UPU UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION. CA C 4 SDPG AHG DRM Doc 3. Original: English COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION. Committee 4 Development Cooperation

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1 UPU UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION CA C 4 SDPG AHG DRM Doc 3 Original: English COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION Committee 4 Development Cooperation Sustainable Development Project Group Ad hoc group on Disaster Risk Management UPU Policy and Strategy Paper on disaster risk management Memorandum by International Bureau (Agenda item 3) 1 Subject Framework for action on Disaster Risk Management at international and UPU Level References/paragraphs 1 to 12 2 Decision expected Take note of this document and make any comments deemed appropriate. 13 I. Objectives 1 This paper aims to provide information on the UN system wide approach to disaster risk management (DRM) and lay the work for a UPU framework that takes into consideration the needs of postal sector. 2 This UPU framework will adapt for the postal sector the relevant international instruments on DRM and disaster risk reduction (DRR) such as the United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience and the Hyogo Framework for Actions in the postal sector. II. International Context and Actions for Disaster Risk Reduction 3 Disaster risk arises when hazards interact with physical, social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities. Sustainable development and DRR are mutually supportive objectives and require, accelerated efforts to build the necessary capacities at the community and national levels to manage and reduce risk in order to meet the challenges ahead. To address these needs, the United Nations (UN) held the 2 nd World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) in Kobe, Japan in 2005 and WCDR set three strategic goals as follows: More effective integration of disaster risk considerations into sustainable development policies, planning and programming at all levels, with a special emphasis on disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and vulnerability reduction. Development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities at all levels, in particular at the community level, that can systematically contribute to building resilience to hazards. DCDEV.PARFISD

2 2 Systematic incorporation of risk reduction approaches into the design and implementation of emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes in the reconstruction of affected communities. 4 As a result of 2 nd WCDR, the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) was adopted by 168 countries as the international roadmap for DRR. HFA established following five priorities for action: Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation. Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels. Reduce the underlying risk factors. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels. 5 Achieving the HFA vision to substantially reduce disaster losses in all countries will require more effort to position DRR at the core of a sustainable and resilient future. In 2013, the UN Systems Chief Executives Board (CEB) committed to the following three efforts to mainstream DRR in the programmes and operations of the UN system under the United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience : Ensure timely, co-ordinated and high quality assistance to all countries where disaster losses pose a threat to people s health and development. Make disaster risk reduction a priority for the UN system and organizations within. Ensure disaster risk reduction for resilience is central to post-2015 development agreements and targets. 6 DRR and building resilience are imperative for any future development agenda. The United Nations General Assembly Resolution 66/199 requests that the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) facilitate the development of a post-2015 framework (HFA2) for DRR. The consultations will culminate at the 3rd WCDR in 2015 in Sendai, Japan where a new instrument will be agreed and put forward to the United Nations General Assembly for endorsement. III. UPU Context 7 Natural disasters/hazards have also severely affected the postal sector. But at the same time, the Post can serve as a key player in post-disaster response, acting as a distribution point for emergency supplies and coordinating emergency aid operations and money transfers in the affected areas as well as a basic means of communication, especially when the post knows so well the community it serves. 8 Now more than ever, planning for the mitigation of disasters, ensuring swift and effective response, and improving resilience for the postal sector need to be included as key elements in UPU activities in the framework of development cooperation policies. 9 In this context, the 25 th UPU Congress in Doha, Qatar, held in October 2012, adopted Decision C64/2012, Initiatives for the study of sustainable development and development cooperation measures to make postal organizations more resistant to major disasters. Based on this decision, the Ad Hoc Group on Disaster Risk Management (AHG DRM) was established in the summer of 2013 under the Council of Administration Committee 4 Sustainable Development Project Group (CA C4 SDPG), and 19 member countries participated in this group. AHG DRM discussed establishment of a UPU framework on DRM.

3 3 IV. Proposals for a UPU integrated Policy Framework and Implementation 10 HFA calls upon international organizations to undertake the following tasks within their mandates, priorities and resources: Engage fully in supporting and implementing the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), and cooperate to advance integrated approaches to building disaster-resilient nations and communities. Strengthen the overall capacity of the UN system to assist disaster-prone developing countries in DRR through appropriate means and coordination, and define and implement appropriate measures for regular assessment of their progress. Identify relevant actions to assist disaster-prone developing countries and ensure that relevant actions are integrated into each organization s own scientific, humanitarian and development sectors, policies, programmes and practices and that adequate funding is allocated for their implementation. Assist disaster-prone developing countries to set up national strategies and plans of action and programmes for DRR and to develop their institutional and technical capacities in the field of DRR. Integrate actions in support of the implementation of HFA into relevant coordination mechanisms. In close collaboration with existing networks/platforms, cooperate to support globally consistent data collection and forecasting on natural hazards, vulnerabilities and risks and disaster impacts at all scales. Support States with the provision of appropriate, timely and well-coordinated international relief assistance, and in accordance with agreed guiding principles for emergency relief assistance and coordination arrangements. Strengthen the international mechanisms with a view to supporting disaster stricken States in the transition phase towards sustainable physical, social and economic recovery and to reducing future risks. Strengthen and adapt the existing inter-agency disaster management training programme based on a shared, inter-agency strategic vision and framework for disaster risk management that encompasses risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery. 11 The United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience calls upon UN organizations to adopt policies and strategies and to allocate resources to increase the level of commitment of each organization to DRR for resilience, to contribute to the ISDR, and to implement HFA2.

4 4 12 In order to be relevant and effective, the UPU DRM framework should take into account both HFA and UN Plan of action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience as shown in the table below: UN Commitment UPU Priority UPU Actions and Implementation 1. Ensure timely, 1. Promote disaster 1.1. Implement systematic coordination with UN co-ordinated and high risk management teams in the field of DRR/emergency activities quality assistance to framework in the postal 1.2. Adopt Decision C64/2012, Initiatives for the all countries where disaster losses pose a threat to people s health and sector study of sustainable development and development cooperation measures to make postal organizations more resistant to major disasters at the 25th UPU Congress in Doha, Qatar in 2012 development 1.3. Establish AHG DRM in the summer of Make disaster risk reduction a priority for the UN system and organizations within 3. Ensure disaster risk reduction for resilience is central to post-2015 development agreements and targets 2. Establish DRR as a part of the UPU development agenda 3. Advocacy / implementation into the international DRR agenda 2.1. Inclusion of UPU DRM framework in UPU development cooperation activities 2.2. Integration of DRM into the Istanbul Strategy Enhance mutual cooperation between UPU and other international organizations 3.1. Support the UPU community (postal operators, UPU and other stakeholders) integrate of DRR activities in the post 2015 development agenda 3.2. UPU framework on DRM to contribute to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and implementation of HFA2 HFA Priority UPU Priority UPU Actions and Implementation 4. Ensure that 4. Encourage and disaster risk reduction is a national and a support member countries to make DRR a priority local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation 5. Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning 6. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels 7. Reduce the underlying risk factors 5. Encourage member countries to determine the nature and extent of risk by analysing potential hazards and evaluating existing conditions of vulnerability and capacities 6. Disseminate of relevant knowledge and information on hazards, vulnerabilities and capacities and strengthen and adapt the existing inter-agency DRM training programmme 7. Encourage member countries to raise awareness on environmental impact of postal activities and to make postal network 4.1. Establish guidelines 4.2. Improve monitoring and evaluation of the each member country s effort 4.3. Promote mutual cooperation between postal operators and national/local governments 5.1. Establish guidelines and assessment tool 5.2. Enhance structures to accumulate experience of member countries and to share information 5.3. Enhance utilization of GIS based addressing systems as a tool for the disaster risk identification, assessment and preparedness 5.4. Consider the possible contribution for the design of early warning system 6.1. Provide training project and training tools/materials for risk reduction, preparedness, response and recovery 6.2. Enhance structures to accumulate and share experience on DRM of member countries 6.3. Convene workshops in each region to develop a deep understanding of DRM 6.4. Enhance utilization of Emergency Messaging System (EmIS) to share information of the emergency situation among member countries 6.5. Improve the utilization of information and communication technology (ICT) for DRM 7.1. Enhance structures to accumulate and share experience on DRM of member countries 7.2. UPU GHG inventory for UPU member countries 7.3. Exchange of environmental best practices Encourage member countries to raise awareness on environmental impact of postal activities and to make

5 8. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels infrastructure with resilience 8. Encourage and support member countries to prepare contingency plan and business continuity plan 5 postal network infrastructure with resilience 8.1. Establish guidelines and training for preparedness and response for UPU member countries 8.2. Enhance the UPU coordination for response and assist to resume postal service in disaster case 8.3. Establish postal security standards to defy the minimum physical and process security requirements applicable to critical facilities within the postal network 8.4. Establish Emergency Solidarity Fund (ESF) for rapid and effective response to requests for emergency assistance and for help to resume services in affected member countries Make proposals to insure financial sustainability of the ESF V. Decision Expected 13 The Ad hoc is requested to take note of this document and make any comments deemed appropriate.