An Overview of Risk Preparedness & UNESCO

ONE UN Project “Building Capacity in Natural Risk Preparedness for Cultural Heritage

Sites in Albania”. Tirana, Albania

Dr. D. Poletto UNESCO Venice Office d.poletto@unesco.org

Risks and DisastersAs pointed out by the :

2009 global assessment report on disaster risk reduction the number of disasters around the world increases … along with its risk which may be considered as a combination of (natural-human induced) hazards and scarce resilience of human and natural environments to cope with them.

Stresses and Multiplier Risk FactorsHazards have always stalked mankind however, disaster vulnerability have increased due to societal “tectonic stresses” and “multiplier factors” (T.O.Dixon 2007):a. tectonic stresses are mainly determined by an intertwined relation between natural/human settings: 1.Population stress: population growth (doubling of world population in the past 40 years) and geogr. divide and megacities growth in DC (quintupling of urban popolation); 2.Environmental stress from human induced transformation in the biosphere (land, waters etc.) including atmosphere and climate change;

Stresses and Multiplier Risk Factors

3. Energy stress (depletion of oil based sources);

4. Economic stress resulting from instabilities in global economic system and the ever widening social polarisation.

b. Multiplier risk factors are making Hazards more severe and widespreading in their impact…

The globe has become a “single operational unit” in which human kind is acting as a physical force in the natural system of the planet due to the global connectivity of our activities….therefore, hazards that once would have been local shocks now may effect whole regions if not the whole planet!

Reduction of vulnerability is possible?

UNESCO is strongly committed to Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 adopted at the 2005 Kobe World Conference on Disaster Reduction. Cost/benefit analysis demonstrates that reduction of vulnerability is possible and convenient (1$ invested in disaster preparedness and mitigation will prevent 4 to 8 $ in disaster losses). However governments are refrained to invest to prevent something uncertain

UN ISDR Platform

UNESCO works in team (UNDP-UNEP- UNICEF-UNHabitat-WMO-WHO-FAO- IAEA-WB group) in the frame of the international strategy for disaster reduction (ISDR) 4 objectives:

- Increase public awareness to understand risk, vulnerability and disaster reduction globally;- Obtain commitment from public authorities to implement disaster reduction policies and actions; -Stimulate interdisciplinary and intersectoral partnerships, including the expansion of risks reduction networks; -Improve scientific knowledge about disaster reduction.

UNESCO DDR Strategy into EducationThe Hyogo framework for Action: building the resilience of communities and Nations to Disasters (HFA) designates priority 3: use of knowledge innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience;

Disaster prevention and preparedness has been included in EDS, as a part of promoting edu and awareness to reduce disasters.

Work to integrate the disaster risk reduction into edu curricula in realizing target 2 MDG on achieving universal primary school (adhered to the world campaign on disaster reduction Disaster reduction begins at school”.

Education and Public AwarenessTo seek political commitment in integrating disaster risk reduction (DDR) into education curricula, school construction and education sector plans;

To highlight the role and contribution of local communalities in particular women as well as local authorities and implementing partners in the educational process;

To launch pivotal initiative, identify good practices and identify national champions in integrating disaster risk reduction into school curricula and in developing school safety programmes.

Natural HazardsMajor natural hazards which major damage to human properties and lives losses :

Earthquakes: 50.000 occur on average every year. Cities and megacities around the world have major earthquake default.

Tsunami: 2004 Indian Ocean 240.000 people killed;

Floods: among the most frequent and deadly of natural phenomena (affecting 520 million people a year) also in relation to tropical hurricanes souring

Education and Public AwarenessThe best science and technology in the world are of little value unless they can be turned into effective disaster warnings that ordinary people can understand.

People, communities can build a culture of resilience to natural by been taught how to defend themselves. It turns to dramatically reduce casualties and loss of livelihood when disaster strikes. Educational and communication aspects of disaster mitigation such as the preparation of an information kit for the media, teaching material Disaster risk reduction begins at school.

Risk and UNESCO Designated Sites

Protecting cultural heritageHosting the secretariat of the World Heritage Convention, UNESCO has been strongly involved, along with its three advisory bodies of the Convention, in risk assessment and rescue operations to protect monuments and urban historic centers, sites etc.

- risk assessment - rescue and safeguard operations (Cuzco, Florence, Venice, Bam (Iran), etc. - manuals : a strategy for reducing risks at the WH properties

Protecting cultural heritage

Despite Cultural and natural properties are increasingly affected by hazardous events, the number of WH properties that have developed a risk reduction plan is very low:

-More focus is devoted to visible stress on the properties (mass tourism, estate speculation etc).- vulnerability is invisible until manifested through the happening of hazardous events.-General ideas upon which catastrophic event are beyond human control.

Protecting cultural heritage

The impact of disasters in WHS may be of great relevance as may hinder:

their “outstanding universal value” and undermine the peculiar character and function which apply to the criteria defined in the Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the WH Convention to be enlisted.

Pose risks to local communities lives and livelihoods dwelling the site, threat visitors security, undermine local economy and tourism.

DRM and HERITAGEDRM should:•aim to prevent or reduce the impacts of disaster on WH properties and to human lives and livelihoods;

•secure resilience to the core value upon which the property was inscribed on the WH List. This should be the driving element to risk plans development;

•consider also the creeping vulnerability factor (lack of maintenance, deterioration etc.) which may turn an hazardous event into a full fledge disaster;

•play a role also in the buffer zones of the WHP according to the surrounding urban and env.al environment.

Challenges•Lack of coordination between a given WH site management systems (including a siteDRM-if any) and the disaster management machinery of the nation and region in which the property is located;

•Stand alone plans- single issues oriented versus larger scale disaster risk reduction plans;

•Poor-No risk assessment which should encompass natural, human, logistic and infrastructural, economic settings of a given site;

•No updated inventory of the cultural heritage sites of its movable and immovable components and related location…

ONE UN ALBANIAWhen the UN Secretary General launched Delivering as ONE in 2007, Albania, among other 7 countries, volunteered to become a testing ground for the implementation of a reformed UN system agency on field.

This underpins an integrated framework of action based on : One UN programme Albania focused on better support the country to achieve its strategic goals as expressed by key political documents and the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) – 2006-2010.

ONE Programme FrameworkUNDAF pursue 5 priorities along with the encompassing principles of gender equality and development of national capacity:

-More transparent and accountable governance;

-Greater inclusive participation in decision making;

-More equitable access to quality basic services;

-Regional development to reduce regional disparities;

-Environmentally sustainable development.

ONE Budgetary FrameworkONE UN coherence fund provides a clear image of sources allocated or fund gaping for the implementation of the programme framework.

Donors are encouraged to commit multi-year funding to this single financial pool which should be the financial hand to implement the strategic priorities by the one UN programme as jointly determined by Government, UN Resident Coordinator and participating agencies.

ONE LeaderThe One UN programme is implemented in a collaborative manner through a joint executive committee chaired by the Director of the Department of strategy and donor coordination and the ONE UN Resident Coordinator.

They both allocate the ONE UN Coherence Fund according to the priorities decided also with the participating agency.

ONE HouseUnder Construction…

Project ConsistencyThe project has to be considered an activity in line with the following Regional and National actions:

1. REGIONALThe Disaster Preparedness and Prevention initiative for SEE (DPPI) developed by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC)- 10 signatories countries including Albania.

Proposed WMO-UNDP initiative of building capacity in Disaster Risk reduction through Regional Cooperation and Collaboration in SEE (2009-2010) aimed at increasing regional disaster risk reduction cooperation in Western Balkans and harmonisation of methodologies, plans and strategies at regional scale.

Project Consistency2. NATIONAL

Albania has been beneficiary of relevant projects devoted to Disaster Preparedness and Management:

-Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness (DMEP, 2002-2005). UNDP implementing project aimed at reducing the disaster risks faced by the vulnerable populations in Albania by strengthening the national disaster management system at different levels;

- Disaster Risk Mitigation and Adaptation Project (AL- DRMAP): consolidate national based capacity to plan for mitigate and respond to disasters and the approval of a comprehensive countrywide disaster risk reduction and adaptation strategy

Cultural and educational needsThere are still important needs to be met both at cultural and educational level, by working side by side under the ONE UN Albania thought technical cooperation. The project in Natural Risk preparedness and Mitigation in cultural and UNESCO designated sites is an attempt of UNESCO to launch a new season of cooperation in Albania on these sensitive issue area.

Considerable amount of work has also to be likely put in awareness campaign to educate young people, and the public of Albania at large on natural risk preparedness, although not in the immediate focus of this project.

OBJECTIVESAlbeit Albania is vulnerable to the most typologies of hazards as stressed out by the seismicity map in Europe [EC-DG Environment July 2003], the importance of seismic activity in SEE is concentrated in Albania, Greece, Turkey and Southern Italy. Proceeding from this, and according to the government of Albania priorities, the project is conceived to assist the country to achieve:

Update understanding and raise awareness of seismologic vulnerability in particular and natural hazards affecting Albania in general, among national officers and site managers and local authorities

Capacity building in the field of risk mitigation and preparedness for Cultural Heritage properties in cooperation with WHC and ICCROM.

FORESEEN ACTIVITIES

1. Risk assessment and Awareness Raising [on going to be completed in ….]:

-It is an interdisciplinary activity conducted by interfacing seismology and cultural heritage knowledge based disciplines devoted to take stoke of the existing data, maps and assessment report;

- This will help elaborate specific guidelines and recommendations tailored on the Seismologic Risk threatening Cultural Heritage Sites and properties in Albania.

FORESEEN ACTIVITIES2. Training on Site Managers:

This will be designed, planned and conducted in collaboration with ICCROM and the WHC and will aimed at:

-Illustrating the core principles of Disaster Risk Management (DMR) for heritage and the applied methodology to identify, assess and mitigate disaster risk;-To train sensitive stakeholders and site managers in to reduce risks to the cultural heritage properties;- teaching in a demonstrative way how to prepare a DRM plan in cultural heritage properties (WHS).

FORESEEN ACTIVITIES3. Regional Workshop in Tirana:

It will be a conclusive milestone conceived to share the results achieved with the regional epistemic communities, stakeholders and governmental officers interested in risk disaster preparedness in Cultural Sites at Regional/international level.

Particular focus will be devoted to promote the integration of DRM in the WHS and its following integration in regional/national disasters management strategies and plans.

Dr. Davide PolettoAssistant Programme SpecialistScience UnitUNESCO Venice Office

Htt://www.unesco.org/venice

Tel: + 39 (041) 260.15.26Email: d.poletto@unesco.org