacts of disasters while maintaining essential functions and structures.
• SFDRR promotes an integrated and inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction across sectors and disciplines. It encourages collaboration and coordination among government agencies, civil society, private sector entities, academia, and communities to address underlying risk factors comprehensively.
• The framework identifies priority areas for action, including understanding disaster risk, strengthening governance and institutions, investing in risk reduction measures, enhancing preparedness and early warning systems, and promoting resilient infrastructure and sustainable land use practices.
• SFDRR emphasizes the importance of inclusive policies and participatory processes that involve all stakeholders, including vulnerable groups such as women, children, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities. It stresses the need for gender-responsive approaches to disaster risk reduction.
• The framework emphasizes international cooperation, coordination, and partnership-building to support national and local efforts in disaster risk reduction. It encourages sharing knowledge, expertise, technology, and resources among countries and regions facing similar risk challenges.
• SFDRR emphasizes the importance of monitoring progress, evaluating the effectiveness of risk reduction measures, and reviewing policies and strategies regularly. It promotes evidence-based decision-making and learning from experiences to improve disaster resilience over time.
• The objectives of SFDRR are aligned with the broader global agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It recognizes the interlinkages between disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, climate action, and environmental protection.

By addressing these objectives, the SFDRR aims to create a safer and more resilient world, where communities can thrive despite the challenges posed by natural and human-induced hazards.

• One of the primary priorities is to improve understanding and assessment of disaster risk. This involves identifying hazards, vulnerabilities, and exposure of communities, critical infrastructure, and key sectors to various natural and human-induced hazards. It includes mapping risk areas, conducting risk assessments, and using scientific data and modelling for informed decision-making.
• SFDRR emphasizes the importance of enhancing governance mechanisms related to disaster risk reduction. This priority involves strengthening national and local institutions, policies, legal frameworks, and coordination mechanisms for effective risk management. It includes promoting multi-stakeholder partnerships, engaging local communities, and integrating risk reduction into development planning and decision-making processes.
• Member states are urged to prioritize investment in disaster risk reduction (DRR) measures and resilience-building initiatives. This includes allocating resources for implementing risk reduction strategies, enhancing infrastructure resilience, promoting sustainable land use planning, and integrating risk-sensitive approaches into development projects and investments.
• Preparedness is a key priority under SFDRR, focusing on improving early warning systems, emergency response capabilities, and disaster management plans. Member states are encouraged to develop and test contingency plans, conduct drills and simulations, and enhance public awareness and education on disaster preparedness and response measures.
• The framework emphasizes the importance of post-disaster recovery and reconstruction efforts that promote resilience and sustainable development. This priority involves adopting "build back better" principles to ensure that reconstruction efforts reduce future disaster risk, improve livelihoods, and enhance community resilience. It includes integrating risk reduction measures into recovery plans, promoting resilient housing and infrastructure designs, and supporting livelihood recovery programs.
• SFDRR underscores the need for international cooperation, collaboration, and partnerships to address transboundary and global disaster risks. This priority involves sharing knowledge, technology, and expertise among countries, fostering regional cooperation frameworks, and supporting capacity-building initiatives in vulnerable regions. It encourages joint risk reduction projects, exchange of best practices, and mutual assistance during emergencies.
• The framework highlights the importance of addressing specific risk factors that pose significant threats to communities and ecosystems. This includes addressing climate change impacts, reducing disaster-related economic losses, enhancing urban resilience, promoting ecosystem-based approaches to risk reduction, and addressing underlying drivers of risk such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.

By prioritizing these areas, member states can effectively implement the Sendai Framework and work towards building more resilient societies that can withstand and recover from disasters more effectively.

4. Major Changes in the Sendai Framework

The Sendai Framework, spanning until 2030, introduces several pivotal changes that redefine disaster management strategies.

• A notable shift in the framework is the adoption of outcome-based targets rather than focusing solely on activities and actions. This change emphasizes measurable results and impacts, enhancing accountability and effectiveness in disaster risk reduction efforts.
• Governments are placed at the core of disaster risk reduction, emphasizing the critical role of strong disaster risk governance. This shift highlights the need for enhanced institutional capacity, policy frameworks, and coordination mechanisms at national and local levels.
• Unlike previous approaches centred on disaster response and recovery, the Sendai Framework emphasizes proactive disaster risk management. This shift entails addressing the root causes and drivers of risk, such as urbanization, environmental degradation, and climate change, to reduce vulnerabilities and build resilience.
• The framework extends its focus beyond natural hazards to encompass all types of disasters, including those stemming from human-induced factors. This broader perspective ensures a comprehensive response to diverse disaster scenarios, promoting holistic risk reduction strategies.
• Recognizing the intricate link between environmental sustainability and disaster risk reduction, the framework highlights the importance of integrated environmental and natural resource management approaches. This includes measures to protect ecosystems, promote sustainable land use, and mitigate environmental degradation contributing to disaster risk.
• Disaster risk reduction is acknowledged as a multi-sectoral policy concern that intersects with various sectors like health, education, infrastructure, and environment. The framework emphasizes collaboration and coherence across these sectors to mainstream risk reduction practices into development planning and implementation.

These changes in the Sendai Framework signify a paradigm shift towards proactive, holistic, and integrated approaches to disaster risk reduction. By prioritizing outcome-driven targets, strengthening governance, addressing root causes of risk, and fostering cross-sectoral cooperation, the framework aims to build resilient communities and minimize the impacts of disasters in the decades to come.

5. Difference between the Hyogo Framework and Sendai Framework