Governments and DRR: A Sustainable Engagement

Date & Time:
Thursday 23 May (09:00-11:00)

Room:
Room 2

Participation:
Open

Organizer:
UNISDR

Focal Point:
Mr. Abhilash Panda, UNISDR (pandaa@un.org)

Description



The 2011 Mid-Term Review of Hyogo Framework for Action highlighted that the implementation of the framework since 2005 (HFA) generated significant international and national political momentum and action around disaster risk reduction for resilience. Much progress is reported by national governments in the implementation of HFA, for example in enactment of national legislation on disaster risk management, establishment of national platforms or coordinating bodies and; incorporation of disaster risk reduction into school curricula. Institutional arrangements put in place by countries and cities have tended to focus on disaster preparedness and response. The positive result is that mortality risk is trending down, at least in the case of weather-related disasters. On the other hand, the economic losses are still sky rocketing with extreme events such as the super storm Sandy on the east-coast of the US, earthquake and tsunami in Japan, failed crops in Africa and floods in the Bangkok area of Thailand which provide ripple effects in economies and social fabrics across borders much beyond the direct impact. The fight for scarce water resources, and the impact of extreme climate events puts additional pressure on environmental assets and livelihoods.

The gap between policies and implementation is still enormous, and the accountability systems are mostly lacking, as pointed out in recent national and regional “post-HFA” consultations and in the Global Assessment Report (2013). Another notable gap is between national and local resource allocations for disaster risk reduction. Growing national budget allocations for disaster management are reported in many countries, with less mechanisms and incentives to invest in innovative resilience building and addressing the more fundamental capacity gaps and underlying risk factors. While many national governments recognize disaster risk reduction as a local function, this has seldom meant devolution of resources and capacities from national to province/city/district levels. In occasions where such provisions are made, many local governments still lack the capacity to plan and execute the budgets.

What are the main barriers that impede a quantum leap in changing this situation? Who are the main game changers: The regulators, the implementers, the financers, the developers- from both the public and private sectors. Who “owns” disaster risk reduction at national – and local - level?


Expected objectives:

• To identify the main barriers that slows down the implementation of disaster risk reduction, which result in increasing economic losses and extreme events.
• To determine the measures that can accelerate and scale-up political attention to disaster risk.
• To identify priorities for inclusion in “HFA 2”.


Discussion agenda and structure

1. Video - highlighting the implementation of HFA (5 min)

2. Targeted approach to Risk Reduction - People's Republic of China (10min)

3. Moderated panel discussion (55min)
I. Republic of India
II. United Republic of Tanzania
III. Republic of Indonesia
IV. State of Rio de Janeiro, Federative Republic of Brazil
V. City of Beirut, Lebanese Republic
VI. European Union
VII. Republic of Chile

4. Questions & Answers session (30min)

5. Closing and wrap up by panelists and Moderator (10min)


News items will be regularly published on the Global Platform homepage at:
https://www.preventionweb.net/globalplatform/2013/

Expected Outcomes

• Illustration and discussion of the nature of gaps and barriers in current practice, and how to address these.
• Recommendations and examples on how to act on weaknesses by national and local governments
• Proposals for how disaster risk reduction could best be reflected in the post-2015 development agenda and sustainable development goals

Relevance of the nitiative:
To obtain suggestions for the “HFA 2” priorities and implementation mechanism from the perspective of Governments

Links post-HFA to consultations (“HFA 2”) on disaster risk reduction with the post-2015 development agenda and Rio+20 outcomes on sustainable development.

Chair/Moderator/Faciliator

Moderator: Mr. Omar Samad, Afghanistan Senior Expert, USA (Moderator)

Speakers (as at 19 May 2013):

• Ms. Jian Li, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Civil Affairs, People’s Republic of China
• Mr. A.K. Mangotra, Secretary, Ministry of Home Ministry, India
• H.E. Dr. Terezya Huvisa, Minister of State for the Environment, United Republic of Tanzania
• Cel. Sergio Simoes, Brazil, Head of Civil Protection, Brazil
• Hon. Bilal Hamad, Mayor of Beirut, Lebanon
• Dr. Fuat Oktay, Director General AFAD, Republic of Turkey
• Mr. Ricardo Toro, Head, National Office of Emergency of the Interior Ministry (ONEMI), Chile

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