2 October 2012: The UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) has announced the establishment of a working group to review the 81 National Platforms on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) created under the Hyogo Framework for Action. The aim of the review is to identify the essential ingredients for a successful National Platform and provide guidance on the ideal mix of stakeholders.

There are seven members of the review working group: Germany, Sweden, Senegal, Indonesia, Philippines, Ecuador and Mexico. According to UNISDR, the group will disseminate a questionnaire to all existing National Platforms. Based on the questionnaire results, the group will prepare a report for next year’s Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction.

The working group was established as a result of the recommendation from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who in his 2011 report to the UN General Assembly on implementation of the UNISDR recommended the further review of National Platforms for DRR to establish “how they can best support domestic decision-making and international cooperation.” [UNISDR Press Release]