23 May 2013: The Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) has released a publication, titled “Implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) – Summary of reports 2007-2013,” which provides a detailed account of implementation of the HFA, as described in voluntary self-reporting from countries and regional organizations. The report aims to inform current efforts to reduce disaster risk as well as the planning and development of the post-2015 DRR framework.

According to the 62-page report, significant progress has been made since the adoption of the HFA in 2005. It identifies five main drivers that engender progress in disaster risk reduction (DRR), namely that: governments are increasingly taking a multi-hazard approach to DRR; gender is coming to be recognized as a decisive factor; capacity development is recognized as a central element in reducing disaster risk; attention is focusing on the needs of the socio-economically vulnerable that are the most exposed to risk; and effective DRR requires strong community engagement.

UNISDR released the report during the 4th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which convened in Geneva, Switzerland, from 19-23 May 2013. The report is based on data from the 146 countries that have submitted HFA reports. [UNISDR Press Release] [UNISDR Summary of Reports] [Publication: Implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action – Summary of reports 2007-2013] [IISD RS Story on the 4th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction]