Policymakers, concerned agencies, and other stakeholders in the Philippines can now refer to a new global statistical framework for disaster-related statistics to help the country better understand and reduce growing disaster risks.
Endorsed by the United Nations (UN), the Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework (G-DRSF) establishes internationally agreed guidance on how governments produce statistics on disasters as countries face increasingly frequent and severe hazards that strain public finances and threaten to reverse development gains.
The G-DRSF is envisioned as a key tool for monitoring progress towards global commitments such as the Sendai Framework Draft Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and associated Sustainable Development Goals.
It aims to strengthen capacities at all levels to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to an increasingly complex risk environment through consistent and comparable statistics.
The G-DRSF stresses that disaster risk management requires timely, comprehensive and reliable statistics that capture not only the immediate impacts of hazardous events and disasters, but also provides insights into the underlying drivers, cascading effects and long-term implications for economic, social and environmental outcomes.
“Unfortunately, the relevant statistics remain fragmented. Inconsistent definitions, statistical methods, and reporting norms across institutions and countries make it difficult to quantify risks, compare outcomes, and learn from others’ experiences,” it says.
The G-DRSF highlights the benefits of having such a global guidance: “Accurate and consistent data are fundamental to effective Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). When these data are organized within a common statistical framework, it enables a deeper understanding of risk and supports evidence-based policymaking and planning.”
It adds that harmonized and accessible data benefit from and can enhance coordination among national authorities, international actors, development partners and communities, thereby supporting more effective resource allocation, disaster response and policymaking.
The G-DRSF responds to long-standing calls to look beyond gross domestic product as the primary measure of progress. It provides governments with a more comprehensive evidence base for planning and budgeting by better equipping them to measure not only direct damage from disasters, but also exposure, vulnerability and capacity to cope, said the UN.
“The Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework shows how regional innovation can shape global progress. It consolidates and scales up the Asia-Pacific framework endorsed in 2018 and sets a strong example of a bottom-up pathway toward internationally coherent disaster-related statistics,” said UN undersecretary-general Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.
“Cooperation to prevent disasters relies on having a shared understanding of risks, both within countries and across borders. The Global Disaster-Related Statistics Framework is a major milestone in creating a common language to drive disaster prevention,” shared UN special representative Kamal Kishore.
As climate-related and other hazards intensify, the endorsement of a shared statistical foundation is expected to strengthen risk analysis, inform safer infrastructure and investment decisions, and support efforts to protect vulnerable communities worldwide, the UN said.
The G-DRSF was prepared by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Disaster-related Statistics, co-chaired by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the United Kingdom Health Security Agency.
The framework may be accessed at https://unstats.un.org/UNSDWebsite/statcom/session_57/documents/BG-4c-G-
March 30, 2026
March 30, 2026
