Insights from the Frontlines of Disaster Risk: Ten Key Recommendations by Experts from South Asia on the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction

This briefing presents ten recommendations from experts in India, Pakistan, and Nepal for the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Key proposals include mandating community involvement in monitoring, integrating DRR with climate change adaptation, addressing urban risks in informal settlements, and mainstreaming DRR into national budgets and local financial institutions.

• Experts recommend that the Post-2015 Framework mandate a formal role for communities in monitoring risk reduction progress, noting that the Zero Draft lacked vulnerable communities in its 'role of stakeholders' section.
• The briefing suggests implementing national and sub-national peer reviews to increase objectivity over self-reporting. While geopolitical tensions make an India-Pakistan review unlikely, the experts propose reviews between other pairs like Nepal-Bangladesh or Pakistan-Maldives, and specifically suggest city-to-city or provincial peer reviews across countries.
• There is a call for 'climate compatible disaster risk management,' which includes ensuring that disaster response and recovery activities are conducted to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
• Experts highlight the need for a roadmap to integrate DRR and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA). They suggest that national climate agencies should acknowledge the links between DRM, adaptation, and mitigation in their charters and that regional bodies like the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) should facilitate the sharing of best practices.
• The document emphasizes the risk posed by rapid urbanisation and the settlement of 'environmental buffer zones' (such as flood plains) in South Asia. It notes that 93 million people in India and nearly a fifth of Nepal's 23 million people live in slums or informal settlements, often in environmentally sensitive zones.
• The experts argue for a broader definition of vulnerability that includes groups marginalised by religion and culture, specifically mentioning lower caste communities in India and Nepal. They call for disaggregated vulnerability data and the inclusion of these groups in DRR leadership positions.
• The briefing advocates for a shift toward 'knowledge and data management' rather than just generating new data. This includes 'demystifying' and 'democratising' risk management knowledge so it can be effectively used by policy makers and vulnerable communities who act as first responders.
• Recommendations for leadership include a distinction between strategic leadership at the national level and implementation leadership at sub-national levels. Experts also stress that leaders should have technical understanding of DRM to avoid failures caused by a lack of expertise or frequent political transfers of officials.
• The experts urge the framework to mandate the mainstreaming of DRR into national budgets. They cite India's Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, with an outlay of USD 18 Billion, as an example of a program where funds could be legislatively directed toward risk reduction.
• The document suggests leveraging Local Financial Institutions (LFIs) for resilience investments. Examples include Micro Finance Institutions in Bangladesh (e.g., Grameen Bank) and self-help groups in India, such as the Self Employed Women’s Association of India, which includes over a million women.

APA

Bahadur, A. V., Kirbyshire, A., Kakakhel, K., & Bhat, M. (n.d.). Insights from the Frontlines of Disaster Risk: Ten Key Recommendations by Experts from South Asia on the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/South-Asia-Expert-Views-on-2015-Disasters-Agreement1.pdf

Chicago

Bahadur, Aditya V., Amy Kirbyshire, Kashmala Kakakhel, and Mihir Bhat. Insights from the Frontlines of Disaster Risk: Ten Key Recommendations by Experts from South Asia on the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, n.d. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/South-Asia-Expert-Views-on-2015-Disasters-Agreement1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bahadur |first1=Aditya V. |last2=Kirbyshire |first2=Amy |last3=Kakakhel |first3=Kashmala |last4=Bhat |first4=Mihir |title=Insights from the Frontlines of Disaster Risk: Ten Key Recommendations by Experts from South Asia on the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/South-Asia-Expert-Views-on-2015-Disasters-Agreement1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bahadurndinsights, author = {Bahadur, Aditya V. and Kirbyshire, Amy and Kakakhel, Kashmala and Bhat, Mihir}, title = {{Insights from the Frontlines of Disaster Risk: Ten Key Recommendations by Experts from South Asia on the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/South-Asia-Expert-Views-on-2015-Disasters-Agreement1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }