Sendai Framework, 2030 Global Targets, Priority of Actions

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) is a global initiative designed to reduce disaster risks and protect lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and ecosystems. Adopted on 18 March 2015 in Sendai, Japan, at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, it succeeded the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005–2015).

The Sendai Framework promotes a shift from responding to disasters after they occur towards understanding risks, preventing new vulnerabilities and strengthening resilience. It establishes seven global targets and four priorities for action, covering risk assessment, governance, investment and disaster preparedness. In India, the framework informs disaster management planning, early warning systems, resilient infrastructure and coordinated action among government institutions and communities.

Sendai Framework Overview

The Sendai Framework provides a global roadmap for reducing disaster risks by integrating prevention, preparedness, resilience and recovery into development planning across national and local institutions.

• The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) is a voluntary, non-binding international agreement covering the period 2015–2030. It was adopted on 18 March 2015 at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan.
• The framework was developed through international consultations and negotiations, building on the lessons of the Hyogo Framework for Action. It recognises that disasters arise not only from hazards but also from exposure, vulnerability, environmental degradation, inadequate planning and weak institutional capacity.
• Its scope includes large and small disasters, frequent and infrequent events, sudden and slow-onset hazards, and risks associated with natural, technological, biological and environmental causes.
• Governments retain primary responsibility for disaster risk reduction, while local authorities, businesses, civil society, scientific institutions and communities also have important roles.

Sendai Framework Objectives

The framework seeks to reduce disaster-related losses by combining risk assessment, institutional accountability, resilient investment and inclusive preparedness across all levels of governance. Its major objectives are to:

• Understand disaster risk: Improve knowledge of hazards, exposure, vulnerability and existing capacities through scientific research, data collection and risk mapping.
• Strengthen disaster risk governance: Establish clear responsibilities, coordination mechanisms and effective policies for disaster prevention and management.
• Invest in resilience: Promote safer infrastructure, resilient healthcare and education facilities, and risk-sensitive public and private investment.
• Enhance disaster preparedness: Improve forecasting, early warning, evacuation, emergency response and contingency planning.
• Build back better: Use post-disaster recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction to reduce future vulnerabilities rather than recreate previous risks.
• Promote international cooperation: Strengthen financial, technological and institutional support for countries with limited disaster management capacities.
• Protect vulnerable communities: Ensure inclusive participation and address the disproportionate impact of disasters on disadvantaged populations.

‹ ›

Sendai Framework Seven Global Targets

The seven global targets provide measurable benchmarks for evaluating progress in disaster risk reduction and improving safety, resilience and international cooperation by 2030.

• The Sendai Framework establishes seven targets, commonly identified as Targets A to G.
• These cover reductions in disaster mortality, the number of affected people, economic losses and damage to essential infrastructure, alongside improvements in national strategies, international support and early warning access.

Sendai Framework Four Priorities for Action

The framework organises disaster risk reduction into four interconnected priorities that guide governments and stakeholders from risk identification through prevention, preparedness and resilient post-disaster recovery.

• The four priorities are designed to be implemented together rather than as isolated activities.
• They connect scientific understanding, effective institutions, preventive investment and emergency readiness to reduce disaster losses over time.

Understanding Disaster Risk

Governments should identify hazards, assess the exposure and vulnerability of people and assets, and use scientific evidence to guide disaster prevention and preparedness. Key measures include:

• Preparing hazard maps and vulnerability assessments.
• Improving access to reliable disaster-related data.
• Using satellite imagery, geographic information systems and forecasting technologies.
• Integrating scientific research with indigenous and local knowledge.
• Promoting public awareness and disaster education.

Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance

Effective disaster governance requires clearly assigned responsibilities, coordinated institutions and enforceable policies that integrate risk reduction into development decisions. Key measures include:

• Developing national and local disaster risk reduction strategies.
• Improving coordination among central, state and local authorities.
• Integrating disaster risks into land-use planning and building regulations.
• Strengthening accountability, monitoring and public reporting.
• Involving communities, civil society and private organisations in decision-making.

Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience

Risk-sensitive investment helps reduce future losses by making infrastructure, public services, livelihoods and economic activities more capable of withstanding disasters.

Key measures include:

• Constructing and retrofitting disaster-resistant buildings.
• Strengthening hospitals, schools, transport and communication networks.
• Promoting disaster insurance and financial risk-sharing mechanisms.
• Protecting ecosystems that reduce exposure to floods, storms and erosion.
• Integrating risk assessments into urban and rural development projects.

Enhancing Disaster Preparedness and Building Back Better

Preparedness measures improve emergency response, while resilient recovery ensures reconstruction reduces vulnerabilities and strengthens communities against future disasters. Key measures include:

• Establishing effective multi-hazard early warning systems.
• Conducting evacuation drills and emergency response exercises.
• Training emergency workers, volunteers and local communities.
• Maintaining contingency plans, emergency supplies and communication systems.
• Rebuilding damaged infrastructure using safer designs and improved construction standards.

Sendai Framework and Hyogo Framework Difference

The Sendai Framework builds on the achievements of the Hyogo Framework for Action while introducing stronger emphasis on risk prevention, measurable targets, accountability and resilient development.

• The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), covering 2005–2015, was the predecessor to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030).
• The later framework retains the earlier agreement's emphasis on preparedness and resilience but broadens the approach to address the causes of disaster risk.

Sendai Framework and India

India has integrated the Sendai Framework into its disaster management planning through national policies, institutional coordination, risk reduction measures and efforts to strengthen preparedness and resilience.

• India endorsed the framework in March 2015 and has committed to contributing to its seven global targets. 
• Its implementation is closely connected with the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the National Policy on Disaster Management, 2009, and the National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP).

National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP)

India released its first National Disaster Management Plan on 1 June 2016, aligning the country's disaster management approach with the four Sendai priorities. The plan was subsequently revised in 2019 following consultation with stakeholders.

• According to the Ministry of Home Affairs' March 2026 update, the NDMP defines disaster risk reduction responsibilities across central, state and district-level institutions. 
• It also links India's disaster management efforts with the Sendai Framework, Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement.

Key Institutions Supporting Implementation

The key institutions supporting implementation of the Sendai Framework in India are listed below.

• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): Provides national-level policy direction and guidance for disaster management.
• National Disaster Management Plan: Establishes a coordinated planning framework covering prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
• State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs): Coordinate disaster management planning and implementation at the state level.
• District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs): Support district-level preparedness, planning and response.
• Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): Coordinates major national disaster management functions and related administrative arrangements.
• National Disaster Management Information System (NDMIS): Includes a Sendai Framework module for collecting disaster damage and loss data and monitoring progress against Targets A–D.

Sendai Framework Significance and Impact

The Sendai Framework has strengthened the global policy focus on disaster prevention, risk-informed development, institutional accountability and the protection of vulnerable communities. Its impact can be understood through the following developments:

• Greater focus on prevention: Governments are encouraged to address disaster risks before hazards become emergencies, rather than relying mainly on post-disaster relief.
• Improved disaster governance: The framework promotes coordination between national and local institutions, businesses, scientific organisations and communities.
• Risk-informed development: Disaster risk considerations are increasingly recognised as essential to infrastructure, urban planning and public investment decisions.
• Stronger early warning systems: Target G gives countries a measurable objective for expanding multi-hazard warning coverage and access to risk information.
• Protection of essential services: Target D encourages resilience in healthcare, education and other critical infrastructure.
• Inclusive disaster management: The framework emphasises the participation of women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and other groups facing heightened disaster risks.
• Better post-disaster recovery: The principle of “Build Back Better” encourages reconstruction that reduces future vulnerabilities instead of reproducing unsafe conditions.
• Integration with sustainable development: The framework complements the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement by addressing disaster risks that threaten development gains.

Sendai Framework Progress

According to the latest data reported through the Sendai Framework Monitor (2026), global progress has been mixed. Significant improvements have been recorded in disaster mortality, risk governance and early warning systems, while the number of affected people, economic losses and infrastructure damage remain major concerns.

• Target A – Disaster Mortality: Average disaster mortality declined by 65%, from 2.12 deaths per 100,000 people (2005–2014) to 0.75 (2016–2025). However, disasters continued to cause an average of 37,900 deaths annually.
• Target B – Affected Population: The rate of people affected by disasters doubled, increasing from 1,227 to 2,449 per 100,000 people between the two periods. Around 100 million people were affected annually on average during 2016–2025.
• Target C – Economic Losses: Reported direct economic losses exceeded US$1 trillion during 2016–2025, accounting for more than 0.3% of the combined GDP of reporting countries.
• Target D – Critical Infrastructure: Countries reported an annual average of 92,947 critical infrastructure units damaged or destroyed and over 1.6 million disruptions to basic services during 2016–2025.
• Target E – DRR Strategies: The number of countries reporting national disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies increased from 56 in 2015 to 151. Additionally, 121 countries reported local strategies, covering an average of 72% of local governments.
• Target F – International Cooperation: Reported international cooperation included US$737 million in financial flows in 2025, around 2,000 science, technology and innovation initiatives, 1,600 initiatives strengthening DRR statistics and over 34,000 instances of capacity development during 2015–2025.
• Target G – Early Warning Systems: The number of countries reporting multi-hazard early warning systems increased from 55 in 2015 to 128. However, 62 countries rated their systems' effectiveness as limited to moderate, highlighting gaps in end-to-end warning services.

Sendai Framework Challenges

Despite its comprehensive targets and priorities, the framework faces implementation barriers arising from inadequate resources, uneven institutional capacity, data limitations and growing exposure to climate-related hazards.

• Financial Constraints: Disaster prevention, resilient infrastructure, early warning systems and community preparedness require sustained investment. Limited budgets can lead governments to prioritise immediate relief over long-term risk reduction.
• Institutional Coordination Gaps: Disaster management involves multiple departments and levels of government. Overlapping responsibilities, inconsistent planning and weak coordination can delay implementation and reduce accountability.
• Inadequate Risk Data: Incomplete disaster records, inconsistent reporting methods and limited local vulnerability assessments can make it difficult to identify high-risk populations and evaluate progress against global targets.
• Rapid Urbanisation and Unsafe Development: Unplanned urban growth, construction in floodplains, inadequate drainage and non-compliance with building standards can create new vulnerabilities even where disaster management plans already exist.
• Climate Change and Compound Hazards: Changing rainfall patterns, extreme heat, coastal hazards and interacting disasters complicate risk assessment. Historical data alone may not adequately represent future disaster scenarios.
• Unequal Local Capacities: Local governments and vulnerable communities may lack technical expertise, trained personnel, equipment and reliable communication systems to implement disaster risk reduction measures effectively.
• Limited Community Participation: Plans developed without sufficient involvement of local communities may overlook traditional knowledge, accessibility requirements, livelihood needs and the specific risks faced by disadvantaged groups.
• Monitoring and Accountability Difficulties: Measuring disaster risk reduction requires comparable baseline data, reliable indicators and regular reporting. Without transparent monitoring, it is difficult to determine whether interventions have genuinely reduced vulnerabilities and losses.

Sendai Framework Way Forward

Achieving the framework's 2030 goals requires sustained investment, stronger governance, accessible risk information and coordinated action that embeds disaster resilience into everyday development decisions.

• Increase Preventive Investment: Governments should allocate adequate resources to hazard mitigation, resilient infrastructure, ecosystem protection and preparedness. Preventive expenditure should be treated as a long-term development investment rather than an avoidable cost.
• Strengthen Local Disaster Governance: Local authorities need sufficient funding, technical expertise, trained personnel and clear responsibilities. Disaster risk reduction should be incorporated into district plans, municipal development and village-level preparedness.
• Improve Risk Assessment and Data Sharing: Governments should develop reliable disaster databases, update hazard maps and use satellite data, GIS and scientific modelling. Comparable data should be made available to relevant institutions and communities.
• Expand Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems: Warning systems should cover multiple hazards and deliver timely, understandable and accessible information to people at risk. Dissemination mechanisms must reach remote communities and people with disabilities.
• Enforce Building Codes and Land-Use Regulations: Construction standards, environmental regulations and land-use plans should be effectively implemented, particularly in flood-prone, coastal, seismic and landslide-prone areas.
• Promote Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction: Local residents, volunteers, women's groups, civil society organisations and traditional knowledge holders should participate in risk assessments, preparedness exercises and recovery planning.
• Strengthen International Cooperation: Developing countries need sustained financial assistance, technology transfer, scientific collaboration and capacity-building support to address risks that exceed their domestic resources.
• Integrate Climate Adaptation with Disaster Risk Reduction: Disaster management strategies should account for future climate scenarios, protect natural buffers and promote resilient agriculture, water management, housing and infrastructure.

Sendai Framework UPSC PYQs

Q1. What is disaster resilience? How is it determined? Describe various elements of a resilience framework. Also mention the global targets of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030). (UPSC Mains 2024)

Q2. Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing the ‘Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030)’. How is this framework different from the ‘Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005’? (UPSC Mains 2018)