Integrating regional response mechanisms into the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific
In a decisive move to combat the effects of climate change and disasters, Pacific Leaders endorsed the world's first ever integrated regional framework to build resilience to climate change and disasters at the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) late last year. The endorsement of the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Framework) came at the end of an extensive and inclusive three-year consultation process undertaken with Pacific Island countries and territories including significant contribution by Red Cross, civil society, regional organisations and other sectors.
The Framework aims to ensure that climate change and disasters are understood as a development challenge with priority actions to address vulnerability to climate change and disasters and build resilience across all sectors. It also provides high level voluntary guidance to national governments, the private sector, civil society organisations, Pacific communities, regional partners, and development partners. The Framework will be rolled out in the Pacific under the guidance of a Pacific Resilience Partnership group which is currently in formation.
The endorsement of the Framework heralds a more sustained, proactive and collaborative approach by Pacific Leaders to work as a regional bloc, with both traditional and non-traditional partners, in addressing matters related to climate change and disaster risk management. It is also largely a recognition of the fact that no one government or agency can combat these issues alone, in order to be successful, all sectors must collaborate and work together. Strides were taken in 2012 when Pacific Leaders endorsed the development of the integrated Framework, and in addition, encouraged Pacific governments to consider the IDRL Guidelines and take steps to strengthen their disaster laws with the support of the IFRC, their Red Cross national societies and other partners.
The IFRC was invited to attend the Pacific Leaders annual meeting in FSM, as well as present a paper on civil society priorities in climate change and disaster risk management, which included a proposal for a regional response mechanism for disasters in the Pacific submitted by the IFRC and a consortium of humanitarian agencies. The proposal was met with strong support from Leaders and it was agreed that such a mechanism should sit under the gambit of the Framework to allow for maximum collaboration and resourcing.
The IFRC will continue to work closely with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat on the roll out of the Framework including the regional response mechanism, as these are frameworks under which Pacific Red Cross play an integral role.