Safety Nets for Disaster Risk Reduction

Description

Even with significant gains in prevention, disaster risk cannot be eliminated. Social protection systems, including productive safety
nets that can be scaled up in response to disasters, offer mechanisms to reduce the impact of disasters on the most vulnerable populations. In addition, labour-based social protection schemes can reduce risk by supporting community activities such as reforesting slopes or building embankments. Such instruments are already being delivered on a large scale beyond the reach of stand-alone disaster risk reduction projects. Experience from Italy, Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia and Mexico has shown that when social protection schemes are bolstered with public investment and effective partnerships, they become both cost-effective and powerful tools for reducing vulnerability. Too often, social protection responses to natural disasters remain ad-hoc; a longerterm, proactive approach is therefore required. The roundtable will identify measures to leverage social protection and safety net schemes in support of building resilience.

Chair/Moderator/Faciliator

Mr. Alfredo Lazarte, Director, Crisis Response, Prevention and Recovery, International Labour Organization (CHAIR)

Speakers

Mr. Ato Mitiku Kassa, State Minister, Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector, Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopia
Mr. Milton Rondo Filho, Minister, General Coordination of Fight Against Hunger, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brazil
Dr. Aslam Alam, Deputy Minister and Secretary in Charge of Disaster Management and Relief, Bangladesh
Mr. Ruben Hofliger Topete, Director-General of Natural Disasters’ Fund, Mexico
Ms. Relinda Sosa, President, National Confederation of Women Organised for Life and Integrated Development, Peru
Mr. Carlos Scaramella, Coordinator, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, World Food Programme

Report

> Report on Safety Nets for Disaster Risk Reduction Roundtable [PDF, 161.64 Kb]