Strategy

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) is strategically aligned to the International, Regional and National Disaster Management Strategy Approach. These include the United Nations (UN) Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) enhanced Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) approach and the Trinidad and Tobago CDM policy.

SENDAI FRAMEWORK

In January 2020, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago ratified the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. As a result of this move the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), under the Ministry of National Security has been designated the operational and implementing agency for the Sendai Framework. This framework provides the necessary elements for a comprehensive whole of Government and community approach towards disaster reduction as an integral part of the advances towards sustainable development in keeping with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The Framework was endorsed by the UN General Assembly following the 2015 Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR).

The Sendai Framework is the successor instrument to the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 – 2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. As such the Sendai Framework provides the necessary elements for a comprehensive whole of government and community approach to DRR, as an integral part of the advances towards sustainable development in keeping with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

The Framework seeks to substantially reduce Disaster Risk and loss of life, livelihood and health and in economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries. Further, the Framework aims to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks through the implementation of integrated and inclusive economic, structural, legal, social, health, cultural, educational, environmental, technological, political and institutional measures that prevent and reduce hazard exposure and vulnerability to disaster, increase preparedness for response and recovery, thereby strengthening resilience. (The Government of Trinidad and Tobago , 2020).

 Framework has seven global targets and four priorities for action.

The Seven Global Targets

1. Substantially reduce global disaster mortality by 2030, aiming to lower average per 100,000 global mortality rate in the decade 2020-2030 compared to the period 2005-2015.

2. Substantially reduce the number of affected people globally by 2030, aiming to lower average global figure per 100,000 in the decade 2020 -2030 compared to the period 2005-2015.
3. Reduce direct disaster economic loss in relation to global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030.
4. Substantially reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and disruption of basic services, among them health and educational facilities, including through developing their resilience by 2030.

5. Substantially increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies by 2020.
6. Substantially enhance international cooperation to developing countries through adequate and sustainable support to complement their national actions for implementation of this Framework by 2030.

7. Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to the people by 2030.

The Four Priorities for Action.

Priority 1. Understanding Disaster Risk

Disaster Risk Management should be based on an understanding of disaster risk in all its dimensions of vulnerability, capacity, exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics and the environment. Such knowledge can be used for risk assessment, prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response.

Priority 2. Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance to manage disaster risk

Disaster risk governance at the national, regional and global levels is very important for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation. It fosters collaboration and partnership.

Priority 3. Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for resilience

Public and private investment in disaster risk prevention and reduction through structural and non-structural measures are essential to enhance the economic, social, health and cultural resilience of persons, communities, countries and their assets, as well as the environment.

Priority 4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The growth of disaster risk means there is a need to strengthen disaster preparedness for response, take action in anticipation of events, and ensure capacities are in place for effective response and recovery at all levels. The recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction phase is a critical opportunity to build back better, including through integrating disaster risk reduction into development measures.

The Sendai Framework will support the ongoing CDMP Framework which was approved by the Government in 2010. This mainstreamed an integral approach to Disaster Management.

COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) adopted a Strategy and Results Framework for Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) in 2001. The goal was to integrate Disaster Management into decisions and development activities before the hazard impact. This approach moved away from the traditional “response and relief” mode to a comprehensive mode to include all phases of the disaster management cycle and all sectors of society.                    

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) developed the CDM Strategy, in 2007 which was updated in with the Regional Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy and Programming Framework 2014-2024. CDM was accepted by member Governments of CDEMA as the direction for the 21st century. It is an integrated approach to Disaster Management, and is viewed as the management of multiple hazards through all phases of the disaster management cycle which includes, prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. CDM involves the public and private sectors, as well as all segments of civil society and the general population.

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago agreed to and approved the Disaster Management Strategy for Trinidad and Tobago in 2010, which included the Comprehensive Disaster Management Policy (CDMP) Framework.  

References

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago . (2020, January 9th ). Cabinet Minute Note NS (19)178, . Ratification of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction . Port of Spain , Trinidad and Tobago .