International Strategy For Disaster Reduction

1. International Strategy For Disaster Reduction By Professor Olanrewaju .A. Fagbohun, Ph.D Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies University of Lagos Campus Akoka, Lagos Presentation made at the 4-Day Workshop on United Nations System and Programme, Organized by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies 5th – 8th December, 2011

2. Presentation Format • What is Disaster Risk Reduction? • International Response; • ISDR Framework for Action; • Disaster Risk – Poverty Nexus; • Guiding Principles for Implementing Disaster Risk Reduction; • Holistic and Strategic Approach; • Holistic Approaches, Strategies and Institutional Frameworks; • Key Components in Preparedness Planning; • Readiness for Response; • Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction

3. What is Disaster Risk Reduction? “Actions taken to reduce the risk of disasters and the adverse impacts of natural hazards through systematic efforts to analyze and manage the causes of disasters, including through avoidance of hazards, reduced social and economic vulnerability to hazards and improved preparedness for adverse event”. • UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). • Components • Preparedness (to boost resilience and coping capacity of vulnerable people to better face hazards); • Mitigation (to limit the adverse impact of various hazards); • Prevention (to avoid the adverse impact of hazards outright and to minimize related disasters).

4. Disaster Prevention or Disaster Reduction • Disaster prevention aims at avoiding disasters, which, unfortunately is not possible at all times; • Disaster reduction seeks to reduce or limit the severity of disasters; • Disaster reduction in the broad sense includes disaster prevention.

7. International Response (HFA’s Strategic Goals) • Constitutes the vision of UNISDR; • Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into sustainable development policies and planning; • Developing and strengthening Institutions, mechanisms and capacities to build resilience to hazards; • Incorporating risk reduction approaches into emergency preparedness, response, and recovery programmes.

8. International Response • International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR, 1990 – 1999) to increase awareness of the importance of disaster reduction (Resolution 44/236 of 22 December, 1989); • Conceptual shift from disaster response to disaster reduction underscoring the crucial role of human action; • The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction was established by the General Assembly in 2000 (Res. 54/219); • To serve as the focal point in the UN for coordination of disaster reduction; • To ensure synergies among the disaster – reduction activities of the UN systems and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields; • To facilitate and monitor the implementation of the global blueprint for disaster risk reduction (The Hyogo Framework for Action (“HFA”) by ISDR system partners).

9. International Response… • The HFA was adopted at the 2005 World Conference on Disaster Reduction by 168 Governments, as a ten-year strategy to make the world safer from natural disasters; • HFA has five specific Priorities for Action: • Making disaster risk reduction a priority; • Improving risk information and early warning; • Building a culture of safety and resilience; • Reducing the risks in key sectors; • Strengthening preparedness for response. • In 2008, the post of UN Special Representative of the Secretary – General for Disaster Risk Reduction was created. (Current Representative is Margareta Elizabeth Wahlstrom).

10. ISDR Framework for Action • ISDR revolves around three major concepts: • Natural Hazards; • Vulnerability (determined by several factors: hazard awareness, the condition of human settlements and infrastructure, public policy and administration, and organized abilities in all fields of disaster management); • Risk of a disaster is the probability of disaster occurring (evaluation of risk includes vulnerability assessment and impact prediction).

13. Disaster Risk – Poverty Nexus • Disaster have a proportionate impact on the poor, particularly in developing countries; • High mortality and economic loss risks. • Countries with small and vulnerable economies; • Small Island Developing States (SIDs); (Small population/lack of resources/ remoteness/ susceptibility to natural disasters/excessive dependence in international trade/vulnerability to global development – Antigua, Arubi, Bahamas, Barbados, Guinea Bissau, Cyprus, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kiribati, Dominica, Malta) • Land-Locked Developing Countries (LLDCs); • Low resilience to loss; • Highest economic vulnerability; • Low participation in world markets; • Low export diversification.

14. Intensive Risk Major concentrations of vulnerable population and economic assets exposed to extreme hazard Disaster Impacts Major mortality and economic loss Damage to housing, local infrastructure, livestock and crops. Global drivers Uneven economic and urban development Climate change Weak governance and limited endogenous capacities Underlying risk drivers Poor urban and local governance Vulnerable rural livelihoods Ecosystem decline Lack of access to risk transfer and social protection Extensive risk Geographically dispersed exposure of vulnerable people and economic assets to low or moderate intensity hazard. Poverty outcomes Short and long term impacts on income, consumption, welfare and equality. Everyday risk Households and communities exposed to food insecurity, diseases, crime, accidents, pollution, lack of sanitation and clean water. Poverty Economic poverty and other poverty factors such as powerlessness, exclusion, illiteracy and discrimination. Limited opportunity to access and mobilize assets.

15. Nature of Cities (The Disaster Nexus) • Where well managed • Lifeline of society & engines of economic growth; • Centres of technology and innovation; • Living evidence of our cultural heritage. • Where not well managed • Generators of new vulnerabilities adding risk to disasters (lack of access to basic facilities, failed infrastructure, environmental degradation, challenges of climate change).

16. Guiding Principles for Implementing Disaster Risk Reduction • Provision of assistance should be informed by 3 basic humanitarian principles: • Neutrality; • Humanity; • Impartiality.

17. Holistic and Strategic Approach • Holistic and Strategic Approach of HFA must be based on: • Community Participation in the design & implementation of activities; • States have a primary responsibility for implementing measures to reduce disaster risk; • Disaster risk reduction must be integrated into development activities (translating and linking knowledge of a full-range of hazard into disaster and risk management); • A multi-hazards approach can improve effectiveness; • Capacity development (communities and individuals) is a central strategy for reducing risk;

18. Decentralize responsibility and resources for disaster risk reduction (provincial, municipal and local levels); • Gender is a core factor in disaster risk and in the reduction of risk (differing risk profiles for women and men in a disaster); • Low-income and those who are marginalized (age/marriage/caste/social stigma) are especially disadvantaged; • Women at grass-roots level are often well positioned to manage risk. • Public private partnerships are an important tool for disaster risk reduction; • Disaster risk reduction needs to be customized to a particular setting (… think global, act local…).

19. Holistic Approaches, Strategies & Institutional Frameworks • Holistic Approach and Preparedness • Realistic and measurable objectives; • Must be able to strengthen and maintain disaster preparedness capabilities; • National Institutional and Legislative Frameworks • National legislative framework must detail preparedness, response and recovery roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders; • Articulate clear funding mechanisms which will regularly be updated; • Details must be widely disseminated through appropriate channels, local language and media; • Must be consistently implemented (interagency protocol and protocols regarding external assistance);

20. Be clear on civil-military relations, strengthening capacity and decision making on warning dissemination; • Institutional arrangements must be reflected in local/state and national legislation with indication of who has overall responsibility in a disaster; • National legislation must be compatible regionally (prior bi-lateral and regional agreements on mutual assistance should be signed in relation to events that exceeds national capacities or crosses international borders). • National legislations must be consistent with international law and human rights law.

21. Coordination at the Local, National, Regional, and International Level • A well functional disaster coordination mechanism must be put in place with clear policies and procedures and in which all entities are clear about their roles and responsibilities; • Close coordination and information exchange among active organizations (Government, Civil Society, Regional Organizations, International Actors).

22. Key Components in Preparedness Planning • Contingency Planning that includes an in-depth analysis of hazard risk, vulnerability and capacity is developed and regularly updated; • Capacity Analysis and Capacity Building – all organizations, persons and volunteers responsible for maintaining preparedness are equipped and trained for effective disaster preparedness and response; • Hazard Monitoring, Forecasting and Early Warning (scientific information and risk knowledge); • Information Management and Communication • Public information management • Data management

23. Readiness for Response • Emergency Services and Stand-by Arrangements • Multi-stakeholder response mechanisms are developed and tested based on the contingency plan, enabling efficient action during times of emergency; • Incorporating Early Recovery into Preparedness Planning • Humanitarian assistance is vital to reducing loss of life and suffering; • Integration of early recovery activities with life saving interventions can lead to more sustainable interventions; • Skilled people with experience in early recovery must be included during the development of a preparedness capability.

24. Readiness for Response… • The wide range of actors that must be involved are: • Relevant Government Ministries, including departments responsible for developmental activities; • Government local authorities in zones of high disaster risk; • Finance, planning and infrastructure departments; • Public and private service utilities (electricity, water supply etc); • Local NGOs and community based organizations in the identified high risk zones; • Private businesses located in the high risk zones; • Association of professionals such as engineers and architects; • Media networks.

25. Readiness for Response… • Resource Allocation and funding • Financial reserves and emergency funding mechanisms are in place to support effective preparedness, response and early recovery as required; • Effective allocation of the funds; • Arrangements to replenish funds allocated.

26. Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction • Africa’s share of reported disasters have increased over the past decade; • Disaster impacts have become impediment to sustainable development; • Disaster risk reduction policies and institutional mechanisms exist at various degrees – effectiveness is limited; • Hence, need for a strategic approach; • AU and its New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) offers the opportunity to promote change.

27. Gaps in Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa • Institutional frameworks; • Risk identification; • Knowledge management; • Governance; • Emergency Response.

28. Aim of Regional Strategy • To contribute to the attainment of sustainable development and poverty eradication by facilitating the integration of disaster risk reduction into development. • Objectives • Increase political commitment to disaster risk reduction; • Improve identification and assessment of disaster risk; • Enhance knowledge management for disaster risk reduction; • Increase public awareness of disaster risk reduction; • Improve governance of disaster risk reduction institutions; and • Integrate disaster risk reduction in emergency response management .

29. Key Stakeholders • AU/NEPAD; • Regional Economic Communities; • The Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction; • National Governments; • Major Groups, e.g. NGOs, CBOs and the Private Sector; • International Development Partners.

30. Adoption of The Regional Strategy • Strategy has been extensively reviewed • Several forums (May/June, 2004); • Meeting of Experts to discuss the Strategy; • African Regional Consultations on the 2005 World Conference on Disaster Reduction; • 2nd Meeting of the African Working Group on Disaster Reduction. • Strategy was adopted by African Ministers at the 10th Meeting of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (June 2004); • It was received by Heads of State at the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (July, 2004).

31. Understanding the Strategy – (Strategic Directions) • Improve Identification and Assessment of Disaster Risks • Improve the quality of information and data on disaster risks; • Improve identification, assessment and monitoring of hazards, vulnerabilities and capacities; • Strengthen early warning systems, institutions, capacities and resources base, including observational and research sub-systems; • Improve communication and information exchange among stakeholders in risk identification and assessment; and • Engender and improve integration and coordination of risk and assessment processes and interventions. • Enhance Knowledge Management for Disaster Risk Reduction • Enhance generation of information (Statistics and data); • Increase access to information; • Improve communications in disaster risk reduction; • Develop inventory and exchange of best practices; • Develop outstanding academic institutions in disaster risk reduction; and • Expand research on disaster risk reduction • Increase Political Commitment to Disaster Risk Reduction • Strengthen lobbying and advocacy for political commitment, responsibility and accountability; • Strengthen institutional framework for disaster risk reduction; • Increase resource allocation for disaster risk reduction; and • Strengthen capacities of RECs to facilitate implementation of this Strategy. • Improve Governance of Disaster Risk Reduction Institutions • Harmonize terms and policies in disaster risk reduction; • Develop national platforms for disaster risk reduction; • Strengthen decentralization of disaster risk reduction interventions; • Increase public participation in planning and implementing disaster risk reduction interventions; • Increase gender sensitivity of disaster risk reduction policies, legislation and programmes; and • Promote increased inter-country cooperation and coordination. Strategic Directions • Increase Public Awareness of Disaster Risk Reduction • Improve information dissemination and communication; • Promote integration of disaster risk reduction in education; • Expand the role of the media; • Strengthen the role of traditional and local authorities and experience; and • Strengthen the role of the youth and other major groups in disaster risk reduction. • Integrate Disaster Risk Reduction Into Emergency Response Management • Advocate the inclusion of disaster risk reduction in development strategies at local, national, sub-regional and regional levels; • Prepare and disseminate guidelines for integrating disaster risk reduction in development planning and activities; • Facilitate the orientation of emergency response management towards disaster risk reduction; and • Facilitate the strengthening of contingency planning and other preparedness measures in emergency management.

32. Thank You & Let me be one of the first… Merry Christmas & Happy New Year