National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPs)

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1 1 National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPs) Reunión Consultiva Regional de Plataformas Nacionales de Reducción de Riesgo de Desastres y Diálogo sobre Adaptación al Cambio Climático Panamá - 20 al 22 de Octubre 2008 Lars Bernd, Administrador de Programas sobre Plataformas Nacionales, secretaría de la EIRD / ONU Ginebra, bernd@un.org

2 2 National Platforms A definition A nationally owned and led forum or committee of multistakeholders Serves as an advocate for DRR at different levels Provides coordination, analysis and advice on areas of priority requiring concerted action through a coordinated and participatory process. A commitment to work on prevention, preparedness and mitigation instead of merely focusing on disaster management and recovery As such it is mentioned in the Hyogo Framework for Action s Priority of Action 1 adopted by 168 States Previously referred to in UN Economic and Social Council Resolution 1999/63 and 2005 UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/59/231

3 3 National Platforms A definition (cont d) Should be the coordination mechanism for mainstreaming DRR into development policies, planning and programmes in line with the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action Should aim to contribute to the establishment and the development of a comprehensive national DRR system, as appropriate to each country and be its custodian. They are not necessarily new institutions, but ideally build on existing national coordinating mechanisms to become a forum for exchange and decision-making for coordinated DRR as a: multi-sectoral-, multi-stakeholder-, multi-level tool

4 4 National Platforms A definition (cont d) National Platforms are NOT the HFA Focal Point institution/ the National Disaster Management Institution, the Civil Protection Service, a National Steering Committee composed of Government Ministries only but may well be an existing national partnership forum or national coordinating mechanism, provided it is truly multistakeholder, multi-sectoral and respects a country s diversity. It may keep its name and just becomes officially declared as National Platform for DRR Hyogo Framework for Action: The expression national platform is a generic term used for national mechanisms for coordination and policy guidance on disaster risk reduction that need to be multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary in nature, with public, private and civil society participation involving all concerned entities within a country. National platforms represent the national mechanism for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. ( 16, 10 )

5 5 National Platform core functions Be a catalyst for national consultations and consensus building Increase national leadership and commitment to the sustainability of disaster risk reduction and implementation of Hyogo Framework Enhance collaboration and coordination amongst national stakeholders Manage the progress towards achievement of DRR objectives rather than producing a «plan», monitor & evaluate and report Increase levels of knowledge and skills on risk reduction Increase national commitment to help the most vulnerable and at risk population Through the HFA FP, serves as national focal point within the ISDR system and strengthens links with the UN/ISDR secretariat

6 6 Composition of National Platforms National (Ministerial) Steering Committee/Cabinet/ Parliament/ Board Development, Humanitarian, Climate change communities incl. Planning Finance NDMC/ NDMO/HFA FP Coordinator / Secretariat Line Ministries Technical Services National Platform Municipalities Nat. NGOs CBOs Communities and volunteers Red Cross/ Crescent IFRC? Disabled? Professional associations Bilat. agencies? Academia Int. NGOs? Private Sector UN? Media Disaster Victims? +? Gender balance

7 7 Rationale: Why «National Platforms»? All spheres of government, all sectors of society and every professional discipline has a responsibility to consider how it can contribute to reducing risk within its own sphere of responsibility... Every citizen can contribute to disaster risk reduction by thinking safety and acting safely. From the introduction to the South African Disaster Management Act (2002) as presented by the City of Cape Town Disaster Risk Management Centre for use by councilors and officials with Disaster Risk Management responsibilities

8 8 Rationale: Why «National Platforms»? (cont d) Disaster Risks Some areas of relevance leading to stakeholders Professional, academic, applied interests - Public health, Epidemiology Food and Livelihoods, production Geography (human habitats) Natural resources, Environmental management Climate change Physical sciences (natural hazards) Social sciences, Sociology, Anthropology Risk (and vulnerability) assessment Engineering, Infrastructure, Physical facilities Planning ( land use ) professions Public administration Education Economics

9 A Framework for Disaster Reduction A Framework for Disaster Reduction 9 Disaster Risk Reduction Framework

10 10 Guiding principles for effective National Platforms Disaster risk reduction should be regarded as a national and cross cutting issue within sustainable development; National platforms should utilize a participatory process that includes multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral perspectives and actions, linked to existing systems; National platforms should influence positive changes through concerted and coordinated efforts particularly in policy, planning and decision-making process; National platforms should encourage national adaptation and ownership of the HFA.

11 11 Rationale: Why «National Platforms»? A tool for more efficient and effective action to reduce risks Efficiency and effectiveness coordination, all under one umbrella, entry point, minimise parallel structures and duplication Resource Mobilisation coordinated way of accessing existing resources available for Risk Reduction, avoid competition Sustainability of DRR interventions put action on a more long-term footing, legal basis, structures, entry point, ensure continued funding

12 12 Official references to National Platforms

13 13 UN resolutions on National Platforms In 1999, the UN Economic and Social Council, Resolution 1999/63, called on all Governments to maintain and strengthen established national and multi-sectoral platforms for natural disaster reduction in order to achieve sustainable development goals and objectives, with the full utilization of scientific and technical means. In 2005, the UN General Assembly, resolution A/RES/59/231: called upon Governments to establish national platforms or focal points for disaster reduction, encourages government to strengthen platforms where they have already exist, urges United Nations system to provide appropriate support to those mechanisms

14 14 The Hyogo Framework for Action and National Platforms Strategic Goal 2: Development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities to build resilience to hazards. Priority of Action 1: Ensure that disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation. Key activity under PA1 ( 16 (i) (a)): Support the creation and strengthening of national integrated mechanisms, such as multisectoral national platforms, with designated responsibilities at the national through to the local levels to facilitate coordination across sectors. National platforms should also facilitate coordination across sectors, including by maintaining a broad based dialogue at national and regional levels for promoting awareness among the relevant sectors.

15 15 The Hyogo Framework for Action and support to National Platforms E. The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction 33. The partners in the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, in particular, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction and its members, in collaboration with relevant national, regional, international and United Nations bodies and supported by the inter-agency secretariat for the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, are requested to ( ) (d) Ensure support to national platforms for disaster reduction, including through the clear articulation of their role and value added, as well as regional coordination, to support the different advocacy and policy needs and priorities set out in this Framework for Action, through coordinated regional facilities for disaster reduction, building on regional programmes and outreach advisors from relevant partners;

16 16 ISDR system levels of action ( platforms ) Define priorities: Strategic information, guidance and assessments of progress National implementation National frameworks, multi-stakeholders, and multi disciplinary National Platforms for DRR Support from UN country team and/or WB when appropriate ISDR programme coordinated international and regional efforts to support national and local capacities Regional Based on existing regional and sub-regional strategies and mechanisms e.g. Africa: African Union with RECs African Strategy for DRR Thematic Building on existing networks, clusters, programmes and other mechanisms Africa: Drought network; Floods (Climate change); Environment (AMCEN) Global Platform for DRR Biannual sessions Global Assessment Report

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19 19 Hyogo Framework for Action : Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters Examples of ISDR system agency support UNDP: National capacity building programmes, policy and legislative systems, working with UNISDR-CADRI, GRIP, etc. UNESCO: Education & science UNEP: Linking environmental protection and DRR, Thematic partnership, Selected country support UNICEF: Education and emergencies programmes WMO: Disaster prevention and mitigation programme, Early Warning, national surveys WHO: Safe hospitals campaign and health sector FAO, WFP, UNDP/UNCCD: Drought risk reduction OCHA: Preparedness for response/ contingency planning UNFCCC, IFRC, IPCC, UNISDR: Linking CC/CA and DRR World Bank: Mainstreaming, Funding of disaster prone countries UNISDR: Facilitation in all areas, reporting, National Platforms

20 20 Approaches to make National Platforms work Work towards clear and pragmatic vision of disaster risk reduction at national and community levels; Build strong national ownership (adapt int. and reg. strategies); Ensure adequate consultation in identifying problems and areas of priority; Achieve strong individual and institutional commitment. Engage in technical processes to develop a knowledge base on disaster risk reduction and develop a methodological framework for the national platform including a set of disaster reduction indicators)

21 21 Some trends on DRR and National Platforms (from theory to practice) - Global figures - Good practices on NPs - Need to do more and fully embrace the variety of HFA activities

22 22 Trends: Statistics included in the latest UN Secretary- General report on the ISDR July 2007-June disasters caused by natural hazards, with some signs of increased frequency and amplitude 212 million people affected 240,000 killed (13 times higher than previous reporting period) Economic cost doubled compared to 2006/2007 Cyclone Nargis Myanmar: 140,000 people dead or missing Sichuan earthquake China: over 87,000 dead January June 2008 (source: CRED) More than people killed by disasters and 130 million others have been affected more casualties than the 2004 tsunami which killed more than people. Beyond cyclone Nargis and the Sichuan earthquake, the hurricane season in the Caribbean, exceptional floods in India and Nepal and in West Africa are other major disasters that will increase the final 2008 figures : Frequency of hydro-meteorological hazards increased by 8.4%/a on average, average annual cost exceeded US$ 80 billion

23 23 Trends - Statistics included in the latest UN Secretary- General report on the ISDR (2008) (2) However also encouraging examples: Bangladesh preparedness during Cyclone Sidr: 3,400 people died compared to 300,000 during similar cyclone in 1970 and 138,000 in 1991 Other examples: Iran during cyclone Gonu, Madagascar during cyclone Ivan and five consecutive others in 2007 Environmental degradation: Since % of world s mangroves lost increasing vulnerability 70% of 5.2 billion hectares of dry lands used for agriculture already degraded and threatened by desertification Sub-Saharan Africa: agriculture production declining by almost 1%/a Urbanization progressing: 3.3 billion people living in urban areas, by billion (in particular Africa and Asia) Risks of increased vulnerability - due to high population density, insufficient livelihoods, lack of access to basic services, social vulnerability - putting people at higher disaster risk -> Need for urgent scaling up of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework -> Need for further inclusion of DRR strategies and the HFA in national policies and programmes in the context of the FCC Nairobi work programme

24 24 Trends: Findings and recommendations of the latest UN Secretary-General report on the ISDR (2008) In order to achieve more effective implementation of the Hyogo Framework, it is critical that Member States strengthen their cooperation through the existing Strategy system mechanisms, including national and regional platforms and the second session of the Global Platform (Geneva, June 2009). Building on the good experiences of existing national platforms, Member States are strongly urged to develop and strengthen such national coordination mechanisms for disaster risk reduction. ( ) 146 countries have not yet established national platforms, and 66 lack official Hyogo Framework for Action focal points. Despite the increased commitment by Governments and other stakeholders, governments are still not on track to achieve the goals set in the Hyogo Framework. A lack of awareness, commitment and resources still remain the main obstacles.

25 25 Some findings and recommendations of the latest UN Secretary-General report on the ISDR (2008) ensure strong coherence and synergy between climate change and disaster risk reduction agendas. This could include participation in multi-stakeholder platforms for disaster risk reduction.. By all concerned entities, including for climate change Member States are encouraged to setting targets for public spending on multi-year disaster risk reduction programmes. The Secretary-General encourages Governments, donors and funding institutions to increase their investment in DRR.

26 26 Countries with National Platforms Countries planning to establish a National Platform

27 HFA Focal Points Have been formally designated with responsibility for the implementation and follow-up of the Hyogo Framework for Action (marked in ) 46 National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction Have been established/strengthened in countries, including: Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Equator, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Russian Federation, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, Zambia.

28 1940 s 1960s s 1980s IDNDR ISDR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PREPAREDNESS DISASTER MANAGEMENT PREVENTION, RISK MANAGEMENT DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CLIMATE CHANGE Civil Defense / Civil Protection Humanitarian Concerns Preparedness & Response Ability NGOs - volunteers - local capabilities - community action - commercial opportunities public-private partnerships public media services - academic endeavor - hazards research - sociology of disaster - economics of disaster - information technology - linked databases - global communication systems - GIS systems - science and technology - hazard modeling - environmental issues - risk assessments - natural resources management - urban infrastructure - regional & local planning - integrated national planning Indian Ocean Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina & Pakistan Earthquake Pandemic - Avian flu CLIMATE CHANGE - IPCC Regional patterns changing: heat waves, tornados in Europe, drought and flooding in Africa Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar, Wenchuan Earthquake, China Police, Fire, Civil Authorities Red Cross / Red Crescent Services Public Responders & Community Aid Etc national weather services - public weather - ENSO cycle planning - flood plain management - sustainable development - governance & security issues - increasing insurance losses - catastrophe bonds - exposure of complex global systems - environmental engineering - professional & scientific organizations - globalization of economy - military & commercial disaster service providers - international initiatives - transnational & political concerns - regional organizations - municipal authorities institutional processes UNAIDS National Platforms for DRR & Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (2006) Global Platform for DRR (2007) Regional Platforms (2008/09)

29 29 Some constraints encountered by National Platforms Insufficient political support due to lack of understanding of the subject, constant political changes and changes of governments Lack of human resources and technical expertise to integrate DRR into development programmes Insufficient financial resources Institutional resistance to change from disaster response to DRR Lack of understanding of the goals and functions of National Platforms among National Platform members, leading to reduced interests of and commitments to National Platforms In addition, there is a need for stronger guidance,support and visibility from the ISDR secretariat and the ISDR system.

30 30 Good practices of National Platforms Achieving higher political commitment and engagement of politicians for disaster risk reduction (Costa Rica, Gabon, Nigeria...), Integrating DRR into national policy and legislation and development plans (China, Colombia, Djibouti, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda ), Setting up sub-national DRM committees and promoting community participation in DRR through awareness-raising and capacity-building activities (China, France, Germany, Japan, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Switzerland ); Engaging the media, private sector and/or insurance sector for DRR (Germany, Japan, Nigeria, Switzerland ) Setting standards in natural hazard preparedness (Madagascar) Financing DRR (Costa Rica)

31 31 Thank you United Nations, secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction International Environment House II 7-9 Chemin de Balexert, CH 1219 Chatelaine Geneva 10, Switzerland Tel: /8907 Fax:

32 32 UN/ISDR secretariat support to National Platforms

33 UN/ISDR secretariat support to National Platforms Promote and help establishing NPs and multi-stakeholder dialogue meetings (led by line-ministry implemented in

33 33 UN/ISDR secretariat support to National Platforms Promote and help establishing NPs and multi-stakeholder dialogue meetings (led by line-ministry implemented in support to/with UN RC) Organise global and regional thematic meetings and training with/ among National Platforms (e.g. African workshop on mainstreaming DRR in April 2008, Session workshop at 2007 and 2009 Global Platform) Develop guidance documents, tools and contribution to ISDR partner work with NPs/ HFA FPs (incl. CCA/UNDAF guidelines, joint publications, etc.) Support sharing of NP experiences («twinning»/ Davos + good practices, «ISDR-Highlights «and other magazines) Jointly run awareness raising campaigns Undertake capacity assessments (with CADRI, UNDP) Support ministerial meetings in the regions (Special NP session at the 3rd Asian-Pacific Ministerial conference on DRR, Kuala Lumpur, December 2008) Facilitate access to expertise and promote knowledge-sharing HFA monitor (progress reporting and information sharing)

34 34 UN/ISDR supported thematic and stakeholder networks - NGO network (ISDR staff FP: Mr. Michele Cocciglia: cocchiglia@un.org) - Climate change adaptation and DRR (Ms. Silvia Llosa, llosa@un.org Mr. Julio Garcia, juliog@eird.org) - Parliamentarians, High-Level advocacy (Ms. Feng Min Kan, kanf@un.org) - Media network (Ms. Brigitte Leoni, leonib@un.org) - Gender network (Ms. Ana-Cristina Thorlund, thorlund@un.org - Local Government (Mr. Michele Cocciglia, cocchiglia@un.org) - Academia (Mr. Terry Jeggle, jeggle@un.org) National Platform/ HFA Focal point networks and list-servs are run by UN/ISDR regional offices

35 35 UN/ISDR project «Toolkit for National Platforms» A manual to help implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action through National Platforms Potentially useful documents and tips for addressing particular aspects of NPs work drawn from NPs, NDMCs/ focal point institutions, publications, websites, UN and other partner resources Short thematic write-ups providing tips and hints on how to implement the HFA s key activities + to organise their work Samples, templates, checklists, guidelines, workshop outlines, web links, etc. (those things you usually find in a publication s Annex ) (Excerpts of) existing resources rather than writing of new ones It refers to main actions, which are considered critical for every National Platform to play its expected role as outlined in the related Guidelines for National Platforms for DRR. Aligned with the Hyogo Framework for Action and Words into Action. Please contribute to this project with your examples on national coordination or thematic references related to HFA key activities which can serve as inspiration for other countries (contact Lars at bernd@un.org)

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41 41 Thank you United Nations, secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction International Environment House II 7-9 Chemin de Balexert, CH 1219 Chatelaine Geneva 10, Switzerland Tel: /8907 Fax:

ISDR National Platforms for DRR - Guidelines

1 ISDR National Platforms for DRR - Guidelines Multi-stakeholder meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction Bishkek 27 July 2009 Lars Bernd, Programme Officer National Platforms, UNISDR secretariat Geneva, bernd@un.org