A series of commemorative events on disaster risk reduction (DRR) is planned in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan for January 2015. Among these: the 20th commemoration of the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake; the 10th year of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA); and the 10th year of establishment of the International Recovery Platform (IRP). These forthcoming commemorative events are the embodiments of significant lessons that changed the DRR paradigm in Japan and throughout the world. The forthcoming events are expected to recognize the lessons from the 1995 Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, specifically how it provided insights in organizing response and recovery efforts from mega-disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, 2005 Earthquake in Pakistan, 2006 Yogyakarta Earthquake, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, and 2013 super typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

The International Recovery Forum 2015 will be organized in Kobe, Hyogo on January 16, 2015 (Friday) at Hotel Okura. The Forum will further explore how the lessons from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake can be effectively disseminated, analyzed, and applied to situations with similar challenges. The outcomes of the Forum will include recommended strategies and actions of implementing the recovery component of the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which will be further discussed at the forthcoming World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR), March 14-18, 2015 in Sendai.

1. Taking stock of the gains from the initiatives spearheaded by Hyogo Prefectural Government in partnership with the Government of Japan and the International Recovery Platform

2. Sharing of experiences from mega disaster-impacted countries indicating how the lessons from the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake have further contributed to their respective DRR efforts

3. Bridging the learnings of Hyogo Prefectural Government from hosting the 2nd World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) to Sendai City Government which will host the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR)

1. Strategic recommendations on how the lessons from the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake can be further analyzed, disseminated, and applied to nations and communities worldwide

2. Inputs to the implementation of the recovery component of the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction