The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) was established in 2000 as a follow up to the International Decade on Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) 1990-1999. The main aims of the organization are to achieve a substantial reduction of disaster losses and to build resilient communities and nations as an essential condition for sustainable development. The UNDRR (formerly known as UNISDR) serves as catalyst and focal point for disaster risk reduction within the United Nations family of organizations and amongst many stakeholders working on DRR. It advocates for disaster risk reduction. The centerpiece of its advocacy is the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which was adopted as the successor of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction. The UNDRR headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.

In October 2007 the UNDRR established the “UNDRR Kobe Office” in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.

The Second World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) was held in Kobe, Hyogo in January 2005. “The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters” (HFA) was adopted at the WCDR as a comprehensive guideline and policy on action for disaster risk reduction. Building on the 10-year implementation of HFA, “The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) held in Sendai in March 2015. UNDRR served as the secretariat for the Conference. As the successor of the HFA, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction is the centerpiece of global efforts to further promote disaster risk reduction actions and policies, and cooperation around the world.

The UNDRR Kobe Office (formerly known as the UNDRR Office in Japan) is collaborating with a wide range of partners working on disaster risk reduction based in Asia and the world, in particular the Japanese Government, academic and research institutions, the private sector, as well as other relevant institutions based in Japan. In collaboration with the UNDRR Headquarters in Geneva and UNDRR Regional Office for Asia-Pacific in Bangkok, the UNDRR Kobe Office works toward further implementation of the Sendai Framework and facilitates cooperation on DRR.

Japan has experienced many types of natural hazards throughout its history. Through those experiences, Japan has developed its expertise together with advanced policies and technologies in the area of disaster risk reduction, which are well-recognized by the international community. Japan can play a leading role in the area of international cooperation through the United Nations, for disaster risk reduction. Japanese experiences are instrumental in bringing expertise and knowledge to bear on this global challenge. Japanese knowledge, experience and expertise can be further shared with other countries to learn about, and possibly apply these tools and practices to improve their own efforts to tackle natural hazards and to reduce disaster risks.

We hope that Japan’s experiences, expertise, technology and innovation will further contribute to global efforts to reduce disaster risks, as well as to minimize potential damage and loss of lives from the impacts of natural hazards. The UNDRR would like to express its appreciation and high expectation to Japan’s continuous support and wide-ranging contributions to global efforts towards building safer and more resilient communities.