International Strategy for Disaster Reduction
Latin America and the Caribbean   

Newsletter ISDR Inform - Latin America and the Caribbean
Issue: 13/2006- 12/2006 - 11/2005 - 10/2005 - 9/2004 - 8/2003 - 7/2003 - 6/2002 - 5/2002 - 4/2001- 3/2001

Global ISDR

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Towards a stronger ISDR System


Noting the overriding importance of effective action at national and local levels for achieving risk reduction and sustainable development globally, as well as the renewed political commitment from the 168 countries participating nations in the WCDR, the Under-Secretary–General for Humanitarian Affairs, Jan Egeland, has proposed strengthened International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, which will allow for a more effective ISDR network, as well as greater oversight and ownership of the strategy by its members. In summary, the main elements of the proposed strengthened ISDR system, as presented in the SG report to the UN General Assembly on August 2005 (A/60/180) are:

  • A global forum called the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP/DRR) with participation of Governments, in addition to UN agencies, regional organizations and civil society, with the particular role of advising on, and committing to, the support and implementation of the Hyogo Framework, and to guide the various associated networks and platforms; (this builds on the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction, functioning 2000-2005). It also has a Programme Advisory Committee (PAC), to ensure programmatic support and coherence. An integrated work programme for the ISDR system will be developed by PAC, and supported by the ISDR secretariat;
  • A Management Oversight Board (MOB) with the function of providing advice on strategic, managerial and resource mobilization related issues to the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (Jan Egeland) in his role as leader of the ISDR international system. A representative from the UN Development Group serves as Vice-chair (Kathleen Cravero, UNDP, has been appointed for this function);
  • An ISDR secretariat, as an independent entity within the United Nations Secretariat, with a line of accountability to the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, to serve as an “honest broker”, catalyst and main focal point within the UN system on disaster risk reduction issues, to continue to promote ownership and commitment to disaster risk reduction with national, regional and international constituencies, and to report on progress;
  • National platforms for disaster risk reduction defined by Governments in each country, with designated responsibility as national forums for coordination and follow-up for Hyogo Framework implementation, and with appropriate links to the UN Country Teams, where applicable;
  • Regional networks or coordination platforms for disaster reduction cooperation at regional and sub-regional levels, including inter-agency task forces and networks of national platforms, for coordination and mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction in regional settings, for advocacy and information networking; and
  • Thematic platforms or networks of expertise, in support of priority areas identified in the Hyogo Framework, led or supported by the Global Platform (Scientific panel/s to be developed).

The ISDR secretariat remains an independent entity within the United Nations Secretariat, accountable to the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, and serves as an “honest broker”, catalyst and main focal point within the UN system on disaster risk reduction issues, aiming to continue to promote ownership and commitment to disaster risk reduction with national, regional and international constituencies, and report on progress (more information available at www.unisdr.org/)

As part of the preparatory process for the first GP/DRR (scheduled for mid 2007), preliminary regional discussions are being organized by the ISDR secretariat in Africa, Asia, Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe. These informal and focused discussions will involve regional inter-governmental organizations with support from relevant regional partners and the regional representatives of the ISDR Reference Group. The meeting for Latin America and the Caribbean was held in Panama on the 29-30 of June, with participation of key UN agencies and regional and sub-regional partners (see page 8).

 



Preliminary Consultation Meeting

In January 2005, on ocassion of the World Conference on Disaster Reduction, a plan of action was agreed upon for the next 10 years, in which 168 governments committed themselves to advance disaster risk reduction by identifying five main priorities for action. This new plan is titled the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. The Framework calls upon all States to take on the responsibility of implementing this plan, and outlines specific activities and mechanisms for making progress on the five priorities for action established.

Likewise, with the purpose of assisting countries in fulfilling the commitments adopted in Kobe, the international community started a process aimed at strengthening the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction system, in order to have a more efficient mechanism for disaster risk reduction at all levels. In this context, the UN/ISDR is holding consultation meetings on all continents to make progress on the creation of the forum: the titled Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction with participation of governments, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society, and other key players.

On June 29, 2006, in Panama City, the UN/ISDR Regional Unit convened a preliminary consultation meeting in order to make headway on this process in Latin America and the Caribbean. The main goals of the gathering were to convey information about the current progress on the strengthened ISDR system, foster a regional commitment to the process, and encourage contributions at the regional level. The meeting also aimed at identifying regional disaster reduction priorities for the Joint Work Plan of the ISDR system, discussing the most appropriate format to capture these priorities and, along with governments, developing a regional preparatory process for the first session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.


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