Guide to developing National Action Plans : a tool for mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management based on experiences from selected Pacific Island Countries

Abstract

This guide has been produced to assist Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to prepare Disaster Risk Management (DRM) National Action Plans (NAP). The NAP development process is supported by the Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network (PPN) and is considered a key instrument in facilitating DRM mainstreaming. Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is a crosscutting or cross-sectoral development issue, meaning that it is necessary for a broad range of stakeholders to cooperate and coordinate their activities in order to effectively reduce disaster risks to national sustainable development. The National Action Plan (NAP) facilitates this as it seeks to include all relevant DRM sectors, institutions and stakeholders in developing the NAP through a consultative and participatory process. While government typically drives the process of plan development, it is important to note that this is not a government plan. Rather it is a whole-of-country plan representing all sectors of society: government, civil society, private sector and communities.