Funding and operational challenges; need for binding obligations and measurable targets - Shashanka Saidi

"Make DRR an obligation, binding issue; not just a policy propaganda or fancy buzz word. Set measurable achievable targets for DRR and CCA." - Shashanka Saadi, Director, Research for Development and Market Consulting, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Challenges:

• There is shrinking funding for DRR as donors haven't increased funding on DRR in last ten years. 
• At Conceptual level, DRR framework is comprehensive, but at operational level DRR is still a stand alone process, viewed mainly from disaster preparedness perspective combined with some mitigation plan. Livelihood security, governance, inclusion are missing in most operation plan.
• Another challenge is the lack of regional approach on DRR. Disasters becoming a more regional phenomena but DRR remained confined to local and national level agenda.
• Political leaders and parties who actually run the government have not yet been committed or reached on DRR. We also could not mobilise private sectors to integrate DRR in their business agenda.

Accomplishments:

• There have been significant improvements in early warning systems with extensive investment at national, regional and global level.
• Community level preparedness becomes a global model 
• Disaster Preparedness integrated in the annual plan and strategy of national governments 

Way forward:

• Set a achievable target in DRR-CCA that is measurable 
• Ensure commitments of states and donors to invest more in school based DRR, hospital preparedness, disaster resilient livelihood and urban DRR.
• Making DRR an obligation, binding issue, not just a policy propaganda or fancy buzz word
• Make Resilience the centre of all development work