UN Programme Coordination Group on Natural Disasters and Emergencies Annual Report 2011

1. UN Programme Coordination Group on Natural Disasters and Emergencies Annual Report 2011 Annual Review Meeting 13th January 2012

2. Agenda

3. Main objectives • Assess whether significant changes have occurred in the wider environment that are likely to significantly affect overall performance of the PCG programme portfolio • Identify which parts of the PCG programme portfolio are delivering as planned and which are not; identify major issues that have affected performance and main risks that are likely to affect performance in future • Draw lessons from the actual implementation • Engage in strategic dialogue with partners • Identify strategic priorities for the following year

4. Major changes in context • Approval of the 5 year Socio-Economic Development Plan (SEDP) 2011-2015 • Viet Nam attains middle income status • Implementation of Government’s community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM) program • Finalization of One Plan III and the development of a new PCG architecture • National, regional and global disaster trends: • National: tropical storms and floods in central provinces and the Mekong Delta, drought and small-scale localized hazards. Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, other human and animal diseases • Emerging risks from technological and industrial hazards • Asia-Pacific: 89 natural disaster events in the region in 2011 • Global: 2011 world’s 10th warmest year

5. Progress towards achievement of One Plan outcomes Outcome 5.1 Evidence-based national and local disaster risk reduction legislation, strategies and policies and plans developed, approved and integrated in socio- economic and sectoral strategies and plans • Constructive, critical review of drafts of Disaster Risk Management Law, including gender analysis; support to public consultation process • Translation and contextualization of the Inter-Agency Network on Education in Emergencies (INEE) Minimum Standards for Education: Preparedness, Response, Recovery for Viet Nam • Support to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) Action Plan on Implementation of the National Strategy on Natural Disaster Prevention, Response and Mitigation 2011-2020 • Review of Action Plan for implementation of National Strategy for Natural Disaster Prevention, Response and Mitigation to 2020

6. Progress towards achievement of One Plan outcomes Outcome 5.2 Institutional systems and processes strengthened to enhance coordinated and integrated disaster risk reduction (DRR) actions and adaptation to global climate change, at national and province level • Progress made towards the establishment of a National Platform for DRR and climate change adaptation (CCA) through completion of comprehensive proposal and in principle agreement by MARD/MoNRE • Further implementation of DRR and CCA actions focused on vulnerable communities in the northern mountainous regions • Response of local authorities to disasters more effective with improved, child focused preparedness and response planning • Continued strengthening of sector-specific capacities on WASH, education, nutrition and child protection through the cluster approach

7. Progress towards achievement of One Plan outcomes Outcome 5.3 National and local capacities strengthened to minimise adverse social, economic and environmental impacts of climate-related disasters • Support to Disaster Management Centre for the implementation of a comprehensive training program on DRR and CCA for national and sub-national Government staff from all provinces, through ToT and training • Development of ‘building blocks’ for CBDRM program implementation through engagement with CBDRM Technical Working Group • Collation of historical disaster damage and loss database • Capacity, awareness and decision making of women and local authorities in Phu Yen and BinhDinh increased, through a partnership with Viet Nam Women’s Union (VWU), which was strengthened at national and sub-national levels • Strengthened capacity of local authorities and farmer’s associations on DRM in agriculture in three northern, mountainous provinces

8. Progress towards achievement of One Plan outcomes Outcome 5.4 Health consequences of emergencies, disasters and crises reduced, and their social and economic impact minimized • Supported capacity development in DRR for health sector managers and staff at national and sub-national levels • Increased dissemination and utilization of assessment tool on safety of hospitals and health facilities • Supported the finalization of the Ministry of Health (MoH) National Action Plan for the Health Sector for 2011-2020 • Assisted development of training packages on health responses to disasters for health managers and service providers • Assisted development of national, essential drugs list for use in disasters • Provided further support for development of MoH Disaster Management Unit • Strengthened health cluster approach in disaster preparedness and response

9. Progress towards achievement of One Plan outcomes – joint actions Outcome DRM stakeholders are provided with comprehensive and detailed DRR and CCA information and opportunities for policy dialogue • Sharing information through regular disaster Situation Reports • Provision of technical and administrative support to the DMC and the Standing Office of the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control • Developed fact sheet on earthquakes and tsunamis in Viet Nam • Advocacy and policy dialogue on issues including: CBDRM, DRR and CCA, gender and climate change, urbanization, etc. • Undertook applied research on climate change, migration and resettlement, to support relevant Govt. agencies develop climate change and migration policies

10. Progress towards achievement of One Plan outcomes – joint actions Outcome DRM stakeholders prepare and respond to disasters in a more efficient, effective and coordinated manner • Built capacity of Government and non-Government partners through cluster approach in health, WASH, education, nutrition, early recovery sectors • Provided support for Disaster Management Working Group (DMWG) Joint Assessment Training • Promoted utilization of the DMWG Disaster and Pandemic Response Plan, which is in line with the inter-agency UN PCG NDE Disaster and Pandemic Response Plan • Developed and maintained humanitarian relief/early recovery support matrix

11. UN policy advice and advocacy • Major involvement in review of drafts of the DRM Law, specifically: • Promotion of rights and responsibilities • Comprehensive gender analysis • Adherence to international and regional standards (AADMER, HFA, Sphere, INEE) • Support for public consultation process • Significant inputs to Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment/ Ministry of Planning and Investment policy brief: ‘Addressing Climate Change in Viet Nam: Efforts and Expectations’, shared at COP17 • High-level policy dialogue on Gender Equality in CCA and DRR organized with Government officials and members of the National Assembly Science, Technology and Environment Committee; a policy brief was subsequently developed • Advocacy for inclusion of sex- and age-disaggregated data in disaster damage reporting • Major contribution to MoET and MoH Action Plans on DRM and climate change

12. Any questions?

13. Cross-cutting issues: gender equality and women’s empowerment • Gender equality, women’s representation and participation emphasized in DRR/CCA activities, training events and programmes at national and sub-national level, e.g. in health sector • Strengthening relationship with VWU - one of the PCG’s main partners • Second phase of gender and DRR focused project in Phu Yen and Binh Dinh • PCG NDE, Oxfam GB and VWU facilitated a‘Gender in DRR and CCA week’comprising: • National Workshop on Gender Equality in DRR and CCA • High-level policy dialogue with Government officials and members of the National Assembly Science, Technology and Environment Committee • Policy brief on: Gender Equality in CCA and DRR in Viet Nam

14. Cross-cutting issues: gender equality and women’s empowerment • Gender analysis of the DRM Law and of various policies and plans, e.g. in the education sector • Gender addressed in CBDRM M&E Guidelines, e.g. gender-sensitive indicators • Advocacy for the inclusion of sex-disaggregated data in disaster damage reporting • Research on the nexus between climate change, gender and migration Constraints • Active and formal participation of women in decision-making bodies, such as the C/CFSC is still limited • Limited involvement, to date, of PCG with the Department of Gender Equality, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA)

15. Cross-cutting issues: rights based approach to development • The PCG appointed a Human Rights Focal Point • Rights and responsibilities of individuals, organizations and Government bodies as well as mechanisms, including the International Disaster Response Law, to protect rights are stated in the current draft of the DRM Law • Issues of equity, equality and non-discrimination in disaster response, in line with international and regional standards, addressed through the UN and Government led clusters • International human rights law has been promoted • Contextualization and translation of the INEE Minimum Standards • Translation of 2011 Sphere Handbook: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response into Vietnamese • Initial work to improve standards of accountability in humanitarian response (as per the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership) Constraints • Challenges in specifically addressing IDRL remain, despite inclusion of IDRL in draft DRM Law and cluster performance

16. Cross-cutting issues: cultural diversity and ethnic inclusiveness • The PCG NDE organized a session on culturally appropriate programming in CCA/DRR • Rights and responsibilities of different ethnic minority groups highlighted in DRM law • People from different ethnic groups encouraged to participate in training events and other project activities • MARD DRM training materials and MoET INEE materials stress the importance of cultural-sensitiveness • Participation of ethnic minority children in the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction that focused on the role of children and young people in DRR • Specific project on DRR and preparedness in Northern Mountainous region undertaken Constraints • Cultural issues and constraints in DRR and CCA to date have been insufficiently identified and analyzed

17. Cross-cutting issues: HIV/AIDS prevention and reproductive health in an emergency context • HIV/AIDS interventions are part of the service package on reproductive health in disasters • Addressed particularly in the development of the MoH National Action Plan for Preparedness, Response and Recovery in the Health Sector Constraints • HIV/AIDS is rarely addressed in disaster-related legislation and policies and the understanding of HIV/AIDS in disaster situations remains limited • Stronger linkages between DRM and HIV policies and programmes should be made in order to ensure that vulnerability to HIV infection in a humanitarian crisis is not increased and that HIV-related care needs arising from a humanitarian crisis are met

18. Cross-cutting issues: climate change • New MARD approved DRR/CCA training materials • Attention raised to increasing impact of climate change on disasters, such as droughts, typhoons and floods, in advocacy meetings and other events • National Workshop on Gender Equality in CCA/DRR stressed linkages between climate change and disasters • Brown Bag Lunch on integrating CCA, DRR and development • MoNRE/MPI policy brief: ‘Addressing Climate Change in Vietnam: Efforts and Expectations’, presented at COP17 • On-going research on the impact of climate change on gender and migration • Progress made towards establishment of a multi-sectoral and inter-ministerial National Platform on DRR/CCA • Assessment tool for hospitals’ resilience to climate change developed and added to hospitals safe assessment tool in disaster preparedness Constraints • Limited interaction and cooperation with other PCGs responsible for climate change issues needs to be improved under One Plan III

19. Cross-cutting issues: aid effectiveness and coordination • The PCG NDE plays an active role in DMWG, CCWG, the CBDRM-TWG and the Joint Advocacy Network Initiative (JANI) • Joint initiatives: • Gender Equality in CCA-DRR event (Oxfam GB and VWU) • Joint UN agency/INGO rapid assessments undertaken in the aftermath of flooding in the Mekong delta (UN, Save, etc.) • Joint information sharing during and after disasters (UN SitReps, relief support matrix, CCFSC website and UN intranet) • Six clusters functioning • Regular dialogue with World Bank, EU, ADB, JICA, AusAid, embassies and various INGOs and the Red Cross Movement • At a regional and global level, strong partnership with UNDP and UNISDR Constraints • More effort required to improve coordination with other UN PCGs and with different financial coordination mechanisms amongst the Government, non-Government and UN agencies

20. Lessons learned • Importance of regular dialogue and interaction with Government co-convener and other partners; particularly important in disaster situations • Inter-agency dialogue, through the PCG and the overall One Plan III architecture, needs to be increased to improve potential for joint planning and activities • ‘One-ness’ creates clarity, synergies, better cooperation, leverage and interaction with counterparts • PCG needs to improve role as an internal discussion forum for joint policy advice and initiatives • Learning from cross-cutting issues shows the need to move beyond mainstreaming

21. Opportunities and strategic priorities for the coming years • Support the implementation of the Government’s CBDRM program, including coordination amongst donors • Promulgation of DRM Law and supporting decrees at national and sub-national levels • Improvement of the cluster system, with increased focus on preparedness for major disasters • Enhancing inter-ministerial and non-government stakeholder cooperation through the National Platform on DRR and CCA; including ‘bridging role’ of PCG agencies amongst Government and non-government stakeholders, e.g. education in DRR and CCA • Linking DRR and CCA to development – through implementation of One Plan III and new One Plan III architecture • Addressing DRR and CCA in the context of urbanization and rapid economic development • Supporting Viet Nam in its role as a middle income status country in terms of regional and international commitments to DRR and CCA

22. Any questions? Thank you very much for your kind attention