New Delhi declaration on disaster risk reduction in Asia and the Pacific 2016

The  declaration was endorsed by Heads of Government, Ministers, and Heads of Delegation of countries in Asia and the Pacific, on 5 November 2016, as an outcome of the first Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) following the adoption of the Sendai Framework. The declaration calls on disaster risk reduction (DRR) stakeholders to:

1. Pursue with a sense of urgency the paradigm shift from disaster management to disaster risk reduction.
2. Ensure that policies and practices reflect an understanding of disaster risk. More specifically, collect and share risk information for pre-disaster risk assessment, risk prevention and reduction through development, and appropriate preparedness for effective response to disasters.
3. Strengthen national and local governance of disaster risk reduction to ensure coherence among policies, institutional arrangements across sectors, with the representation of stakeholders in line with national circumstances and policies. Increase public and private investment in capacity building, science and
   technology, innovation, critical infrastructure and services, to contribute to the
   achievement of community resilience.
4. Increase investment in disaster risk reduction for resilience including in multihazard early warning systems and dissemination channels; contingency planning that engages all people to further strengthen disaster preparedness. In this regard, reaffirm that an effective and meaningful global partnership and further
   strengthening of international cooperation, including the fulfillment of respective commitments and official development assistance by developed countries are essential for effective disaster risk management.
5. Encourage meaningful participation and support representation of women, children and youth, and persons with disabilities in the leadership role for disaster risk reduction.
6. Improve preparedness for disaster recovery by strengthening institutional frameworks, establishing standards, and enhancing capacities to ensure that disaster recovery integrates risk reduction measures to build back better.
7. Use the International Day for Disaster Reduction and World Tsunami Awareness Day to raise awareness, promote a better understanding of risks and develop tools to address them.
8. Adopt indicators of the Sendai Framework being developed by the UN General Assembly Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group (OEIWG) and ensure that they are anchored in national priorities and aligned with the indicators of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
9. Collaborate for promoting disaster resilient infrastructure involving governments, multilateral development agencies, financial institutions, private sector and major infrastructure investors in Asia.
10. Strengthen inclusive collaboration at the local level to build on community initiative, knowledge and resources, and leverage national policies and programmes to achieve resilience.
11. Promote the application of science & technology, and research for evidence-based disaster risk reduction policies, practices and solutions, including through international cooperation.
12. Enhance regional cooperation including strengthening the role of Intergovernmental Organizations for coherent implementation of the Sendai Framework and the 2030 sustainable development agenda, fostering innovative partnerships, and North-South, South-South and Triangular Cooperation in all areas related to disaster risk reduction.

The participants resolved to:

1. timely implement the actions recommended in this New Delhi Declaration 2016, deliver on our commitments and share the progress in the next Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) in 2018;
2. mobilise governments and partners to deliver on the ‘Asia Regional Plan for Implementation of the Sendai Framework’;
3. recognise the role of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) in coordinating and facilitating regional efforts to support the implementation of the Sendai Framework;
4. call on all major groups and stakeholder groups to deliver on their Voluntary Statements of Action and periodically report on progress.