The Sendai GAP is voluntary and has been created through a multi-stakeholder consultation process in order to accelerate the efforts of all local, national, regional and international actors towards achieving the goal, outcome and targets of the Sendai Framework by 2030, with specific attention to the gender responsiveness of these efforts.

While national governments and local authorities have a central role and responsibility for reducing disaster risk and responding to disasters, the Sendai Framework recognizes that governments alone cannot achieve resilience in the face of climate change, increasing hazards and the emergence of new risks. This all-of-society approach also underpins the Sendai GAP, which is intended for implementation by multiple actors at different levels. Effective implementation requires inclusive, active engagement of governments at local and national levels with diverse stakeholders, including civil society, private sector stakeholders, and academic and technical institutions, with support from regional and international partners.