Global Platform for Disaster Reduction An Information System for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management in Ecuador M. Pilar Cornejo R. de Grunauer National Secretary for Risk Management, ECUADOR May 8-13, 2011 Geneva, Switzerland

Ecuador shares with other countries in the Andean Region its acute vulnerability and high risk exposure to several natural hazards (i.a. earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, gales, landslides, droughts, tsunamis), and other manmade disasters. The National Government has decided to firmly support disaster risk management as an opportunity for domestic change and capacity building

The National Government seeks to establish disaster risk management as a State policy by, among other measures, promoting disaster risk management mainstreaming in all private and public institutions planning and management processes fostering a preparedness culture at all levels within society and the State.

The 2008 Constitution (Sep. 2008) includes risk management explicitly. The national security law (Sep. 2009) established the National Secretary of Risk Management as the rector of the system. The development of the National Decentralised Risk Management System is also mandatory.

Art. 389 reads that the State shall protect all individuals, communities and Nature from the adverse effects of natural or manmade disasters through risk preparedness and prevention activities, disaster mitigation and rehabilitation actions, as well as measures aimed at improving social, economic and environmental conditions in order to minimize their vulnerability.

Art. 389 continued... The National Decentralised Risk Management System is composed of the risk management units of all private and public institutions at local, regional and national level. SNGR was later designated the lead agency to act on behalf of the State, and given a Ministry status.

Art. 390 states that risks shall be managed according to the principle of decentralized subsidiary action. This shall entail the direct responsibility of institutions within their respective geographical area of influence. If their risk management capacities are surpassed, the higher institutional level shall be activated and agencies with larger territorial jurisdiction and technical and financial capacity shall provide the necessary support with due respect for their authority and without taking over their responsibility.

Access to Information is a key element for sound decision making for risk reduction and management. SNGR promotes free access to reliable and verified information by closely working with the technical and scientific organizations which are the first providers of information and addressing the specific needs of different actors.

The national information system for risk management has been set up as a tool to assist end users in the search of appropriate information for different purposes, being the most relevant the following: Emergency Management Logistics Volunteering Organizations Including Civil Protection Resources Library Capacity Building and Training Telecommunications Technical information related to hazards, vulnerabilities, capacities

The data system has incorporated visual aids to make it easier and more attractive. It includes geo referenced maps, stastistics and allows the user easy to manage analisis of the information and reports.

Módulo de Mapas Mapas en diferentes vistas y los generados y cargados por el personal de la institución.

Módulo de Monitoreo Visualiza los eventos suscitados nacional e internacionalmente y el monitoreo actual de los mismos.

Módulo de Emergencias Visualiza los eventos que se han registrado y los georeferencia en el mapa. Tiene acceso libre y restrictivo para la información sin confirmación.

Módulo de Capacidades Visualiza y permite efectuar consultas interactivas de información y generar reportes personalizados por el usuario.

As part of this effort, in alliance with different international cooperation agencies, such as ECHO through its VI DIPECHO Action Plan, UNDP Ecuador, and the GRIP Programme, the National Secretariat for Risk Management is currently leading the definition of a standardized and tested methodology to estimate vulnerabilities at the municipal level in Ecuador.

Four natural hazards are considered in this first stage: earthquakes, volcanic activity, floods and landslides. Major challenge relates to the availability of information at the municipal level that allows the use of state of the art concepts while making it useful and practical for local governments. Also vulnerabilities evaluated go beyond the traditional physical ones and take into account social and economic, organizational, institutional and legal vulnerabilities.

As part of the analysis, physical vulnerability of lifelines such as the water and sewerage systems are considered in an effort to take into account one of the most vulnerable elements in Ecuador and its importance to risk reduction and emergency management.

This methodology is being worked out with the National Planning Office (SENPLADES) which will use it as a complementary tool to mainstream DRR into the Development and Planning Instruments that Local Governments are required to put together. This remains a challenge for the upcomming months!