International Course on Development and Disasters with Special Focus on Health February 10 – 21, 2003: St Anns, Jamaica CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation Prepared by Jeremy Collymore, Coordinator Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency As part the Introductory Course for Non-Caribbean participants

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation INTRODUCTION CDERA established on principles of inter- governmental cooperation Number of small states with large vulnerabilities and limited individual capacity Rationalizing diverse actions towards a common goal was central to operationalizing the Agreement

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OBJECTIVES To make an immediate and coordinated response by means of emergency disaster relief To secure, coordinate and channel to interested inter-governmental organizations, reliable and comprehensive information on disasters

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OBJECTIVES To mobilize and coordinate disaster relief from governmental and non-governmental organizations To mitigate or eliminate the immediate consequences of disasters

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation PHILOSOPHY & EPISTEMOLOGY Preparedness is a pre-condition for effective response Preparedness is indispensable to effective recovery and reconstruction The integrative nature of disaster management activities necessitates collaboration and cooperation among key stakeholders

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation AREAS OF CAPACITY BUILDING Organization Structure and Systems Operational systems and Procedures Knowledge acquisition, management and transfer

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE & SYSTEMS Model Legislation developed, discussed and adapted Programming Planning Guide Conditions of Service and Model Job Descriptions Guidelines for use of in agency correspondence

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS Regional Coordination Plan Donor Group Coordination Protocols Military Operational Order EOC Planning Guides Emergency Telecommunications Guide

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS Model Emergency Communications Guide Maintenance as a Mitigation Tool Emergency Broadcast Policy Media Kit MOUs with 10 organisations

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS (Contd) Shelter Management Programme and Policy Guide Donations Management Protocol Relief Distribution Policy Guide Events and Exercise Evaluation Guide

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS (Contd) Donor Group Programming Consultation Community Disaster Planning Model Mitigation Policy for Education Sector Model Emergency Housing Policy

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS (Contd) Education and Information Policy and Strategy Model Flood Contingency Plan Early Warning Systems for Vulnerable Communities Flood Preparedness Checklist for Schools Disaster Auxilliary Corp Guidelines

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS (Contd) Model LSAR SOPs and Guidelines Model National Mitigation Policy Community Preparedness –Flood Preparation Initiatives

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT AND TRANSFER Partner Alliance in Special Areas(RSTS, CDP, Warehousing) Technology Adaptation Material Acquisition and Adaptation (EOC, Shelter, Damage Assessment)

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION MANAGEMENT AND TRANSFER Material Development and Sharing(CDP/EOC Plan, EOC Course) University and College Involvement Standardization of process and product Hazard Mapping Mitigation Policy Informal Building Education

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy CDM involves all actions required to ensure that a country or jurisdiction has capability to deal with all types of hazards, at all phases of disaster management.

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation CDM CONTD Incorporates Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery by coordinating the wide-ranging actions and utilizing all necessary resources available from numerous agencies. Focuses on the concepts of multi-hazard, multi- disciplinary and multi-sectoral approach with the inter –related components: integrated, comprehensive and coordinated

CDM Strategy and Results Framework

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY Utilization of Sub-Regional Focal Points Pilot Activities Model Programmes Exchange Programmes Training Workshops Technical Working Groups Inter-Regional Cooperation

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation PILOT ACTIVITIES Selected country is in a position to support the activities Has required infrastructure to document and share experiences and lessons learnt Implemented within the framework existing national or regional programme Sought to complement existing initiatives

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation PILOT ACTIVITIES (Contd) Selected criteria developed and shared Selected state required to demonstrate desire, commitment and capacity to fulfill specific implementation obligations

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation MODEL PROGRAMMES Initiated at national or sectoral level Supported in process and experience documentation Used as a basis for information sharing and cross-fertilization of concepts and ideas Within and among countries and regions

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation LESSONS LEARNT Sense of criticalness must be shared by all stakeholders Clear definition of problem and commitment to the solution is conditional to collaboration Even when criticalness is established, commitment to coordination is not assured Level of cooperation is influenced by proportion of agency resources to be dedicated to the efforts

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OBSERVATIONS & THE WAY FORWARD Important to a cooperation agenda is an infrastructure for accommodating commitment to an agreed agenda whilst minimizing the need for adjustment in agency structure, goals and operating protocols

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OBSERVATIONS & THE WAY FORWARD (Contd) Cooperation agenda should be built around a coordination infrastructure derived from consultative programme planning and information sharing

CDERA Experience in Institutional Capacity Building: Institutionalizing Cooperation OBSERVATIONS & THE WAY FORWARD (Contd) Such a framework can be the outcome of strategic planning framework involving key stakeholders