April 2004 - United Nations Office for Disaster Risk … TF...climate related hazards. Various...

Information Note

“Disaster reduction, including reducing vulnerability to natural disasters, is an important elementthat contributes to the achievement of sustainable development…although natural disasters damage

the social and economic infrastructure of all countries, the long-term consequences of naturaldisasters are especially severe for developing countries and hamper the achievement of their

sustainable development.”

UN General Assembly A/RES/58/214February 2004

Purpose StatementThe ISDR secretariat is a catalyst to advance and facilitate the realisation of the ISDR worldwide,

striving to mobilize commitment and resources for disaster risk reduction through partnerships atinternational, regional and national levels.

Inter-Agency Secretariat of theInternational Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR)

for the period 1 November 2003 – 30 April 2004

Table of Contents

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1The global context - growing threat from natural hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Options for action to reduce their impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1A renewed vision and strategy for the future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

2. Progress and potential of the ISDR - organizational strengthening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3Resource base for the ISDR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

3. Key achievements for the period 1 November 2003 - 30 April 2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Preparations for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8National advocacy and platforms for disaster reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Strategies on climate risk and changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Early warning platform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Regional ISDR outreach capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

4. Impacts against the ISDR strategic framework and workplan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Focus area: Policy and strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Framework for guidance and monitoring of disaster risk reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction in UN bodies and the sustainabledevelopment agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Small island developing states . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Humanitarian coordination and agenda - IASC Task Force on Natural Disasters . . . .16Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Policy and strategy in Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Policy and strategy in Latin America and the Caribbean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Focus area: Advocacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Global public awareness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18Regional advocacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Focus area: Information and networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Synthesized information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21ISDR Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Focus area: Partnerships for application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Regional partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Practical applications - good practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

5. The way forward and continuing challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

List of Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

AnnexesAnnex 1 Current draft of framework for disaster risk reduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Annex 2 ISDR Strategic Framework with priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Annex 3 Financial overview - contributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

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1Introduction

The global context – growing threat fromnatural hazards

Disasters are causing debilitating impacts ondeveloping countries and the livelihoods ofhundreds of millions, affecting in particular thepoor and making sure they remain poor.Developed countries are also suffering increasinglyfrom economic losses, due mainly to the impact ofclimate related hazards. Various countries haverecognized the importance of reducing risk tonatural hazards and addressing vulnerabilities,demonstrated by their inclusion in developmentand poverty plans. Some have actuallyimplemented initiatives aimed at vulnerability andrisk reduction, while others remain in the earlystages of policy development and are yet toactually take action. Bilateral donors andinternational financing institutions have alsoshown signs of addressing these issues by taking amore holistic approach to supporting disaster riskreduction.

However, much remains to be done to identifyand share lessons as well as the benefits disasterrisk reduction among all actors. The WorldConference on Disaster Reduction (Kobe, Hyogo,Japan, 18-22 January 2005) presents a milestoneopportunity in that respect.

The tragic earthquake that struck Bam, Iran inDecember 2003 made international headlines withmore than 25,000 people killed and over US$ 1billion in losses in the city that was almost totallydestroyed. Smaller but still damaging earthquakesoccurred in Algeria, China, Morocco, Pakistan,Turkey and USA.

Equally worrying are the massive losses anddestruction resulting from other disastersoccurring during the same period. These includethe severe and costly urban wildfires in Californiaand Arizona, USA; cold winter temperaturesacross several South Asian countries; and typhoon

Heta that hit several Pacific island states. Thecontinuing drought in Southern African countriesas well as in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Sudan hasresulted in acute food shortages, and is furtheraggravated by the widespread social and economicconsequences of HIV/AIDS infection. Climaticconditions brought flood conditions inAfghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Australia,Bolivia, Canada, Indonesia, Mexico, NewZealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines,Turkey, Uganda and Vietnam.

These disasters serve as a grim reminder thathazards still – and increasingly so – threatencountries in all parts of the world. Perhaps morecrucial is the knowledge that the professionalexperience and means already exist to identify,assess and manage risk to hazards. Asdemonstrated by the Bam earthquake – as did theAlgerian, Italian and Turkish earthquakes of thepreceding two years – reducing disaster risks isless a matter of access to technical expertise; rather,it depends on the extent of political and publiccommitment, public awareness, appropriateresource allocation and sustainable institutionalstructures to maximise existing capacities andcapabilities.

Options for action to reduce their impact

The on-going task of reviewing the implementationof the 1994 Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Actionclearly illustrate the above-mentioned points byhighlighting good practices that have beenemployed by some countries. Adopting a long-term,strategic and systematic approach to disasterreduction, incorporating risk management practicesas a fundamental responsibility of national planningand sustainable development policies, andcapitalizing on the value of regional motivationimplemented over a longer-termed period emergeas important recommendations for more resilientand therefore safer societies.

The 2004 version of Living with Risk: A globalreview of disaster reduction initiatives will beavailable for purchase from UN Sales Publicationsin June 2004. It contains up-to-date informationon trends, disaster reduction options and examplesfrom regional, national and local achievements inthis area. The ISDR-UNDP framework fordisaster risk reduction (appearing in Living withRisk; also see annex 1), formulated through broadconsultation and information collected for thepublication has evolved and is proving to serve asa valuable tool to guide and monitor disaster riskreduction, including in the compilation of theYokohama Strategy and Plan of Action.

A renewed vision and strategy for the future

The ISDR secretariat strongly believes thatprogress in disaster risk reduction can only occurthrough wide global support and the developmentof strong and sustainable partnerships. Thisinformation note highlights the achievements of a

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Introduction

variety of institutions and programmes, withwhom the secretariat engaged in results-orientedrelationships, including particular members of theInter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction(IATF/DR), the Provention Consortium and afew others.

Efforts to develop a new thrust for globalguidance on disaster reduction for the next decade– as specified by the UN General Assemblyresolution A/RES/58/214 – should provide aquantum leap in global thinking and commitmentto disaster risk reduction. On-going consultationson a globally acceptable framework for disasterrisk reduction, the review of Yokohama Strategyand Plan of Action and the planning of the WorldConference on Disaster Reduction, Kobe, Hyogo,January 2005, Japan are expected to lead to asubstantive implementation mechanism to translatewords and intentions into action in the comingyears with a view to achieve the objectives of theJohannesburg Plan of Implementation and theMillennium Development Goals set for 2015.

Living with Risk- Global review of disaster reduction initiativesThe 2004 version is finalized and abstracts are available on-line (seewww.unisdr.org). This version is issued in two volumes, and it includes new sectionson local authorities and research, as well as a detailed thematic index for easysearches and an updated terminology. It will be available for purchase from UN salespublications in June 2004.

Living with Risk will be translated and adapted in Spanish, with the support from theMultinational Andean-Canadian project “Geosciences for Andean Communities(MAP:GAC) and the Regional Disaster Information Centre (CRID), involving Argentina,Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela which adopted Livingwith Risk as a “text book” to guide the implementation of its programme.

An agreement between UNDP/BCPR and the ISDR secretariat has been reached on an approach for futurereports, building on the UNDP global report: Reducing disaster risk: A challenge for development, which waslaunched worldwide in February 2004, and Living with Risk. The Disaster Risk Index developed by UNDP andUNEP/GRID will be further developed, as well as good practices and monitoring of the agreements reached at theWCDR. The joint reporting will start in 2005.

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2Progress and potential of the ISDR - organizational strengthening

In addition to the development of a new work-programme and modalities for 2004 for the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction, theISDR secretariat developed a strategic frameworkto better carry out its mandates and strategic aimsof the ISDR, with a greater emphasis on a needs-driven, results-based approach.Important features of the framework include:

• A more explicit role in stimulating andsupporting the development of a strong policybasis for disaster risk reduction, and inidentifying and responding to emergingopportunities and impediments in respect todisaster risk reduction.

• Recognition of the secretariat’s role to facilitateor support numerous projects in regions andcountries, but as a secondary partner and withthe aim to achieve value-adding, leveraging, andtesting and demonstration of risk reductionpolicies and methods.

• Coordination and regional outreach remain asimportant as ever, but they are not identified asfocus areas; instead they are seen as natural andessential complementary means to achieveprogress on all of the outcomes.

Another major feature of the ISDR secretariat isthe development and support of partnerships andnetworks. The IATF/DR members and regionalactors are the primary partners with whom tosecure reliable and longer-term working modalities.The IATF/DR-8 session recognized the catalyticrole the secretariat plays in facilitating team-building among Task Force members, UN,regional and civil society organizations.

In order to serve more effectively IATF/DRmembers and the wider global disaster riskreduction community, the ISDR secretariat

undertook an organizational development processto enhance on an ongoing basis its skills andcapacities. A new output-based managementsystem is being developed. The system rests on theidentification of specific outputs and priorities withkey partners and staff involved, detailed workplansper output, and individual staff plans. An internalmethod for evaluation of priorities and resourceallocations complements the system, which recordsregularly any changes and will soon becomecomputer-based.

One critical aspect is to better identify and measureimpacts of the work of the secretariat, and in thisregard, measurement tools are being developed,including:

• survey of UN Member States to determineprogress in disaster reduction and identify goodpractices to promote further;

• development of a database on impacts ofUN/ISDR’s work and preparation of an annualreview of the work accomplished;

• periodic assessment of progress through theglobal review process accompanying the Livingwith Risk publication, to be developed jointlywith UNDP;

• internal UN indicator-based performancemanagement;

• monitoring of indicators for each outcome of thesecretariat’s workplan; and

• external evaluation on the impact of the Strategyas implemented by partners at all levels, and thework of the secretariat, in particular inpromoting, facilitating, mobilizing andsupporting the advancement of disaster riskreduction. Eventually, specific indicators beingcurrently developed should allow for assessinghow effectively risk and vulnerability to naturalhazards are being reduced.

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Progress and potential of the ISDR - organizational strengthening

Resource base for ISDR

The ISDR secretariat launched a fundraisingdocument in December 2003 for the biennium2004-2005 entitled: An open opportunity to reducedisaster impacts. Request for funding to support theInternational Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR)and its secretariat.

Donor support for both core activities and theISDR regional outreach programmes, in 2004, hasbeen increasing steadily. The United Kingdom

continues to be the major donor with the benefitsof multi-year commitment and un-earmarkedfunding. The Government of the United States hascontributed for the first time since the inception ofthe UN/ISDR; the Governments of Canada,Japan, Norway and South Africa have againcontributed after a period of absence; and theGovernments of Germany, Sweden, Switzerland,and the United Kingdom have continued toprovide support on an annual basis (see annex 3,table of contributions attached).

Overview of long-term impacts of ISDR work

DDR = Disaster Risk Reduction

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2The Government of Japan contributed specificallyfor the preparations of the World Conference onDisaster Reduction, both for the additional work ofthe ISDR secretariat and for the costs of holdingthe first preparatory committee in Geneva (UNconference services).

Additionally, a contribution from the UnitedKingdom through the Department of InternationalDevelopment (DFID) Policy Division was made tothe ISDR secretariat to spearhead a multi-stakeholder consultative process on the linkagesbetween climate change, disaster risk reduction anddevelopment policy agendas. This contribution,along with a contribution from the Government ofSwitzerland (in 2003) to enhance the ISDRinformation system, both come from non-humanitarian budget sources, which is a positivedevelopment in broadening the donor-base andidentify funding opportunities for disaster riskreduction and UN/ISDR from new and additionalsources.

Although progress is being made in the area ofresource mobilization and despite the increaseddonor support it should be pointed out thatUN/ISDR continues to face challenges in this area.Areas identified for strengthening, are:

• development of similar approaches to that ofGood Humanitarian Donorship as well asdurable, collaborative relationships with donors,which should extend into sectoral, developmentand multilateral funding in addition tohumanitarian sources;

• balanced (unearmarked and earmarked) andincreased funding on a predictable andsustainable basis;

• multi-year commitments; and• joint fundraising initiative with UNDP and

OCHA, including access to UN regular budget.

In order to achieve this it is clear that theUN/ISDR will need to work more closely with the

donor community focusing on needs basedmultilateral support while simultaneously buildingmutually beneficial partnerships towards commonresults to enhance the implementation of disasterrisk reduction.

The funding requirements for the biennium 2004-2005 as set out in the fundraising document are asfollows:

In-kind contributions have also been received.The Government of Switzerland has providedsupport to UN/ISDR organizational development;the Government of Canada through theMultinational Andean-Canadian project“Geosciences for Andean Communities (MAP:GAC) has provided support to translate the newversion of Living with Risk: A global review ofdisaster reduction initiatives (2004) in Spanish.

UNDP is also co-funding several initiatives atregional scale in Africa with the ISDR secretariat,and will fund translation of the ISDR Informs forAsia.

World Conference on Disaster ReductionAdditional funding requirements for the effectiveholding and preparation of the World Conferenceon Disaster Reduction (WCDR) have been

1UN/ISDR biennialestimated

requirements

In USD 2004-2005Biennium% covered

2004-2005as of 30 April

% covered

Baseline budget 9,598,000 48% 70%

Additional needs –special priorities*

2,913,000 26% 35%

Total requirements 12,511,000 43% 60%

Special priorities identified are:• organizational development• information management system• global guidance and framework for disaster risk reduction• regional outreach programmes• early warning promotion programme

Public-private partnership and resource-mobilizationThe ISDR secretariat has engaged in a partnershipwith the UK based Tudor Rose publisher to jointlyprepare, publish and disseminate a book on disasterrisk reduction practices, building on the globalreview of ISDR and good practices. As acontribution to ISDR Tudor Rose will carry outthe fundraising work with private sponsors for thepublication.

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Progress and potential of the ISDR - organizational strengthening

identified jointly between the ISDR secretariat andthe UN Conference Service. Japan has committedto covering the main costs for the Conference itself,including basic support to the ISDR secretariatand UN conference services, travel for delegatesfrom LDC countries to the Conference. Additionalresources for travel of delegates from developingcountries to the preparatory committee sessions inGeneva, and to the Conference itself in Kobe,Hyogo is sought, as well as additional resources forsupport to preparatory regional and thematicmeetings, national reporting analysis and moreresources for translation into UN officiallanguages. The total budget to include all theseneeds has been estimated to approximately 5.0million USD, to which Japan has offered tocontribute half of that amount (2.5 million USD).UNDP has allocated a considerable amount offunding to the preparatory process for WCDR, inparticular, to support developing countries in theirpreparation of national information, as well as theirparticipation (see Annex 3, table of contributionsattached).

World Conference onDisaster Reduction

In USD % % coveredas of 30

Total estimatedrequirements

5,006,204 18%

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3Key achievements for the period 1 November 2003 - 30 April 2004

This section highlights the key-achievements during the last six months, matching the workplan priorities.Other important outputs and achievements against the ISDR workplan are reported in section 4.

Areas of activity:• Preparations for the World Conference on Disaster Reduction• Review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action• National advocacy and platforms for disaster reduction• Strategies on climate risk and change• Early warning platform• Regional ISDR outreach capacities

Preparations for the World Conference onDisaster Reduction

In December 2003 the UN General Assemblyadopted two resolutions in support of theInternational Strategy for Disaster Reduction.Previously postponed in 2002 (when the GA tookthe decision to conduct the review of theYokohama Strategy and Plan of Action), resolutionA/RES/58/214 conveyed the decision to convenethe World Conference on Disaster Reduction inKobe, Hyogo (18-22 January 2005). Prior to theadoption of the resolution, UN Member Statesengaged in long discussions among UN MemberStates on the purpose, focus and level of the WorldConference, as well as the relevance in its timing.

As stated in the resolution, the World Conferenceis expected to bring about concrete changes andresults in the form of specific guidance andmechanisms to help countries and organizationsachieve significant progress in reducing risk fromnatural and technological hazards. The mainobjectives of the World Conference are toconclude the review of the 1994 YokohamaStrategy and Plan of Action and identify activitiesaimed at ensuring the implementation of relevantprovisions of the Johannesburg Plan ofImplementation.

In addition to deciding on the modalities andobjectives of the World Conference, the resolution

urges the secretariat to continue its work on criticalissues, including the consideration of disaster riskassessment as an integral component of developmentplans and poverty eradication programmes, theimportance of linking disaster risk management tosmall island developing states (SIDS) and regionalframeworks and the importance of integrating agender perspective in disaster reduction planningand implementation.

Addressing the latter, in April the ISDR secretariatco-sponsored a Regional Women’s Conference onGender and Disaster Reduction (for furtherinformation see section 4) to promote women’s activeparticipation in disaster risk reduction and advocatea gender-sensitive approach to disaster riskmanagement. The resulting policy recommendationswill feed into the World Conference outcomes.

The ISDR outreach unit in Nairobi is workingclosely with the NEPAD secretariat and otherrelevant partners in Africa to develop a specificstrategy for disaster risk reduction, and is servicingthe working group established by the IATF/DR forthis purpose.

On SIDS, the ISDR secretariat has been activelyinvolved with the SIDS secretariat (DESA) and thepreparatory consultations for the Mauritiusconference (Barbados + 10) to support theintegration of disaster risk reduction in the updatedstrategy and plan of action for SIDS.

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Key achievements for the period 1 November 2003 - 30 April 2004

A separate progress report is available onpreparation for the World Conference, which willbe presented at the first session of the PreparatoryCommittee (PrepCom 1, Geneva, 6-7 May),containing information from those regional andthematic consultations already held and will feedinto the World Conference outcomes (seedocument A/CONF.206/PC(I)/5 on the ISDR

website www.unisdr.org). In addition, severalregional and thematic consultations on othersubjects (since January 2003) have been co-sponsored by the ISDR secretariat and conductedby partners, with a compilation of their outcomeswithin the context of the Yokohama review as wellas the World Conference on Disaster Reduction.

In April the ISDR secretariat established a specialunit for the World Conference, with two staffposts (one senior and one junior) supported byJapan, as well as one senior coordinating postsupported by Switzerland. The unit’s task is toensure the smooth overall organization of theWorld Conference, involving preparations for thePreparatory Committee, mobilising resources insupport of the conference, logistical arrangements,managing substantive inputs, promotionalactivities in the lead up to and during the event.The unit acts as the focal point for all mattersrelating to the Conference, with support fromother ISDR secretariat staff engaged in theirregular functions.

The review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action

A first draft annotated outline of the review of theYokohama Strategy and Plan of Action (hereafterreferred to as the ‘Yokohama review’) will be madeavailable at the ninth session of the IATF/DR,and the outline and the process of requestingnational information for the review will bediscussed at PrepCom 1.

Building on information collected by the ISDRsecretariat over the last four years (in particular forthe preparation of Living with Risk: A global reviewof disaster reduction initiatives), the Yokohamareview was complemented by additional regionaland subregional studies undertaken throughout2003, in addition to regional consultations held

In its resolution 58/214 on the International Strategyfor Disaster Reduction (paragraph 7), the UNGeneral Assembly decided to convene a WorldConference on Disaster Reduction in 2005, at thesenior-official level, designed to foster specializeddiscussions and produce concrete changes andresults. Its objectives are:

• To conclude the review of the YokohamaStrategy and its Plan of Action, with a view toupdating the guiding framework on disasterreduction for the twenty-first century;

• To identify specific activities aimed at ensuringthe implementation of relevant provisions of theJohannesburg Plan of Implementation of theWorld Summit on Sustainable Development(“Johannesburg Plan of Implementation”) onvulnerability, risk assessment and disastermanagement;

• To share best practices and lessons learned tofurther disaster reduction, within the context ofattaining sustainable development, and to identifygaps and challenges;

• To increase awareness of the importance ofdisaster reduction policies, thereby facilitatingand promoting the implementation of thosepolicies;

• To increase the reliability and availability ofappropriate disaster-related information to thepublic and disaster management agencies in allregions, as set out in relevant provisions of theJohannesburg Plan of Implementation.’

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3Munich Re NatCatSERVICE®Natural disasters 1994 – 2003 – worldwideEconomic and insured losses*

Munich Re NatCatSERVICE®Natural disasters 1994 – 2003 – worldwideNumber of events

* Losses in original values © 2004 Geo Risks Research Dept., Munich Re

© 2004 Geo Risks Research Dept., Munich Re

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throughout in 2003 and 2004 in the context of theWorld Conference on Disaster Reduction.

The on-line conference co-organized by the ISDRsecretariat and UNDP in August 2003 furtherreinforced the relevance of those elements thatcomprise the framework to guide and monitordisaster risk reduction, used as a basis for theelaboration of the Yokohama review as well as theoutcomes of the World Conference.

Outputs and Impact:

• The Yokohama review represents one of themajor products of the World Conference process,in response to the UN General Assembly’srequest. It is the backbone against which actionand implementation of disaster risk reduction willbe planned and programmed for the future. Itwill also answer many of the questions regardingthe status of the subject as of today.

• An innovative public-private partnershipbetween the ISDR secretariat and a privateUK-based publisher Tudor Rose will publish abook in time for the World Conference,outlining the main findings and conclusionsresulting from the Yokohama review,accompanied by a collection of specific casestudies and focusing on good practicesprovided by countries, agencies and otherpartners. This endeavor will be fully fundedthrough sponsorships motivated by Tudor Rose.

National advocacy and platforms for disaster reduction

The ISDR secretariat has been engaged inenhancing its institutional national networks with aview to build and strengthen contact with nationalcounterparts through the establishment of nationalplatforms for the advancement of sound nationaland regional disaster reduction policies.

Regional meetings in Latin America (Mitch + 5,Honduras, December 2003; regional meeting ofcivil protection organizations, Santiago, Chile,March 2004) and Asia (ADRC annual meetingand 4th ISDR Asian Disaster ReductionConference, Cambodia, February 2004; ADPC4th Regional Consultative Committee on DisasterManagement, Bangladesh, March 2004) broughttogether many national agencies and the ISDRsecretariat to interact and promote nationalplatforms with key stakeholders. More recently,the meeting of European national platforms (BadHonnef, Germany, April 2004) offered a usefulopportunity to exchange experiences on thecurrent activities of national platforms.

These efforts are linked to the preparatory processfor the World Conference, in particular as theactive engagement of national authorities is crucialfor a successful event. With the task of compilingnational inputs for the World Conference, theISDR secretariat issued a formal request togovernments in early 2004 through PermanentMissions accredited in Geneva, with copies tonational platforms and UN Resident Coordinators(both documents are available on the ISDRwebsite www.unisdr.org). UNDP country officeshave offered invaluable support in ensuring thedissemination and compilation of national inputs.

Outputs and Impacts:

• Two new ISDR national platforms have beenestablished since November 2003, with severalother potential national platforms beingidentified. The Russian Federation establishedthe Commission of the Russian Federation for theImplementation of the ISDR under the Ministryof the Russian Federation for Civil Defense,Emergencies and Elimination of Consequencesof Natural Disasters (EMERCOM), and anew ISDR national platform was established inComoros in late 2003.

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3• A special effort is underway in Africa where the

UN/ISDR Africa is joining efforts withUNDP’s regional and national capacities tosupport the establishment of national platforms.To date, Burundi, the Republic of Congo,Ghana and Rwanda have made significantprogress in establishing national platforms fordisaster reduction. In Latin America,preliminary discussions with PREANDINO(Andean countries) focused on the developmentof national platforms within the context of theregional programme. Mexico and CentralAmerican countries are also looking into thepossibility of establishing national platforms,and Costa Rica has identified the ExecutiveBoard of the National Committee for RiskPrevention and Disaster Relief as potentialplatform. Macedonia and Mongolia are alsolooking to establish national platforms.

• Additional Governments have identified their“national focal points” for the ISDR, formallycommunicated to the secretariat through theirrespective Ministries of Foreign Affairs, thoughsome are yet to be formally recognized nationalplatforms for disaster reduction (see the ISDRwebsite www.unisdr.org for the updated list ofover 100 countries).

• A first draft of Guiding Principles wasdeveloped in consultation with existing nationalplatforms in November 2003 to assistGovernments in the establishment of theirnational platforms (see the ISDR websitewww.unisdr.org for the guiding principles).Country profiles on national platforms isexpected to appear shortly on the ISDRwebsite.

• The ISDR secretariat is preparing a first draftof “Cooperation between National Platformsand the ISDR secretariat”, in collaboration withthe German national platform, DKKV, to be

available for consultation by the end of May.A first draft for the cooperation amongst theEuropean network of existing nationalplatforms will be produced by the end ofApril using the outputs of the above-mentioned meeting of European nationalplatforms.

Strategies on climate risk and changes

Another GA Resolution on “Vulnerability toNatural Disasters” (A/RES/58/215) addressesthe important issue of reversing the negativeimpacts of extreme weather events andassociated natural disasters in particular indeveloping countries through theimplementation of the ISDR and encouragesthe IATF/DR to continue its work in thisregard. It extends the focus of the work toinclude activities on the effects of climatechange carried out under the UN FrameworkConvention on Climate Change and its KyotoProtocol and it also encourages theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change toassess the adverse effects of climate change onthe socio-economic and natural disasterreduction systems of developing countries.

The ISDR secretariat has been interacting withorganizations focusing on adaptation to climatechange reported in previous information notes.Activities in support of the UNFCCC processwere highlighted in the statement made by theISDR secretariat at the ninth session of theConference of the Parties in Milan, December2003. The conceptual and implementationchallenges for policy makers associated withclimate-related disaster reduction and thoseworking on adaptation to climate change aresimilar and will benefit from a coordinatedapproach to maximize resource use.

The ISDRsecretariat takes thisopportunity to callon Government totake the necessarysteps to establishofficial platforms fordisaster reductionand communicatetheir focal points tothe ISDRsecretariat.

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Activities to coordinate and promote disaster riskreduction as a climate change adaptation strategyinclude:

• The statement made during the Nineteenthsession of the Subsidiary Body for Scientificand Technical Advice at the ninth session of theConference of the Parties (COP-9) of theUnited Nations Framework Convention onClimate Change Convention (Milan, 1-9December 2003). For a copy of the statementplease contact the ISDR secretariat.

• The second edition of the regular newsletter onthe linkages between disaster risk reduction andclimate change adaptation initiatives, calledDR+CC infolink produced jointly with theIFRC Centre for Disaster Preparedness andClimate Change, in the Netherlands andUNDP (see www.unisdr.org).

• In addition, with the support of UK/DFID, theISDR secretariat is developing a consultativepolicy report, in collaboration with a number ofpartners and in particular the Vulnerability andAdaptation Resource Group of the WorldBank. The paper, to be presented at the tenthsession of the Conference of the Parties (COP-10) and the WCDR will address the linkagesbetween disaster risk reduction, adaptation toclimate change and sustainable development,including policy options and practical stepswithin these three areas for reducing risks inthe face of a variable and changing climate.

• The ISDR secretariat is also supporting agreater participation of disaster risk reductionexperts in the preparation of the fourthAssessment Report (AR4) of the IPCC.

• The activities carried out in this area by theISDR secretariat are building a greater

understanding and policy clarity on thelinkage between disaster risk reduction,climate change adaptation and thedevelopment community. This includes theidentification of initiatives, organisations andinstitutions involved and concerned withsuch a linkage. It gradually leads to theprovision for both communities of needs-assessment based practical tools.

Early warning platform

A summary report of the second InternationalConference on Early Warning (EWC-II) heldin Bonn, October 2003 and a CD-Romcompilation of the Conference documents werefinalized in partnership with the GermanCommittee for Disaster Reduction. With thesupport of the Government of Germany,considerable progress was made by the ISDRsecretariat toward developing the early warningplatform that was recommended by theconference. An office capacity is beingestablished in Bonn, an ad hoc experts meetingwas convened to provide guidance for theactivities that the platform will undertake, and aproject work programme for 2004 wasdeveloped.

The platform aims to sustain the dialogue onearly warning and related risk reduction, and toencourage the development of more systematicapproaches to the application of early warning.Specific tasks planned include establishing theplatform’s operational capacities and initialproducts, promoting early warning and itsintegration into key international policyprocesses, particularly those associated with theWorld Conference on Disaster Reduction, andgenerally stimulating dialogue and innovationon early warning through networking,information generation and partnerships.

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3Outputs and Impacts:

• These outcomes of EWC-II will materiallyraise the profile of early warning. The platformincreases the resources and effort that thesecretariat can contribute to early warning andrisk reduction, and an ISDR secretariatpresence in Bonn will strengthen interactionswith several key UN institutions there, notablythe secretariat of the UN FrameworkConvention on Climate Change, (UNFCCC),the secretariat of the UN Convention forCombating Desertification (UNCCD), UnitedNations Volunteers (UNV), and the UnitedNations University’s Institute for Environmentand Human Security.

Regional ISDR outreach capacities

The regional dimension of promoting policy andstrategies for disaster risk reduction, carrying outpublic awareness and building partnerships has

proven very powerful in Africa, as well as in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean, where the ISDRsecretariat has established outreach programmesand offices, based in Nairobi and San Josérespectively.

For the first time, ISDR now counts on seedfunding to support similar activities in the growingpartnership in Asia as well with financial supportfrom Sweden and Norway, functioning shortlymainly out of Bangkok, Thailand, and Tajikistanfor Central Asia. A shared staff resource withOCHA to be based in Kobe, Japan, is also in thephase of recruitment with the support from Japanto OCHA and UN/ISDR.

The implementation of ISDR is being promotedactively in the South Pacific though thepartnership with SOPAC.

For more information on activities, outputs andimpact in the respective regions, this informationis presented in the following section.

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4Impacts against the ISDR strategicframework and workplan

This section provides additional information on main activities and outputs during the reporting period, whichhave not already been mentioned in the previous sections of this report. It is based on the strategic frameworkof the ISDR secretariat.

Focus area: Policy and strategy advocacy:

Framework for Guidance and Monitoring of DisasterRisk Reduction

Efforts by the ISDR secretariat and UNDP arecontinuing in the development of an internationallyendorsed and applied framework as a tool to aidunderstanding and guide action in disaster riskreduction (see annex 1). This initiative has beenparticularly useful for the Yokohama review andpreparations of the World Conference.


• The framework for disaster risk reductiondeveloped with UNDP has already shown itsadded value helping to structure Yokohama review,to organize issues to be addressed at the WorldConference and guide the establishment ofnational platforms for disaster risk reduction.

• Furthermore it guided initial identification of thecore priorities for action for the next ten years to beconsidered by the Preparatory Committee in itspreparation of the World Conference substantiveoutcome document.

• Noteworthy the priority topics overlap with theactions identified in the Johannesburg Plan ofImplementation, but also with a review of pastinter-governmental decisions, declarations andplans of action addressing disaster risk reduction.The framework is under regular scrutiny byexperts, and will be further enhanced through thediscussions with Governments throughout theyear, with the aim of developing into a planningand monitoring tool to be adapted to suit widelydiffering national circumstances and capacities.

This areaaddresses thesecretariat’s role instimulating thedevelopment of astrong policy basisfor disaster riskreduction, and inidentifyingemergingopportunities andimpediments forimplementation ofdisaster riskreduction.

Mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction in UNbodies and the sustainable development agenda

Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)In 2003 the CSD concluded its first meetingsince the Johannesburg Summit with anagreement on its future programme andorganization of work for the next 15 years.

The Commission now functions on the basisof two-year “Implementation Cycles”,addressing a number of cross-cutting issuesduring its Review and Policy Years. TheReview Year will evaluate progress made inimplementing sustainable development goalsand identifying obstacles and constraints,while the Policy Year will decide onmeasures to speed up implementation andmobilize action to overcome these obstaclesand constraints.

For the first two-year cycle (2004-2005), theCSD is focussing on water, sanitation andhuman settlements. Most noteworthy is thatdisaster management and vulnerability willbe covered in 2014-2015.

Output and Impact:

• The ISDR secretariat has provided inputsto the reviews on water, sanitation andhuman settlements in collaboration withUnited Nations Department and SocialAffairs and contributed to the discussionsat CSD-12, 14-30 April 2004. As aresult, disaster risk reduction isrecognised as a cross cutting issue in allthree themes.

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Impacts against the ISDR strategicframework and workplan

Small island developing states (SIDS)

In the same year as the first World Conference onNatural Disaster Reduction held in Yokohama in1994, Governments and internationalorganizations made a global commitment towardssustainable development of small islanddeveloping states.

The Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA)noted that natural disasters are of special concernto SIDS and called for assistance in establishingand/or strengthening national and regionalinstitutional mechanisms and policies designed toreduce the impacts of natural disasters, improvedisaster preparedness and integrate natural disasterconsiderations in development planning, includingthrough providing access to resources for disastermitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

While many of the priorities set out in 1994 arestill valid today, the BPoA+10 and thepreparations of the upcoming World Conferenceon Disaster Reduction provide an opportunity toredefine future actions and increase commitmentsfor disaster risk reduction. This is crucial for smallislands particularly vulnerable to natural disastersdue to climate variability and change.

Output and Impact:

• To facilitate the linkage between the twointergovernmental processes the ISDRsecretariat drafted a compilation of therecommendations on disaster risk reductionemanating from the three regional preparatorymeeting for the BPoA +10, as a contribution tothe inter-regional preparatory meeting, held inNassau, Bahamas, January 2004.

• The AOSIS Strategy for the furtherimplementation of the BPOA drafted at thisevent called for the international community tostrengthen the ISDR as a dedicated facility to

address national disaster mitigation,preparedness and early warning capacity, andthe mainstreaming of risk management into thenational planning process. In addition it calledfor the international community to use theopportunity of the World Conference onDisaster Reduction to address the specificconcern of SIDS.

• The 12th Session Commission on SustainableDevelopment (CSD-12), held New York, April2004, further discussed the preparations for theMauritius Summit to be held 30 August – 3September, and reconfirmed the need to ensuresynergy between this process and theintergovernmental preparation for the WorldConference.

Humanitarian coordination and agenda – IASC TaskForce on Natural Disasters

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)for humanitarian coordination initiated a task forceon natural disasters lead by OCHA and IFRC.The ISDR secretariat was invited to participate, toensure synergies between the humanitarianconcerns and disaster risk reduction. The taskforce met several times over the past six months tocoordinate activities on preparedness, disastermanagement and to identify those vulnerablecountries whereby pilot projects can beundertaken.

Output and Impact:

• Identification of “most vulnerable countries” forthe purpose of IASC on natural disasters, basedon an ISDR review of the occurrence andimpacts of hydrometeorological, geological andbiological disasters for the period 1973-2002 bycountry, comparing the information receivedfrom the participant organizations, namely:OCHA, UNDP, WHO, WFP and IFRC.

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4Following exchange of criteria, ten countrieswere selected for preliminary missions toidentify existing national mechanisms, actorsand capacities and define activities to enhancepreparedness to an effective response.

Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction

A closer integration of the IATF and ISDRsecretariat workplans was the result of the eighthIATF/DR meeting in November 2003. The fourworking groups of the IATF are concluding theirwork, and their new work programme for 2004focuses on:

• substantive and organizational support to thepreparation of the World Conference (firstsession in November 2003);

• climate risk and adaptation;• Africa (first preparatory meeting in April 2004,

led by NEPAD/AU, UNDP with theUN/ISDR Africa); and

• data-collection, indexing of disasterrisk/vulnerability and urban risk, crystallisingfrom the working group 3 activities and otherrelated initiatives.

Output and Impact:

• A new work-programme of the IATF/DR,comprising a collection of more coherentactivities that will generate greater impact withthe support of the ISDR secretariat in the areaof policy guidance on specific areas of need.

Policy and strategy in Africa

To facilitate the advancement of disaster riskreduction and its integration into sustainabledevelopment in Africa, UN/ISDR Africa has beenfocusing on advocating coherent concepts,framework for disaster risk reduction,

interrelationships between disasters anddevelopment, mainstreaming disaster reductioninto development planning and programmes,and integration of gender concerns and needsinto disaster reduction. This includespreparation of African positions andrecommendation for the World Conference.

Output and Impact:

• At regional level, the African RegionalStrategy on Disaster Risk Reduction wasdrafted in a joint effort with AU/NEPADbased on widespread consultation throughoutthe region. In addition the IATF/DRworking group on Africa (led byNEPAD/AU), is focusing on providingelements for an African disaster reductionstrategy, supported by the UN/ISDR Africa,UNDP and others.

• A joint initiative between the AfricanDevelopment Bank and UN/ISDR Africahas resulted in guiding principles in disasterrisk assessment in development activities.

• Planning of one or two African consultationpapers and meetings to be held later in 2004(in partnership with AU/NEPAD andnational governments), in support of Africanactive participation in the World Conference.

• At national level, UN/ISDR Africa has beenadvocating the importance of national policyand strategy in disaster reduction through theestablishment of national platforms. Thegovernment of Djibouti is now ready todevelop a long-needed national policy andstrategy, with the support of UN/ISDRAfrica and UNDP. Ghana recently organisedthe first workshop on disaster reduction forsustainable development in the lead up toshifting its policies from disaster response todisaster reduction.

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Policy and strategy in Latin America and theCaribbean:

Over the past 6 months UN/ISDR LAC has beenactively involved in the preparations for the WorldConference. In this context the regional outreachunit co-sponsored and co-organized severalworkshops such as the Forum Mitch+5 inTegucigalpa, Honduras (December 2003) incollaboration with UNDP and CEPREDENAC,the international conference on disastermanagement in Cuba, and the Latin-Americanworkshop on the vulnerability of the health sector,organized by PAHO in Nicaragua (April 2004).

UN/ISDR LAC has also been promoting theincorporation of risk reduction into developmentpolicies in different sectors, such as urbandevelopment and housing, finance and agriculture.

Output and Impact:

• The recommendations of the above-mentionedevents provide policy recommendations andelements to feed into the work of thepreparatory committee of the WorldConference, demonstrating the interest of theregion in advancing disaster risk reduction andensuring appropriate regional input (results andbackground papers for these meetings areaccessible at www.eird.org).

• In November 2003, the regional unitparticipated in a Latin-American Meeting ofthe Ministers for Urban Development andPlanning (MINURVI), which took place inBolivia, following up on previous jointinitiatives between UN/ISDR, UN-HABITAT and MINURVI to work with localgovernments, the housing sector andcommunity groups to introduce riskmanagement in urban planning andmanagement. In the final declaration of themeeting, Ministers recognize ISDR as their

guiding strategy and commit to promote theincorporation of risk reduction in urbanplanning, in order to reduce the impact ofdisasters and achieve a sustainable development.

• UN/ISDR LAC has also advanced discussionswith the Central American Integration Bank(BCIE), in order to incorporate the topic ofrisk reduction in the agenda of Ministries ofFinance, and with the Inter-American Institutefor Agriculture Cooperation, in order toincorporate it in the agenda of Ministries ofAgriculture.

Focus Area: Advocacy:

Global public awareness World Water Day: A watershed event for disasterreduction

During the reporting period an unprecedentedopportunity emerged to promote public awarenessof disaster risk reduction. World Water Day(commemorated annually on 22 March) is anannual event that receives widespread attentionfrom the media and public, which in 2004 focusedon the theme ‘water and disasters’. WMO and theISDR secretariat were designated the co-leadingagencies in the international celebrations, and co-produced an information kit of which 13,000copies (in English and French) were disseminatedin support of activities that took place worldwideon the Day. The Day concluded the WorldDisaster Reduction Campaign: “Turning the tideon disasters towards sustainable development”.

World Water Day inspired numerous activities suchas media broadcasts about floods (Jamaica), amemorial walk along the banks of a river inremembrance of flood victims (Hungary), televisedpolitical debate on water policy making (Pakistan),on-line photo galleries by major press agencies

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4This focus areaaims to contributingto a culture ofresilience throughthe communicationand promotion ofdisaster riskreduction concepts tospecific targetaudiences. It iscarried out at aglobal scale, atregional levelsthrough the ISDRregional outreachprogrammes andthrough a growingnumber of nationalplatforms or focalpoints for disasterrisk reduction.

“Simple words canand do, literally,save lives… If allyou can do is warn,or explain, keep onwarning, orexplaining, but doso in clear andurgent language.”

Tim RadfordThe Guardian

(Reuters Alertnet and Xinhuanet), public forum onfloods (Japan), inauguration of a water pumping stationto ward off floods and droughts (Ethiopia) and atheatrical performance and press conference byMinister for Water and Environment (Yemen).

The Day was celebrated in Geneva with twocomplementary events organized by WMO and theISDR secretariat. A roundtable organized by theISDR secretariat in conjunction with the GenevaEnvironment Network brought together an eclecticmix of individuals, government representatives,environmental and other organizations to debate thequestion: “Natural Disasters: Is climate changeresponsible?”. Presenters from the Guardiannewspaper, IFRC, WMO, UNEP and the PotsdamInstitute for Climate Impact Research challenged oneanother and the audience over the contentious issueof climate change and its role/responsibility for theincreasing number of water-related disasters.

Coinciding with the Day was the launch of the inter-agency publication Guidelines for reducing flood losses atGeneva, Harare and Bangkok. The guidelines were re-launched in April in New York to coincide with thetwelfth session of the Commission on SocialDevelopment (CSD-12). Media coverage includedinterviews and articles. A great deal of interest has beenexpressed in the guidelines, in particular fromgovernments (national and local) as well as NGOs, withall copies of the first print run being distributed free-of-charge within one month of publication. The secondprint run is expected to be distributed in May 2004.

Outputs and Impact

• Guidelines for reducing flood losses are a result of aseries of consultations led by UN/DESA andUS/NOAA, drawing on the experience of variouspartners, experts and contributors including thatof UN/ISDR. They aim at providing decision-makers with a range options to consider for floodrisk reduction, offering a complementary approachto those existing structural and engineering

measures designed to reduce flood losses(available in hard copy from the ISDRsecretariat and on-line at www.unisdr.org).

Media: A more disaster-discerning publicThe global dialogue on disaster risk reduction isbuilding momentum, with urgent issues such asclimate change and the increasing number ofdisasters receiving more public attentiondemonstrated by publication of articles in high-profile media. The Observer published an articlecontroversially entitled “Now the Pentagon tellsBush: climate change will destroy us” (22February), describing the leak of a confidentialsecret document commissioned by a Pentagondefence adviser, predicting that abrupt climatechange could bring the planet to the edge ofanarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat todefend and secure dwindling food, water andenergy supplies.

The Economist highlighted risk and security issuesin a special survey that explored the links betweengrowing globalization and the increased frequencyof disasters – or is it simply that thanks to moresophisticated telecommunications, media coveragenow ensure that such disasters are reported fromaround the world.

Outputs and Impact

• The more the media draw to the public’sattention the importance of the subject, themore pressure is placed on governments torecognize and commit to developing policiesand implementing disaster reduction initiatives.

• The ISDR secretariat continues to work insupport of this, raising awareness through itsinformation products, press releases and itsmost powerful information tool, the ISDRwebsite. The past year has seen the totalnumber of hits almost double from 199,595(March 2003) to 391,062 (March 2004) (seeFocus Area: information and networking).

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“Question: Arenatural disasterscaused by climatechange? Answer:

Does it reallymatter?”

Richard J.T. KleinPotsdam Institute

for Climate ImpactResearch

“This year’sobservance of World

Water Day alsomarks the

publication ofGuidelines forreducing flood

losses. A manualand menu of optionsfor decision-makers,

the guidelinesare…meant to

contribute to thediscussions at the

next WorldConference on

Disaster Reductionto be held at Kobe-

Hyogo, Japan inJanuary 2005. Icommend them to

all interestedactors.”

Kofi AnnanUN Secretary-

General

Sasakawa Award nominationsThe 2004 nomination process for the UnitedNations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reductionwas launched worldwide in January 2004encouraging Governments, UN ResidentCoordinators, UN agencies and organizations,former Sasakawa laureates, and others to join theISDR secretariat and Sasakawa Jury in identifyand reward individuals ore institutions fromaround the world who contributed, throughinnovative practices and outstanding initiatives, toreducing the risk and vulnerabilities ofcommunities to natural hazards. The deadline tosubmit nominations is 18 August 2004 (seewww.unisdr.org for related information andnomination forms).

Regional AdvocacyAfricaAdvocacy and public awareness have been the coreactivities of UN/ISDR Africa since its inceptionin 2002. This year, UN/ISDR Africa continues itseffort through the production of educationalmaterials on disaster reduction, participation inregional and sub-regional events related to disasterissues, organization of workshops andestablishment of national platforms. The biannualDisaster reduction in Africa - ISDR Informs issueNo. 3 is going to be available in three majorlanguages in English, French and Portuguese,thanks to the support of UNDP.

Based on the major theme (Water) of 2003,UN/ISDR Africa produced educational bookletson Water and Risk in Africa in English and Frenchfor community leaders and teenagers at school.For pupils in primary school, Safaris Encounterwith Floods is now also available in both Englishand French in cooperation with IGAD Climateand Application Centre (ICPAC), UNEP andISESCO. Efforts are also made to increasingwomen’s understanding of disasters and enhancingtheir access to information on disasters (see section4 under Regional partnerships).

ISDR public awareness products/activities2003-2004

• ISDR Highlights (monthly)• Guidelines for reducing flood losses

Launched Mar 2004 in Geneva and Harareon the occasion of World Water Day 2004 inconjunction with DESARe-launched in NY on the occasion of CSD-12

• World Water Day information kitCompleted for World Water Day (22 March)in conjunction with WMO

• Roundtable - “Natural disasters: Is climatechange responsible?”Held on World Water Day (22 March) inconjunction with the Geneva EnvironmentNetwork (UNEP)

• ISDR website• World Conference first announcement +

further information materials availablethroughout 2004

• Press activitiesPress interviews/articles (SB) with NationalGeographic, Reuters Alertnet, BBC WorldService radio (Africa Live), several articleson ISDR in Latin American newspapers

• Living with Risk: A global review of disasterreduction initiativesProduced in conjunction with UN SalesPublicationsAvailable for purchase in June 2004

• UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster ReductionNomination booklet launched in January2004

• ISDR Informs Latin America and theCaribbean (English/Spanish)

• Riskland (now available in five languages)• Disaster Reduction in Africa – ISDR Informs

(English/French/Portuguese)• Water and Risk in Africa• Safari’s encounter with a landslide/floods• Interactive CD ROM on wildfires for school

children (Latin America)

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4AsiaIn Asia also the publication of Disaster Reduction inAsia - ISDR Informs as an evolving publicationcontaining informed opinions on disasterreduction in the region is pursued. Furthermore,funding has been secured from UNDP totranslate ISDR Informs Asia into local languagesfor the Asian continent and increase itsdissemination and impact.

Latin America and the CaribbeanThe regular activities of the UN/ISDR LACinclude the production of ISDR Informs – LatinAmerica and the Caribbean magazine in Spanishand English and dissemination to more than 6000addresses in LAC and outside (see www.eird.orgfor the latest issue).

UN/ISDR LAC is also undertaking a study andreview on education for risk reduction, over thepast 10 years. This study will serve as a basis forthe thematic Latin-American workshop oneducation for risk reduction (with UNESCO,SNET, FUSAI, COSUDE, among others) whichwill take place in June, in El Salvador. Anotherworkshop will be held on communication andpublic information (with UNESCO, PAHO,IFRC) and will take place in Guatemala inAugust.

In February, UN/ISDR LAC in collaborationwith IFRC, PAHO, ACS and CDERAcommenced production of a new radio soap operafor the English speaking Caribbean. Thiseducational program is intended to be used inschools and for general public (through radiostations) to raise awareness on hurricanes, floodsand disaster reduction.

UN/ISDR LAC also collaborated with the CostaRican Ministry for Environment (MINAE) onthe production of the interactive CD Rom onforest fire prevention for school children inCentral America. PAHO, UNICEF and

CERODE (Argentinian NGO) joined efforts toproduce an interactive version of Riskland, whichwill soon be available on the web. IFRC and theCentral American Council for Indigenous peoplealso produced a new version of Riskland in Mayakackchiquel language for indigenous people inGuatemala.

Outputs and Impact:

The success of information materials produced byUN/ISDR LAC has gone beyond the LatinAmerican region, with Riskland bring translatedand adapted into Nepali language by NSET inNepal, and the Radio soap-opera Times ofHurricanes being translated into local languages inMozambique by GTZ.

Focus Area: Information and Networking

Synthesized informationThe ISDR information management system With financial support from Switzerland, theISDR secretariat is strengthening its informationmanagement system and website. Resources havebeen provided to improve ISDR referencedatabases (contacts, organizations, initiatives,calendar of events) including their re-structuring,interrelation, updating, reporting and managementby using specialized services and software. Specificemphasis is given to the development of countryprofiles, which will include database information,hazard and vulnerability analysis in cooperationwith other UN organizations, as well asinformation on initiatives and good practices.

ISDR WebsiteThe ISDR website underwent a completeoverhaul in late 2003 as a first step in its re-development and is now more user-friendly thanbefore. A great deal of positive feedback has beenreceived by users, noting the easy access of

In order to fulfil thecore offering of theISDR as platformfor coordinated,coherent, well-informed,international actionto reduce disasterrisk, the workrelated to securingand enhancing theinformation baseavailable to allpartners is ongoingand regularlyyielding newproducts.

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documents related to disaster reduction as well asthe comprehensive search engine. The website is adynamic means of two-way communicationbetween the ISDR secretariat and the world,whereby users are invited to provide their inputand comments to further enhance its usability andimpact and better match user needs (seewww.unisdr.org).

Efforts to increase information sharing andnetwork building in Africa are improving, with thenew UN/ISDR Africa website now available on-line. To date, UN/ISDR Africa has built contactswith over 600 individuals, networks withgovernment officials from 45 African countriesand more than 10 regional and sub-regionalorganizations.

Focus Area: Partnerships for Application

Success in reducing disasters can only comethrough mobilizing and supporting partnershipsthat address the multiple factors that causedisasters. The ISDR is advanced through thecollaborative efforts of many partners throughoutthe world. In this respect stimulation and

coordination of regional partnerships andnetworks to promote and endorse disaster riskreduction concerns is of crucial importance.

One expected outcome of the WorldConference on Disaster Reduction is thelaunching or recognition of a set of voluntarykey partnerships to support national and localefforts to pursue disaster risk reductionobjectives, such as the Earthquake MegacitiesInitiative and UNESCO for a partnership oneducation and risk reduction. The ISDRsecretariat has been liaising with several majorglobal and regional players to define andconsolidate efforts in this respect, with a

descriptive report to be available at the 10th

meeting of the IATF/DR and PrepCom 2.

Regional partnershipsAfricaIn 2004, UN/ISDR Africa furtherconsolidated partnerships with regionalorganizations and UN agencies through jointactivities to address common concerns inAfrica (NEPAD) and some of its sub-regions,as well as with UN agencies working in theregion.

Total number of hits www.unisdr.org 2003-2004

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4Outputs and Impacts:

• Development of advocacy and educationalmaterial with UNDP regional capacity onlinking disaster risk reduction and governance,with IGAD Climate Predication andApplication Centre on linking disaster riskreduction and climate change adaptation, withUNEP and water resource management withISESCO on linking disaster risk reduction andenvironmental protection.

• Promotion of water and risk management inpartnership with the Drought MonitoringCentre in Harare.

Gender issues and disaster risk reduction in AfricaTogether with UN-HABITAT and Carrying outof case studies on gender and disaster reduction in

The ISDRsecretariat is a tinypart of the globalrisk reductioncommunity. Toserve its particularrole, it veryactively seeks todevelop andsupport partnershipand networks,especially withIATF/DRmembers andregional actors.

five countries (Algeria, Cameroon. Madagascar,Mozambique, Kenya). A Regional Women’sConference on Gender and Disaster Reductionwas held in April 2004 to promote women’s activeparticipation in disaster risk reduction andadvocate gender-sensitive approach in disaster riskmanagement.

A Workshop on Mobilizing Women to Participate inDisaster Risk management was held in Nairobi,Kenya, in March 2004, attended by 38participants – women and men – brought togetherfrom NGOs, government organizations anddisaster-prone areas, organized by the SoroptimistInternational Club of Nairobi, ICPAC (IGADClimate Prediction and Application Centre) andUN/ISDR Africa (see box).

Mobilizing Women to Participate in Disaster Risk Management1-2 March 2004, Nairobi, KenyaWORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS

Recognizing that gender concerns involve both men and women, both men and women should therefore be activelyengaged in the disaster risk management process.

PUBLIC AWARENESS/ADVOCACY• Accessing national draft policy on disaster management to identify if it is gender-sensitive and responsive; and

recommending a national workshop with other stakeholders (religious organizations, government, NGOs, CBOs,women MPs, etc.) to discuss disaster management policies from a gender perspective.

• Lobbying for national budget allocation for disaster risk management within constituency development fund,notably in the framework of the PRSP (Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper).

• Integrating a gender perspective in the design and implementation of disaster management initiatives like treeplanting, dyke construction, use of climate predictions and early warning systems, and establishing mechanismsto review such initiatives.

• Establishing a mechanism to support elderly and handicapped persons.• Initiating literacy programmes to overcome societal challenges caused by illiteracy.• Proposal submitted to ongoing Bomas Constitutional Review talks for one third of women representation in local

development committees should be supported and mainstreamed.• As informed individuals, recommending to policy makers to ensure access to resources, in particular land and

property ownership, and take measures to empower women as producers and consumers to enhance theircapacity to respond to disasters.

• Both women and men be trained and sensitized on land rights and inheritance. • Women to be more assertive about the top management role they play in individual households and use their

skills towards societal management of disaster issues.

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AsiaUN/ISDR and its Asian partners agree that astrategic partnership for disaster reduction is the wayto build a stronger basis to promote disasterreduction in the region and develop the conditionsfor a regional programme in the future. The basis forthe partnership is the substantial number of existingprogrammes and efforts carried out by national andkey regional players across Asia. A separate focus onthe sub-region of Central Asia has also been added toISDR regional outreach efforts in 2004.


• Communication to countries in the region onthe partnership (public announcement atAsian Disaster Reduction Conference inCambodia, Websites, etc)

• Collaboration with ADPC and ADRC andUNDP for the consolidation of Asianregional policy inputs for the preparation ofkey documents for WCDR. In this regard,the conclusions of the Cambodian

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT• In creating awareness, religious organizations and local groups should be used as for a to reach women.• Educating women on disaster risk management through mobile sensitization units and centres.• Information sharing with communities and leaders.• Developing educational materials with a gender perspective on disaster reduction.• Introducing disaster awareness and preparedness in school curricula.• Using mobile phones to disseminate early warning information for effective disaster risk management.• Be culturally informed and custodians of traditional knowledge to be brought on board and the knowledge be

identified and documented: analyze all aspects of culture, select what is relevant and applicable and set asidewhat is retrogressive. Need for sensitization to certain negative cultural aspects and develop role models.

• Use of media in advocacy to play a major role in highlighting the role of men and women working together forchange in disaster risk management. Editors should be sensitized on the importance of disaster management,climatology, hydrology, etc., and the importance of disseminating information on early warning.

• Utilizing local radio stations to discuss early and timely disaster management.• Disseminating information on disaster reduction in mother tongues or any languages understood by a

community.• To get radio sets distributed to users in some priority areas as a pilot project.• Need for a FM gender radio station run by Soroptimist International Union of Kenya, which will deal concretely

with gender concerns in disaster risk management.

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT• Capacity building for women to cope when disaster strikes, empowering women through mobilization, and

working towards set goals related to disaster risk management, coping skills.

COOPERATION / PARTNERSHIP• Forging partnerships and networks between governments, international organizations, private sectors and NGOs

in integrated and gender-sensitive sustainable development to reduce risks, and with relevant organizations incivic education to get women into decision-making bodies.

• Women to liaise with district disaster management committees and incorporating existing Community-BasedOrganizations (CBOs) as focal points to train women.

• Networking all Soroptimist International members in Africa and elsewhere, ICPAC (IGAD Climate Prediction andApplication Centre) and UN/ISDR Africa to address all issues pertaining to mainstreaming gender concerns indisaster reduction.

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4Conference (ADRC – seewww.adrc.or.jp/publications/Asian_Conference_2004/index.html), as well as the DhakaConference (ADPC – seewww.adpc.net/audmp/WGM.html) providedstrategic implications for both the preparations ofWCDR and the subsequent implementation inthe region of its conclusions.

The Asian Partnership is a strong political means tobuild unity and orient action in the region,facilitating the collaboration among internationaland regional organizations and building confidenceamong countries willing to share practices andknowledge on disaster reduction.As a separate achievement, additional donorresources were mobilised for ISDR activities in Asiawith the promising prospects of increasing its role inthe near future (Sweden and Norway).

EuropeThe ISDR regional outreach for Europe continuesto evolve. The proposed regional programme isbecoming a logic grid for sub-regional and thematicefforts by European partners and countries. Thesecretariat has brokered a partnership between theEU countries and those of the Mediterraneanregion. Confidence building with the EuropeanCommission also showed some success.


In Europe, the following activities took place duringthis period: • Second Meeting of European National

Platforms, Bad-Honnef, April 2004, organizedby the German Committee for DisasterReduction.

• Involvement of the European Commission in thepreparatory phase of the World Conference onDisaster Reduction.

• Involvement of UN/ISDR in the policy processof the Council of Europe Major RisksAgreement.

• The fact that European countries are bothdonors for disaster reduction in developingcountries and victims of natural disastersmakes the work between the ISDR secretariatand European countries as well as theEuropean Commission and other bodies ofgreat potential mutual benefit. ISDR has beenrecognised as a common strategic platform forthe EC, the Council of Europe and severalEU member countries.

• The group of European national platforms isenlarging to include non-members of the EUand constitute a potential venue for policycoordination and collaborative projects. Thisis expected to increase the availability of fundsfor disaster reduction in general in the future.

Latin America and the Caribbean


• The tripartite collaboration between ISDR,UNDP and OCHA has been strengthenedduring the reporting period and their 3regional offices are developing inter-agencyactivities at the regional level.

• An inventory/assessment of El Niño activitiesin Peru and Ecuador,.

• Development of a inter-agency programme tofill the gaps identified in this assessment anddefine a resource mobilization strategy forprogramme funding. The above inventory willbe carried out in close collaboration with theexisting initiatives in the region, such asCIIFEN, PREANDINO, etc.).

• Contribution to the UNESCO finalworkshop on “cross-cutting CCT Initiativefor Safer Cities”, which was held in Tijuana,Mexico.

The increased collaboration among UN agenciesin the region is a healthy sign of willingness tomake best use of limited resources and capacitiesfor a better end result and impact. Following

26


interest generated by the contribution on CCT,UN/ISDR LAC is currently discussing with theUNESCO regional office in Costa Rica possibilitiesfor follow-up activities at the regional level,including more cities, from more countries.

South Pacific Further to the work started in 2003 to support acommunity risk reduction strategy for the benefit ofPacific Island Countries in collaboration withSOPAC and others, support has been secured fromAustralia and New Zealand for the coordination ofthe preparation for World Conference in the regionand the consolidation of policy inputs for theconcluding results expected from the WorldConference, through SOPAC.


• Continuing contact with SOPAC on severalpolicy and programme issues, including thereview of the Barbados Programme of Action forSmall Island Developing States.

• ISDR meetings with Australia and New Zealand,including visits by Director and meetings withdelegations in Geneva. The UN/ISDR Directoraddressed the 2003 Australian DisasterConference “Safer Sustainable Communities”hosted by Emergency Management Australia(10-12 September, Canberra), highlighting globalchallenges in disaster reduction. The event wasattended by over 700 delegates from Australiaand the Pacific region, and resulted in concreteoutcomes that will contribute towards the WorldConference.

• Definition of the outline for the preparatorystudies leading to World Conference.

Practical applications- good practicesThe ongoing strong tripartite relationship betweenOCHA, UNDP and ISDR is steadily bearing morefruits and tri-partite meetings are being held on aregular basis in Geneva, at highest level and attechnical levels.


• One example of successful collaboration onthe ground, which included UNICEF wasthe holding of the Disaster Preparedness andContingency Planning Workshop, in theUnion of the Comoros, (17 – 18 March2004). Although the main focus of theworkshop was on preparedness and response,the participants with the support of thefacilitators, identified concrete measures forprevention in each of the identified sectorssuch as food security, early warning, waterand sanitation,..etc. This really represents amajor achievement they can build on in thefuture for any activity related to prevention.The follow-up should be continued in acoordinated manner for the benefit of thepopulation. A project proposal is beingprepared at the request of the UNDP COand funds or in-kind contribution will beidentified soon.

• International Centre for the Research on ElNiño phenomenon (CIIFEN), Guayaquil,Ecuador (with WMO)Important steps forward to theimplementation of the International Centrefor the Recherche on El Niño phenomenon(CIIFEN) have been done this year,supported mainly by Ecuador and WMO,with advice given by the IATF/DR workinggroup on climate. The CoordinationCommittee with the participation of theGovernment of Ecuador, WMO, CIIFENand ISDR met in February in Geneva todiscuss the achievements during 2003 anddefine the mechanisms and activities for2004, including the establishment of theInternational Board, a fundraising strategyand specific projects. In this context ISDRfacilitated the international coordination andrevision of the project proposal to enhancethe organizational development andconsolidation of CIIFEN to be funded by

27

4the Inter-Andean Development Bank (CAF).This proposal is about to be approved, whichwill contribute to define a substantive workplanand interactions to move to the regional andinternational recognition and support.

Space applicationsUN/ISDR has been leading a broad based effortto gather partners around the idea that space basedapplications and tools can benefit prevention (riskand vulnerability assessment) much more thancurrently believed. The ISDR secretariatcontinues its efforts to invest in partnerships topromote and disseminate space based applicationsfor disaster prevention especially aiming at makingvulnerable communities in developing countriesbenefit from low-cost, high-impact solutions thatare already available.


• policy coordination and partnerships (OOSA,Action Team, OCHA, ESA, GEO,COPUOS);

• partnership for concrete solutions (UNOPS,UNITAR, UNOSAT);

• participation in global system design (ActionTeam-UNISPACE III, ESA-GMES, GEO);and

• publication on space applications for disastersand sustainable development with OOSA.

Disaster reduction is now included as a main topicfor integrated space-based disaster managementsystem. It also has a higher profile and isrecognised as a central topic for future activities byCOPUOS (versus historical preference foremergency management support).The involvement of UN/ISDR in user needssurvey for GMES with ESA, led to therecognition of the need to focus on localcommunity needs in prevention rather thanemergency response (cooperation took place withboth OCHA and Red Cross – MSF)

Achievements in the realisation of low-costtechnology measures for vulnerabilityassessment in Matagalpa (Nicaragua) areavailable at www.unosat.org.

Interrelation between Natural and Technologicalhazards (Natech)The ISDR/EC agreement on this area ofresearch entered its phase 2 in 2004 based onthe results of an international meetingorganised jointly by UN/ISDR and JRC. Thisphase includes pilot studies and vulnerabilitymapping.

Outputs and Impact:

• The implementation of the agreement hasled to closer collaboration with theEuropean Commission and a generalincrease in awareness of the mission ofISDR in EU circles. As a result, theEC/JRC requested and obtainedmembership in the IATF.

• The joint publication stemming from theNatech workshop has been disseminated.

• The state of the art on Natech (draftavailable) will contribute to clarify tointegrate this area into the policy discussionson disaster reduction.

• EC/JRC with other partners will organise asession during the World Conference on thistopic.

Landslide risk reductionThe ISDR secretariat continues to promoteinternational coordination among the scientificcommunity dealing with landslide riskreduction activities. In this context, it iscontributing towards the emergence of acommon approach from policy and sciences topractices for the implementation of landsliderisk reduction measures on the ground.

28


Output and Impact:

• Facilitation of linkages with the Joint TechnicalCommittee on Landslides (JTC-1) as part ofthe International Society for Soil Mechanicsand Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE), theInternational Society for Rock Mechanics(ISRM) and the International Association forEngineering Geology (IAEG). This group isorganizing the international symposium onlandslides (ISL) every four years, the next one(ISL9) will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil onJune 2004, JTC-1 and the internationalconference on landslide risk management inMay 2005 in Vancouver, Canada.

• Input on the implementation of landslide riskreduction measures as part of the publication ongood practices to be released in Vancouver2005.

• Contribution of an article for IMIRILANDPROJECT to promote landslide risk reductionpolicies and methodologies as well as theirimplementation on the ground entitled“Landslide risk reduction in Ecuador: frompolicy to practice”.

• The efforts of the ISDR secretariat in the fieldof landslide risk reduction measures willprovide inputs to the WCDR and adds to thegood practices available in this field.International coordination also contributes toavoid duplication of projects and allows betterinteraction and sharing of experience andlessons.

Landslide risk reduction in Ecuador:from policy to practice

Within the framework of a multihazardproject (PRECUPA) in the region ofCuenca city, South of Ecuador, geologicaland hydrometeorological hazards werestudied, mapped and monitored betweenMarch 1994 and December 1998, includinglandslides, floods and earthquakesassessment, real time network installationand the implementation of mitigationmeasures. One of the main components ofthe project included the detailedidentification and mapping of landslides ininhabited or productive zones and theimplementation of landslide risk reductionmeasures (non structural ones); such asdevelopment of public awareness andcommunity work, strengthening of localcapacities, and encouragement of publiccommitment including the developmentand application of urban law and land-useplanning.

29

5The way forward and continuingchallenges

The ISDR secretariat’s activities in the coming sixmonths will concentrate around work which directlyor indirectly will strengthen the momentum toincrease visibility and knowledge on the subject ofdisaster risk reduction, emphasized by thepreparation for the World Conference on DisasterReduction. Far from distracting the secretariat fromits main mandate and role, these preparatory activitiesreinforce its impact and contribute to publicize itsachievements and significance of disaster riskreduction in the pursuit of safer and resilientcommunities. The momentum for discussion andexposure of disaster risk reduction concepts, methodsand practices, as well as the massive informationgenerated by the many thematic and regionalmeetings and reviews motivated such an internationalevent, will enhance the four focus areas of the ISDRstrategic framework.

The continuing challenges until the end of the yearinclude:

• Strengthening the work of the Inter-Agency TaskForce on Disaster Reduction, by increasing itsprofile, and ensuring focused outcomes of itsworking groups.

• Continuing strengthening national platforms fordisaster risk reduction, in particular incollaboration with UNDP and regional bodies.

• Finalising the review of the Yokohama Strategyand Plan of Action.

• Further development of the multistakeholderprocess and policy paper on climate change andadaptation for disaster risk reduction.

• Improving the ISDR information managementsystem.

Related to the preparation for the World Conference onDisaster Reduction:

• Securing further inputs from regional andthematic consultations, as well as experts for theYokohama review and World Conferenceoutcomes.

• Preparing for the second session of the PreparatoryCommittee (Geneva, 11-12 October 2004) on thebasis of the outcomes of IATF-9 and the first sessionof the Preparatory Committee and ensure full supportto the Bureau.

• Further refining the World Conference format andcontent, especially distribution of parallel events onspecific thematic issues and good practices amongsponsoring and participating organizations, andfurther engaging stakeholders from Governments,UN bodies and major groups.

• Further designing the activities to promoteparticipation in the World Conference.

• Further disseminating the World Conferenceobjectives and utilizing the opportunity for widepublic awareness on disaster risk reduction options.

The ISDR secretariat expects the World Conference tobe a powerful venue for interested parties to advancetheir disaster risk reduction interests and gain from thesynergies that will arise. It forms an importantmilestone for advancing and strengthening work in thisfield. The World Conference process should lead tomore substantive implementation mechanism fordisaster risk reduction in the next decade.

An expected achievement brought along by the requestfor national information and reporting, triggered by thepreparatory process for the World Conference, hasbeen the strengthening of national platforms and othersuch institutional mechanisms for disaster reduction.Similarly the development of networks andpartnerships to mainstream disaster risk reduction insectoral policies and programmes should gainmomentum throughout the year.

The reformed work modalities of the Inter-AgencyTask Force on Disaster Reduction, the secretariat’sorganizational strengthening and improvement of itsintegrated information resources and clearinghousefunction, the ISDR’s enhanced regional presence andthe operationalization of the recommendations of theSecond International Conference on Early Warning willalso remain high on the coming six months agenda.

30

ACDS African Centre for Disaster StudiesADPC Asian Disaster Preparedness CenterADRC Asian Disaster Reduction CentreACS Association of Caribbean StatesAMARC World Association of Community Radio BroadcastersAU-NEPAD African Union - New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentCADME Coastal Area Disaster Mitigation Efforts, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaCCT City of Cape TownCDERA Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response AgencyCEPREDENAC Centro de Coordinación para la Prevención de Desastres Naturales en America Central

(Coordinating Centre for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America)CERG Centre d'Etudes des Risques GéologiquesCONRED Coordinadora Nacional para la Reducción de DesastresCRED Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of DisastersCSD-11 11th meeting of the Commission on Sustainable DevelopmentDFID Department for International Development, UKDMCN Drought Monitoring Centre, ECHO European Community Humanitarian OfficeECOWAS Economic Community of West African StatesEM-DAT Emergency Events Database (CRED)ESA European Space AgencyESCAP Economic and Social Commission of Asian and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand, United

NationsEU European UnionEWC-II Second International Conference on Early WarningFUNDAPRIS Fundación para la Prevención del Riesgo Sísmico, Merida, VenezuelaGEF Global Environmental FacilityGEO Global Earth ObservatoryGMES Global Monitoring for the Environment and SecurityGTZ German Technical CooperationHIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficieny Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeIATF/DR Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster ReductionIATF-7 Seventh meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster ReductionICLEI International Council for Local Environmental InitiativesIFRC International Federation of the Red Cross and Red CrescentISDR International Strategy for Disaster ReductionIOC Intergovernmental Oceanographic CommissionMSF Médecins sans FrontièresNEPAD New Partnership for Africa's DevelopmentOAS Organization of American StatesOCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian AffairsOCHA/CAP Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs/Consolidated Appeal ProgrammeOFDA Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance, USAOOSA Office for Outer Space Affairs, United Nations

List of acronyms

31

PAHO Pan American Health OrganizationPIC Pacific Islands CentreRADIUS Risk Assessment Tools for Diagnosis of Urban Areas SDC Swiss Agency for Development and CooperationSOPAC South Pacific Applied Geoscience CommissionUN/COPUOS United Nations/Committee on Peaceful Use of Outer SpaceUNCRD United Nations Centre for Regional DevelopmentUN/DESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social DevelopmentUNDP United Nations Development ProgrammeUNDP/BCPR United Nations Development Programme/Bureau of Crisis Prevention and RecoveryUNEP United Nations Environment ProgrammeUNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural OrganizationUNFCCC United Nations Framework on Climate ChangeUN/HABITAT United Nations Human Settlements ProgrammeUNICEF United Nations Children's FundUNIFEM United Nations Fund for WomenUNITAR United Nations Institute for Training and ResearchUN/ISDR Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster ReductionUN/ISDR Africa Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction for Africa

(Nairobi, Keynia)UN/ISDR LAC Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction for Latin

America and the Caribbean (San Jose, Costa Rica)UNOPS United Nations Operations and Projects ServicesUS/NOAA United States/National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationWHO World Health OrganizationWMO World Meteorological OrganizationWSSD World Summit on Sustainable Development

32

Annex 1 Current draft of framework for disaster risk reduction

Thematic area 1: POLITICAL COMMITMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (GOVERNANCE)Governance is increasingly becoming a key area for the success of sustained reduction of risks. Defined in terms ofpolitical commitment and strong institutions, good governance is expected to elevate disaster risk reduction as a policypriority, allocate the necessary resources for it, enforce its implementation and assign accountability for failures, as wellas facilitate participation from civil society private sector.

Thematic areas/Components

Characteristics Criteria for benchmarks(very tentative)

Policy and planning • Risk reduction as a policy priority• Risk reduction incorporated into post-

disaster reconstruction • Integration of risk reduction in development

planning and sectoral policies (povertyeradication, social protection, sustainabledevelopment, climate change adaptation,desertification, natural resourcemanagement, health, education, etc)

• National risk reduction strategy and plan• Disaster reduction in poverty reduction

strategy papers, in national MillenniumDevelopment Goals reports

• Disaster reduction in National AdaptationPlan of Action (for LDCs) on climate change

• National follow up on WSSD Plan ofImplementation

Legal and regulatoryframework

• Laws, acts and regulations• Codes, standards• Compliance and enforcement• Responsibility and accountability

• Requirement of compliance by law·• Existence and update of codes and standards• Existence of systems to ensure compliance

and enforcement

Resources • Resource mobilization and allocation:financial (innovative and alternative funding,taxes, incentives), human, technical,material, sectoral

• Evidence of budgetary allocation • Staffing allocation• Public-private partnerships

Organizationalstructures

• Implementing and coordinating bodies • Intra and inter-ministerial, multidisciplinary

and multisectoral mechanisms• Local institutions for decentralized

implementation• Civil society, NGOs, private sector and

community participation

• Existence of an administrative structureresponsible for disaster reduction

• Sectoral programmes in line ministries• Consultation with and role for civil society,

NGOs, private sector and the communities.• Existence of "watchdog" groups

Thematic area 2: RISK IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENTIdentification of risks is a relatively well-defined area with a significant knowledge base on methods for disaster impactand risk assessment. Systematic assessment of losses, particularly the social and economic impact of disasters, andmapping of risks are fundamental to understand where to take action. Pre-investment appraisals of disaster risk todevelopment and vice versa, consideration of disaster risks in environmental impact assessments is still to becomeroutine practice. Early warning is increasingly defined as a means to inform public and authorities on impending risks,hence essential for timely inputs to reduce their impact.



Risk assessmentand data quality

• Hazard analysis: characteristics, impacts,historical and spatial distribution, multi-hazard assessments, hazard monitoringincluding of emerging hazards

• Vulnerability and capacity assessment:social, economic, physical andenvironmental, political, cultural factors

• Risk monitoring capabilities, risk maps, riskscenarios

• Hazards recorded and mapped·Vulnerability and capacity indicators developedand systematically mapped and recorded

• Risk scenarios developed and used• Systematic assessment of disaster risks in

development programming

Early warningsystems

• Monitoring and forecasting• Risk scenarios• Warning and dissemination• Response to warning

Effective early warning systems that include:• Quality of forecasts• Dissemination channels and participation at

local level• Effectiveness of response to warnings

33

Thematic area 3: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENTInformation management and communication, education and training, public awareness and research are all parts ofimproving and managing knowledge on disaster risks and their reduction. Inclusion of disaster reduction with a stronggender balanced approach at all level of education, effective public awareness and information campaigns, mediainvolvement in advocacy and dissemination, availability of training for the communities at risk and professional staff,targeted research are the ingredients to support the knowledge base for effective disaster reduction.



Informationmanagement andcommunication

• Information and dissemination programmesand channels

• Public and private information systems(including disaster, hazard and riskdatabases & websites)

• Networks for disaster risk management(scientific, technical and applied information,traditional/local knowledge)

• Documentation and databases on disasters·• Professionals and public networks• Dissemination and use of traditional/local

knowledge and practice• Resource centres and networks, in particular

educational facilities

Education andtraining

• Inclusion of disaster reduction at all levels ofeducation (curricula, educational material),training of trainers programmes

• Vocational training • Dissemination and use of traditional/local

knowledge·• Community training programmes

• Educational material and references ondisasters and disaster reduction

• Specialised courses and institutions • Trained staff• Evidence of systematic capacity

development programmes

Public awareness • Public awareness policy, programmes andmaterials

• Media involvement in communicating riskand awareness raising

• Coverage of disaster reduction relatedactivities by media

• Public aware and informed• Visibility of disaster reduction day

Research • Research programmes and institutions forrisk reduction

• Evaluations and feedback • National, regional and international

cooperation in research, science andtechnology development

• Existence of a link between science andpolicy (evidence-based policy and policy-oriented research)

• Indicators, standards and methodologiesestablished for risk identification

• Regional and international exchange andnetworking

Thematic area 4: RISK MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS & INSTRUMENTSInstruments for risk management have proliferated especially with the recognition of environmental management, povertyreduction and financial management tools as complementary solutions. The role of environmental and natural resourcemanagement in reducing climatic disaster risks is acknowledged. Wetland and watershed management to reduce floodrisks, deforestation to control landslides, ecosystem conservation to control droughts are among the best knownapplications. For effective results, synergies need to be built between sustainable development and disaster riskmanagement practices. Social and economic development practices with proven results in poverty alleviation such associal protection and safety nets are increasingly regarded as ways of reducing risks and instruments for self-reliance inrecovery. Financial instruments in the form of micro-financing and public-private partnerships can be of great help. Otherssuch as insurance, calamity funds, catastrophe bonds are useful in spreading risks though still difficult to establish in low-income countries. Physical and technical measures such as flood control techniques, soil conservation practices,retrofitting of buildings or land use planning are well known practices and have been implemented with mixed results. Theirfailure is often due to poor governance rather than knowledge of what to do. Moreover, such measures, while effective inhazard control, can often be inadequate for social protection and economic recovery.



Environmental andnatural resourcemanagement

• Interface between environmentalmanagement and risk reduction practices, inparticular in coastal zone, wetland andwatershed management, integrated waterresource management; reforestation,agricultural practices, ecosystemconservation

• Use of wetland and forestry management toreduce flood and landslide risk

• Trends in deforestation and desertificationrate

• Use of environmental impact assessments indisaster reduction planning

34



Social and economicdevelopmentpractices

• Social protection and safety nets • Financial instruments (involvement of

financial sector in disaster reduction:insurance/reinsurance, risk spreadinginstruments for public infrastructure andprivate assets such as calamity funds andcatastrophe bonds, micro-credit and finance,revolving community funds, social funds)

• Sustainable livelihood strategies

• Access to social protection and safety netsas well as micro-finance services for disasterrisk reduction

• Use of safety nets and social protectionprogrammes in recovery process·Insurance take up

• Public-private partnerships for micro-financing and insurance at community level

Physical andtechnical measures

• Land use applications, urban and regionaldevelopment schemes

• Structural interventions (hazard resistantconstruction and infrastructure, retrofitting ofexisting structures, drought, flood andlandslide control techniques)

• Soil conservation and hazard resistantagricultural practices

• Construction reduced/zoning plans enforcedin floodplains and other mapped hazard-prone areas

• Compliance of public and private buildingswith codes and standards.

• Public buildings (health facilities, schools,lifelines, etc) at high risk retrofitted

• Regular maintenance of hazard controlstructures

Thematic area 5: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENTPreparedness and emergency management have been effective instruments in reducing life losses from direct andindirect effect of disasters. A well-prepared system is expected to be effectively informed by early warning, have in placenational and local preparedness plans regularly rehearsed establish communication and coordination systems, as wellas adequate logistics infrastructure and emergency fund to respond from. Local level preparedness, particularly of thecommunities, including their training deserves special attention as the most effective way of reducing life and livelihoodlosses.



Preparedness andcontingency planning

• Contingency plans (logistics, infrastructure)·National and local preparedness plans

• Effective communication and coordinationsystem

• Rehearsal and practice of plans

• Testing and updating of emergency responsenetworks and plans (national/local,private/public)

• Coverage of community training andcommunity based preparedness

• Emergency funds and stocks

Emergencymanagement

• Civil protection and defence organizationsand volunteer networks

• Effective response to disasters andmobilization of volunteers, including NGOs, inparticular Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies

Source: UN/ISDR, October 2003

35

Annex 2 ISDR Strategic Framework with priorities

Annex 3

UN/ISDR 2004-2005 estimated requirements

2004-2005 financial requirements 12,511,000 1 5,006,2042004-2005 income/written pledges 5,347,255 908,0892004-2005 outstanding requirements 7,163,745 4,098,115

DONORS

Received Written Pledges Received Written

PledgesCanada 187,973.47Germany 378,048.78 2 609,756.10 3

Japan 661,995.00Norway 283,286.12South Africa 7,414.06Sweden 584,385.58 4 607,287.45 4

Switzerland 360,000.00 5 15,384.62 246,093.75United Kingdom 1,365,701.47 33,731.34 714,285.71United States 200,000.00Sub-total 3,083,523.36 942,158.18 0.00 1,321,573.16 661,995.00 246,093.75TOTAL

OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS:Government of Japan: one Associate Expert - JPO (Jan 2004) part-time, shared with WMONippon Foundation: funding for the Sasakawa Award for Disaster ReductionIn-kind contribution from the Government of Switzerland in support of ISDR organizational developmentIn-kind contribution for preparatory mission (WCDR) to Japan in January 2004 (US$ 40,000)

2/ In support of the regional outreach programme of the ISDR in Africa.

4/ In support of the regional outreach programme of the ISDR in Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia.

Contributions are subject to UN Operational Exchange rates at the time of receipt.

contributions260404

1/ As per document "An open opportuntiy to reduce disaster impacts", December 2003

3/ In support of the Early Warning Platform.

Year 2005

5/ In support of project: "Living with Floods".

1,321,573.16

Secretariat of the ISDRTrust Fund for Disaster ReductionContributions/Pledges (in USD) as at 29 April 2004Biennium 2004-2005

WCDR estimated requirements

WCDR

4,025,681.54

Year 2004

Received Written Pledges

908,088.75

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United Nations Inter-Agency Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR)Palais des NationsCH 1211 Geneva 10, SwitzerlandTel: +41 22 9172103 / 762 / 759 Fax: +41 22 [email protected]

UN/ISDR Latin America and the CaribbeanP.O. Box 3745-1000San José, Costa RicaTel: +506 224 1186Fax: +506 224 [email protected]

UN/ISDR AfricaBlock U Room 217UNEP, Gigiri, Nairobi, KenyaTel: + 254 2 62 41 01Fax: + 254 2 62 47 [email protected] www.unisdrafrica.org

ISDR MissionThe ISDR aims at building disaster resilient communities by promoting increased awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development, with the goal of reducing human, social, economic and environmental losses due to natural hazards and related technological and environmental disasters.

ISDR Secretariat purpose statementThe ISDR Secretariat is a catalyst to advance and facilitate the realisation of the ISDR worldwide, striving to mobilise commitment and resources for its wide implementation and for disaster risk reduction through partnerships at international, regional and national levels.

I S D RInternational Strategy

for Disaster Reduction

April 2004 - United Nations Office for Disaster Risk … TF...climate related hazards. Various...

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