Challenges in Implementing the Sendai Framework: Vulnerability, State Capacity, and Disaster Risk Reduction

This paper explores the implementation challenges of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). The research problem is: why does the degree of implementation of international standards for disaster reduction vary? The hypothesis is: the greater the state capacities for implementing the norms, the greater the degree of commitment to the objectives and goals of the Sendai Framework, the greater the vulnerability in relation to disasters, then the greater the degree of implementation of the standards for disaster reduction. In this sense, state capacities are a necessary and sufficient condition; the degree of commitment to the objectives and goals of the Sendai Framework and vulnerability are necessary but not sufficient conditions for understanding the degree of implementation of international standards and their respective variation from country to country. Through the study of 13 countries in Latin America and North America, the study examines why the implementation of disaster reduction norms varies across different national contexts. The research identifies state capacity as a critical factor in determining a country's ability to effectively implement the Sendai Framework. Countries with stronger governance structures, economic resources, and institutional capabilities are more likely to adopt and enforce disaster risk reduction policies. However, commitment to the Sendai Framework’s objectives and goals also plays a pivotal role. Even countries with lower state capacities can achieve higher levels of implementation if they demonstrate strong political will and international cooperation. Vulnerability, often driven by socio-economic inequalities, exacerbates the difficulties in norm adoption and implementation. Communities with limited access to resources, inadequate infrastructure, and historical marginalization are less equipped to reduce disaster risks, resulting in a cycle of vulnerability that undermines resilience. This research highlights the interconnectedness of international governance and cooperation, and social justice in disaster management.