Inter-Agency Task Force

On Disaster Reduction

7th meeting

10-11 April 2003

ISDR Secretariat briefing

“Disasters remain an obstacle for development”

Trends in impact of disasters vs. conflictMore than 90% of disaster related deaths in developing countries

Number of persons affected annually (in millions) 1991 - 2000

0

50

100

150

200

1

in m

illi

on

s

Natural disasters Conflicts (OCHA figures)

188 million

31 million

u

Disaster impacts

0

1

2

3

1970-79 1980-89 1990-99

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

Dead Affected population

in million in million

Dea

d

Aff

ecte

d p

op

ula

tio

n0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

1970-79 1980-89 1990-99

0100200300400500600700800

Number of disasters Economic losses

in million

Economic losses related to number of disasters

Eco

no

mic

lo

sses

Nu

mb

er o

f d

isas

ters

Less people dead by disasters, but increased number of disasters, economic losses and affected population.

Current trends in impact of disasters

Source: OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database

International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

Key Objectives:

• Raise awareness –disaster risk reduction part of sustainable development

• Increase commitment from public authorities -national and local• Stimulating interdisciplinary and intersectoral partnerships and

networking among various sectors and levels• Improve scientific and technical knowledge

“ISDR aims at building resilient communities with the goal of reducing human, social, economic

and environmental losses due to disasters from natural hazards and related environmental and

technological disasters”

UN/ISDR functions- “core and non-core” or…less and more outreach?

Advocacy, Coordination, Information management

Support international cooperation for enhanced early warning capacity and to educe impact of El Niño

• Need to prioritize according to GA mandates; however, dependency on voluntary contributions follow other priorities

• Review of our workplan vs. availability of resources- and distribution of responsibilities

Basic priorities: inter-agency support,

public awareness, policy support to

national platforms, clearinghouse, GA

reporting

Other priorities: support to IATF WG,

publications & dissemination in more

languages, regional outreach, special

policy or technical networking support

Added value of ISDR and of the Secretariat: a global and regional platform for exchange and inter-agency collaboration

• Increased and enhanced advocacy: globally, transferable to regional and national needs

• Policy and inter-agency coordination and integration: Platform to develop coherence and guidance to a wide range of approaches and methodologies available- and those emerging in the field of disaster risk reduction; integration among sectors: agriculture, education, health, etc.

• Information clearinghouse: Hub in an international network for disaster risk reduction expertise at all levels (international, regional, national, local)

Increasing expectations on UN/ISDR

Examples:• UN policy (starting with tripartite OCHA/UNDP/ISDR)• National platforms-(guidance, support, info. exchange)• WSSD follow-up, including sectoral (water….) and partnerships

(early warning….), climate change adaptation, urban management

• Yokohama review and “road-map” for the future (‘Living with Risk’, Programme of Action)

• Information services (guidance-coherence, monitoring, reporting, information products)

Increasing requests from UN GA, global community/partners, governments, educational institutions, development agents….to provide guidance and coherence on disaster risk reduction

Advocacy: Public awareness

Campaign 2003 Living with risk – Turning the tide on disasters towards sustainable development• Theme Turning the tide – water related disasters, 90% of losses…

increasing vulnerability and extreme climatic events • Ongoing until next year- Water Day 22 March 2004

UN-Sasakawa Award on Disaster Reduction- an importantpromotional tool- for best practices

Achievements: Improved ISDR Highlights plus wider dissemination, info material, articles, media contacts, regional magazines (LAC and Africa…)

Challenges: Wider outreach and committing national authorities and other agencies to buy into the campaigns

Advocacy: public commitment

Promote public commitment- at national and regional level

Achievements: • Some new national platforms (mostly developed countries yet) –

and increasing request for support• Planned activities to support specific developing countries with

UNDP (ex: Djibouti, Algeria, Central America)

Challenges: • Increase policy & advocacy support for multisectoral national

platforms (also with UNDP)• Involve national committees/ platforms to perform self-assessments

and reports, and increase recording of disaster events (with CRED, EM-DAT)

Advocacy: education and trainingEducational tools:Riskland game and booklet, Sp, Eng, Port. Programmatic approach

Training (fellowship from OCHA)… future potential, to support officials from developing countries

Achievements: • Collaboration with UNICEF in LAC, dissemination of Riskland game• Soap opera- wide dissemination and demand to produce in English

and on other hazards• Revitalized the fellowship programme (OCHA, former DHA)

Challenges: Increase the outreach to educational community

Coordination

Inter-Agency Task Force support and follow-up

Institutional agreements- and collaboration enhanced with other organizations within and outside the UN (new: UN/HABITAT,

CEPREDENAC, Norway, Canada, …)

Achievements: • UNDP (several ongoing efforts) and ProVention in particular• Tripartite self-assessment ongoing OCHA/UNDP/ISDR• UNESCO: collaboration for Living with Risk and a pilot project to enhance the

experiences from RADIUS in a context of Safer Cities, also with UNCRD

Challenges:Ensure a UN system wide coherence and engagement

Support and facilitate the work of governments, relevant organizations, experts and practitioners of disaster reduction around the world on various subjects, in various sectors, and at various levels to achieve the objectives of the ISDR.

• Current achievements - fragmented action and understanding

• ISDR Living with Risk, UNDP WVR and Index, IFRC WDR – conclude: need for coherence, lack common understanding and structured approach to guide disaster risk reduction efforts and assess progress

• Opportunity: SG Mandate to undertake review of achievements since Yokohama Strategy and charter “road map” for the future

Why a global review since the adoption of the Yokohama Strategy 1994?

• To increase political commitment for implementation and financial allocation for disaster reduction, in response to the UN MDGs and WSSD

• To serve as guidance for policy makers and practitioners in disaster risk reduction and related areas, foster knowledge development

• To develop a monitoring and review system for assessing progress & support local, national, regional and global disaster reduction efforts-

Yokohama review and framework for guidance and monitoring of disaster risk reduction

Yokohama review : Next steps

• Request to governments for preparation of national reports, self-assessments, and regional and thematic reviews/reports (2nd edition of LwR) – national commitment

• Regional and thematic consultations based on a calendar of relevant events

• Elements for a programme of action for disaster risk reduction 2005-2015

• Second International Conference on Disaster Reduction (consolidating event/conference) Kobe, third week of January 2005, to chart future action and increased commitment.

Regional reviews, national input

Guidance & monitoring for disaster risk reduction

Final global event, political commitments

Contribution for national reporting and sectoral assessments; and support to regional action plans (by IATF members & others)

A common framework & info collection for Second version of Living with Risk, a global review, with UNDP, ProVention, WB, UNESCO & others

Decision by GA, Tent. Kobe, Japan, 3rd week Jan. 2005 Expected programme for action 2005-2015 “road map”

The process in 2003 – 2005: IATF to guide and advice on the process and outcome

Framework for guidance and monitoring of disaster risk reduction Aim: Encourage, promote & guide disaster risk reduction practices

OBJECTIVES of the proposed process

• Develop a conceptual framework for increased common understanding/coherence and effectiveness of DRR practices

• Guide & compare policies & activities over time

• Progressively define benchmarks and indicators to assess progress

KEY BENEFICIARIES

•Primary focus: Governments and UN/international organizations, & decision-makers in public and private sectors

•Also useful for project managers and field practitioners (agencies and development banks), NGOs, educators, students & researchers

Framework development....Process and Implementation

• First draft: UN/ISDR and UNDP- comments from ProVention members and IATF WG3 and drought ad-hoc group

• Continued extensive iterative and interactive discussion, based in reality of practice

• Technical development of the framework, involving key actors from IATF, UN, regional and national levels

• Take into account a wide range of relevant activities/processes (climate change adaptation, sustainable development)

• Feed back from IATF, WGs and other regional consultations and thematic meetings (Yokohama review, EWCII)

• Use as backbone for reporting during review of Yokohama & and benchmarking for future programme of action and to help govenrmentst and agencies inm planning and self-assessment

Political/governance CommitmentPolicy and planningLegislationResources

Institutional OrganizationalNormative frameworkMonitoring

Risk identification Risk assessment

Knowledge Information management and communicationdevelopment Education and training

Public awarenessResearch

Risk management Environmental managementapplications Social protection and safety nets(Social, financial, Financial instrumentsenvironmental, Land use planningtechnical aspects) Physical/structural measures

Early warning systemsPreparedness and emergency management

(the matrix also include characteristics and criteria for benchmarks)

Current categories and components

Societal CONTEXTSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• Social-cultural• Political•Economic•Ecosystems

RISK FACTORS- Vulnerability

•Social•Economic•Physical•Environmental

- Hazards•Geological •Hydrometeorological•Biological•Environmental•Technological

DISASTERIMPACTS

APPLICATION OFRISK REDUCTION MEASURES•Environmental management aspects•Financial aspects•Social aspects and safety nets•Land use planning•Protection of critical facilities

- Structural Measures•Networks and partnerships

EARLY WARNINGPREPAREDNESS

Hazard analysis

Vulnerability/capabilities analysis

AWARENESSfor change in behaviour

KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT•Education, training•Research•Information•Networking

PUBLIC COMMITMENTGlobal, regional, national, local•Institutional framework •Policy development•Legislation and codes•Community actionsRISK ASSESSMENT

RESPONSE

RECOVERY

From “Living with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction initiatives”, Preliminary version 2002

Draft FRAMEWORK FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION (LwR)

Second Early Warning Conference

• Major thematic event in 2003• Conference hosted by Germany, 15-19 October

in Bonn• Prepared by Planning Committee with relevant

expert institutions (UNEP, FAO, WMO, UNESCO, UNDP, WFP, UN/ECE, OOSA, OCHA, UNV, ICSU, UNCCD, GFZ, DKKV...)

• A very tangible result of IATF/WG 2: an international programme on EW to support integration of EW in public policy & implementation of EW world wide

Information managementAchievements: ISDR Information System • proposal for ISDR international resource centre under formulation and

discussed with key partners (UNDP, OCHA and ProVention Consortium..)- draft available.

• databases on disaster reduction expertise, websites and resource centre capacities are being substantively enhanced.

Challenge:

Ensure facilities

(resources) in Geneva

I nformation Clearinghouse for Disaster Reduction

1INFORMATION

SYSTEM (Phase 1)

2SPECIALIZED

LIBRARY(with UN Library)

3WEBSITES

(global and regional)

4NETWORKING

Launch: African outreach programme• Office opened in Nairobi Oct. 2002- with support from UNEP &

UNOPS, in close collaboration with UNDP, developing contacts with sub regional organizations (IGAD, SADC, ECOWAS…) and collaboration with OCHA & UN/HABITAT

• Focusing on enhancing capacities in sub-regions and fostering partnerships

• Advocacy and awareness-raising material

Achievements:• Workshops: with IGAD, in Djibouti (+ national platform)• Sub-regional agreements and reviews: ECOWAS• Initiative with African Development Bank to promote disaster risk

management into development planning and programmes in particular, for NEPAD

• Website and information material in production

Consolidation: LAC outreach programme• Useful as model (for Africa and other)• Focusing on advocacy, educational and awareness tools-

coordination for development of content and production- outreach and dissemination

• Early warning and El Niño (CIIFEN in Guayaquil)- advocacy and institutional support

• Partnership building – UNDP, PAHO/WHO, UNICEF, ECLAC, IOM, regional and sub-regional organizations ACS, CDERA, CAN, CEPREDENAC…

Achievements:• Radio soap opera Tiempos de Huracanes (an inter-agency

initiative of UN/ISDR with PAHO, IOM, CEPREDENAC) was broadcast by 46 radio stations throughout Central America, and many other LAC countries- new themes and languages planned

• Riskland game- translations, dissemination- with UNICEF

Asia & Pacific coordination

Achievements:• Asia:

Consultations and coordination with UNDP/BCPR, ESCAP and ADPC in Bangkok (November 2002), ADRC, UNCRD, UNU, OCHA in Kobe, Japan, for joint activity planning. Expected shared staff resource with OCHA placed in Kobe (later in 2003)

• South Pacific:

Partnership with SOPAC and Pacific Island Countries: renewed interest in the establishment of a UN/ISDR outpost for the Pacific with possible support from Australia and New Zealand

Formulation: Europe outreach programme• Formulation of regional outreach programme for Europe (including

Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean basin, possibly CIS & other neighbouring regions).

• Facilitation of an integrated European strategy for disaster reduction (currently a goal for the European Commission and a requirement advocated by several EU countries).

• Coordination with Council of Europe (Ministerial meeting in Bandol, October 2002)

• Strengthening of European ISDR network (Bonn meeting with EC + Switzerland national platforms, Jan 2003)

Achievements:• Agreement with EC/Joint Research Centre (study on the interrelation

between natural and technological disasters –NATECHs-, and other joint undertakings)

• Organization of a Euro-Mediterranean conference on disaster reduction in Madrid in October 2003

Internal management

• Staff retreat: planning and teambuilding, optimize and integrate activities

• Staffing: new Japanese JPO (half time WMO) senior advisor on Climate from IRI/Columbia University short-term interns new public awareness officer & info support joint consultant with UNESCO

• UN OIOS management audit: report will be available soon

Finance-resourcing 2003

0

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

BU

DG

ET

(2

00

3)

CO

NT

RIB

UT

ION

SR

ec

eiv

ed

(2

00

3)

CO

NT

RIB

UT

ION

SP

led

ge

d (

20

03

)

CORE

Outreach

Challenges:• cash-flow problems • 2002: 85% budget covered; • 2003: 57% received/pledged, 14% April• 2004: 20% pledged only …..

ISDR's BUDGET AND CONTRIBUTIONS (as at 7 April 2003)

BUDGET (2003)CONTRIBUTIONS Received (2003)

CONTRIBUTIONS Pledged (2003)

CORE 2,945,897 73,069 1,077,428

Outreach 1,490,765 526,286 837,018

TOTAL 4,436,662 599,355 1,914,446

Challenges for the IATF/DR 2003 & beyond:

• Develop a programme of work for the IATF 2004-2005:– identify gaps to address & recommendations: WSSD follow-up, linking

to climate change adaptation/extreme climatic events, urban risk…• Guidance to the ISDR Secretariat and major processes:

– global reporting jointly with partners, – preparation & follow-up of major Conferences (Bonn, Kobe…); – guidance & monitoring framework (benchmarks &indicators,

development planning, capacity building…)• Develop a sustainable institutional and financial basis for

implementation of the ISDR and its mechanisms: IATF/DR, UN/ISDR, national platforms and networks…– financial challenges include: UN regular budget, funding from

development and environment programmes…– institutional challenges: solid base within the United Nations with

active participation of technical/specialized networks and civil society • ENHANCE & SUPPORT COHERENCE FOR POLICY

DEVELOPMENT WITHIN UN & BEYOND TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE DISASTER RISK REDUCTION WORLD WIDE