Floods 2004 Bangladesh, BDRCS

DG ECHO Disaster Preparedness Presentation to the European Conference Disasters Cross Borders: A Union-wide approach to disaster preparedness

Recognition that while humanitarian action to respond to disasters will always be of vital importance critical challenge: how to better anticipate, reduce and manage disaster risk by integrating risk reduction measures into sustainable development planning and policies.

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR): To minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks, to avoid (prevention) or to limit (mitigation and preparedness) the adverse impacts of hazards. DG ECHO core mandate

Council regulation concerning Humanitarian Aid (1996) Article 1 The Community's humanitarian aid shall comprise assistance, relief and protection operations…. help people in third countries, particularly the most vulnerable among them, and as a priority those in developing countries, victims of natural disasters…. Such aid shall also comprise operations to prepare for risks or prevent disasters or comparable exceptional circumstances. Article 2 The principal objectives of the humanitarian aid operations referred to in Article 1 shall be: …(f) to ensure preparedness for risks of natural disasters or comparable exceptional circumstances and use a suitable rapid early-warning and intervention system; DG ECHO’s mandate

Humanitarian donor commitments The 23 Principles and Good Practice of Humanitarian Donorship (2003)  Principle 1: The objectives of humanitarian action are to save lives, alleviate suffering… as well as to prevent and strengthen preparedness for the occurrence of such situations.  Principle 8: Strengthen the capacity of affected countries and local communities to prevent, prepare for, mitigate and respond to humanitarian crises…..

DG ECHO response to natural disasters & preparedness funding Nat. disasters € 67.4 mio.€ mio.€ 94.5 mio. Nat. disasters % %31.33 %14.13 % DIPECHO budget € 13.7 mio.€ 17.5 mio.€ mio. In 2006 ECHO DP mainstreaming in relief approx. € 32 mio. In 2006, EC Humanitarian Aid amounted to EUR 671 mill.

DG ECHO Disaster Preparedness activities 1.DIPECHO programme 2.Mainstreaming of disaster preparedness 3.Drought preparedness 4.Advocacy

DIPECHO versus mainstreaming DIPECHO Stand-alone projects Strong visibility + advocacy frame DIPECHO projects are small-scale and is only one of the contribution to a comprehensive national Disaster Risk Reduction framework Mainstreaming Humanitarian response to natural disaster is a precondition Little analysis of practices, at what stage and what works? Risk of too small and diversified components Good relief providers do not always have in-house DRR expertise Vulnerable groups are often very eager after a disaster

Drought Preparedness Greater Horn of Africa 1st Disaster Preparedness Decision in Africa (EUR 10 M) July 2006 – 17 projects Targeting 7 countries: Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya and Somalia) and 12 million pastoralists Innovative approach – midterm review mid 2007

Advocacy Advocacy for DRR engagement and community-based approaches DG ECHO engages with:  Other EC services – DG DEV, DG RELEX, AIDCO etc.  UN ISDR  Other UN organisations  World Bank  IFRC  NGO partners  Others

DG ECHO Disaster Preparedness activities 2007 Clarify DG ECHO’s role in DP Review DG ECHO mainstreaming practices Trainings & guidelines for DG ECHO staff DIPECHO - lessons learnt catalogue DIPECHO - Launch 3 Action Plans for projects in South America, Caribbean and South Asia (EUR 19.5 million)

DIPECHO around the world - 1 Central America Total DIPECHO investment : EUR million Main hazards: Volcanoes, floods, earthquakes, tropical storms, hurricanes, landslides ECHO TA based in Managua, Nicaragua 5th DIPECHO Action Plan (Dec 2006): EUR 6 mill. – 18 projects Countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Costa Rica and Panama are included in regional projects

DIPECHO around the world – 2 Andean Community Total DIPECHO investment : EUR 17.2 million Main issues in this region: Floods, droughts, earthquakes, volcanoes ECHO TA based in Quito 4th DIPECHO Action Plan launched Dec EUR 4.5 million – 15 projects Countries: Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru and Columbia and region 5 th DIPECHO Action Plan to be launched in 2007 – EUR 6.5 million

DIPECHO around the world - 3 Caribbean Total DIPECHO investment : EUR 12.3 million Main hazards: Hurricanes, floods, tropical storms and mudslides ECHO TA based in Santo Domingo 5 th DIPECHO Action Plan (Sep 2005): EUR 3.5 mill – 7 projects Countries: The Dominican Republic and Haiti. Regional projects also include Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, Guyana, St Lucia and Dominica and Cuba. 6 th DIPECHO Action Plan to be launched in 2007 – EUR 4 million

DIPECHO around the world - 4 Central Asia Total DIPECHO investment : EUR mill. Main hazards: Floods, drought, avalanches, landslides, earthquakes ECHO TA based in Dushanbe 4 th DIPECHO Action Plan (Dec 2006): EUR 6.05 million – 22 projects Countries: Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, border areas of Afghan Badakhsan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Regional projects.

DIPECHO around the world - 5 South Asia Total DIPECHO investment ( ): EUR 11.7 mill. Main hazards: Floods, landslides, earthquakes, cyclones and drought ECHO TA based in New Delhi 3 rd DIPECHO Action Plan (Sep 2005): EUR 6 million – 21 projects Countries: Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Regional projects. 4 th DIPECHO Action Plan to be launched in 2007 – EUR 7.5 million

DIPECHO around the world - 6 South East Asia Total DIPECHO investment in this region: EUR 21million Main hazards: Floods, flash-floods, drought, landslides, typhoons, tsunamis, forest fires, earthquakes and volcanoes ECHO TA based in Bangkok 5th DIPECHO Action Plan (Nov 2006): EUR 7 million – 22 projects Countries: Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia and East Timor. Thailand and Lao PDR participate in regional projects only.

Drought Preparedness - GHA Main components: 1. Community-Based Drought Preparedness Activities Water and Sanitation, Livelihoods 2. Contingency Planning Quick activation of mechanisms, Water management 3. Strengthening Early Warning Systems Credibility: Quality of information, timely delivery, capacity to analyse & coordination mechanism

Assessment so far: LRRD achieved in Kenya (Drought Management Initiative – DG DEV). Uganda (NURP). More to come. Very high level of partner interest Accurate, comprehensive projects Challenges: political engagement, legislative frameworks, funding, required Mid-term evaluation (July 2007) + strategic planning for 2008 Drought Preparedness - GHA