Training and Capacity Building for Disaster Risk Reduction and Sustainable Local Development

Background of this training initiative Conceived within the framework of the UN/ISDR in response to increasing concern about the magnitude of disasters and their impact on local communities worldwide. Being part of the capacity-building component of the International Recovery Platform (IRP), it also looks at post-disaster reconstruction, and identifies recovery as one of the key opportunities for reducing disaster risk. The impact of disasters on territories seriously threatens the fulfillment of the ILO’s goal of decent work for all –which is a key ingredient for sustainable development. HFA IRP ILO

Overall objective To contribute to the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015) at the local level by promoting sustainable local development policies and practices through training and capacity building processes

Target audience Policy-makers and key players in local development management and disaster risk reduction. More specifically people, institutions, governmental and non governmental organizations of civil society and cooperation working at the local level and engaged in the promotion of more resilient communities.

Geographical and linguistic coverage The first training pilot edition in 2007 was specifically designed for Central American region and the Caribbean; As of 2008 the course targets high-risk countries in the Americas, including South, North and Central America and the Caribbean; A pilot inter-regional training offer in English language will be launched in 2009 (blended modality from August to December); Some institutions have already expressed their interest in tailor-made training offers in English, French and Spanish language (GTZ Pakistan, UNDP Haïti, Civil Protection Venezuela, CEPREDENAC/AECI Central America): this requests have to be further explored in year 2009

Approach to the problem The vulnerabilities of a territory are the product of cultural, social, economic, productive and environmental practices and of incorrect political decisions or administrative/institutional weaknesses that we perpetrate through our patterns of development. The negative impact of disasters on local areas is determined by the fragility of the development process. If we wish to achieve sustainability and harmonious development within an area, DRR must be tackled from the viewpoint of the practices that we implement in building our societies. It must incorporate actions designed both to identify and reduce risks that build up over time and, as far as it is possible, to prevent the generation of new risks in present and future activities.

Approach to the problem Actions aiming to reduce the risk of disasters are processes in which strategic planning and local law-making, the appropriate use of local resources, the participation of key actors, prevention and alleviation activities, emergency preparations and management - and post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction must be studied as a whole and cannot be analysed as isolated and random factors within development processes. The ITC/ILO Training Course emphasizes and examines each one of these aspects from a view of the whole and from a global perspective.

Rescue and Humanitarian Aid Approach to the problem DRR Mitigation Prevention Reconstruction Preparedness Emergency and Response Rescue and Humanitarian Aid Relief and Rehabilitation Recovery SUSTAINABLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT

Key topics and training units SUSTAINABLE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT DISASTERS, RISKS AND LOCAL RISK REDUCTION STRATEGIC PLANNING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL PROJECT DESIGN WITH A RISK REDUCTION APPROACH PREPARATION AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RECONSTRUCTION FOR TRANSFORMATION

Sustainable local development Local development marks a different approach, representing an alternative form of national and regional development that marks a departure from traditional models. It is based on a consideration of the area with its institutions, its resources, its values, its culture and its population but also its problems, weaknesses and potentials. Endogenous local development is sustainable when it is possible to achieve a balance between the economic, political, social and environmental fields; when policies reinforce all the elements in a balanced and joined-up manner. The concept of territory can transcend a limited political or geographical space, a given municipality or a specific community.

Disasters, risks and local risk reduction The effects of disasters on people, infrastructures, productive systems and means of subsistence, ecosystems etc. may vary from community or neighbourhood level (small disasters), involve several communities (medium-sized disasters) or even affect great swathes of a country or region (large-scale disasters). The causes and actors that determine a risk may have a very different territorial location, far away from the location where the disaster arises. Risks may be natural, but disasters are not! Local risk reduction is a process that must be led by local authorities and taken on board by all actors who play a part in territorial development.

Local risk reduction: what is it? Raising of awareness and education about threats, vulnerabilities and risks; The summoning, coordination and organisation of key socio economic actors for local development; Political will and the commitment of competent local authorities and key actors to reducing disaster risk; The wholesale diagnosis of the territory in all fields/aspects of development and analyses of processes generating risk, the identification of responsible social actors and causes contributing to the construction of risk; An analysis of vulnerability and threat factors (evaluation of risk) existing within the territory and those that could arise due to new development actions; The identification and prioritisation of disaster risk reduction options and alternatives and the taking of decisions on more appropriate and realistic solutions in view of the existing context; Negotiations with the actors involved or affected both within the local environment and from other territorial levels; The processing of strategic plans, programmes and projects, management and generation of resources and allocation of responsibilities; The ongoing monitoring and evaluation of measures and solutions and of the environment and of the behaviour of risk factors; The appropriation, empowerment and training of key actors in local risk management.

Local strategic planning and PCM A systematic tool at the service of local development; A creative process for managing change and local development, through the identification and definition of needs, objectives and priorities that make it possible to design the best possible future for a given territory, community or society; The main aim of SP is to ensure that a given social environment is able to benefit maximally from its opportunities and capabilities, neutralise threats (internal and external), use strengths in its favour and overcome weaknesses; Based on the Logical Framework Approach and integrated by the Project Cycle Management; It implies the participation of local stakeholders and the definition of long term objectives.

Preparation and emergency management Reduce the adverse effects of the risk by eliminating vulnerable points in the management of disasters through plans for evacuation, allocation of responsibilities, coordination of activities, creation of local capabilities, allocation of the necessary methods and resources, etc.; Provide early warning systems so that the population is able to take action and protect itself against an imminent danger; Apply effective and opportune measures through an active and continuous process with a global plan for managing the response and the emergency that is subject to ongoing review and updating; Ensure the opportune, appropriate and effective distribution of humanitarian aid and assistance; Envisage exit strategies that make it possible to move on from the stage of the emergency and humanitarian aid as quickly as possible to the stage of post-disaster recovery.

Reconstruction towards more sustainable development Reconstruction must form part of the development and disaster risk reduction policies that are implemented in an ongoing manner within the society and must anticipate, plan and reinforce the use of resources and capabilities that are endogenous to the communities. Local actors must also have the following in readiness: resource development and management plans, investment projects and an appropriate organisation that establishes the responsibilities of the parties involved in post-disaster processes. Effective reconstruction and effective development are based on the same basic principles. Local authorities and actors can take advantage of post-disaster reconstruction as a window of opportunity and one of the best times to get rid of bad development practices and introduce the topic of disaster risk reduction in territorial planning, for promoting proactive and ongoing strategies to consolidate safer and more sustainable societies.

Key achievements in the region The training experience in Latin American Key achievements in the region

The training experience in Latin American 2007 2008 Second open edition for the Americas + Field Activity in Dominican Republic 55 participants/institutions trained 6 Training Units (distance learning and face to face) 3 Handbooks (Participants’ handbook, Theoretical framework, Project design for SLD with DRR and CCA approach) 1 Working Paper (former participants’ projects implemented in the field) Pilot initiative for Central America and the Caribbean Field activity in Nicaragua 25 participants/institutions trained 4 Training Units (distance learning and face to face) 2 Handbooks (Participants’ handbook and Theoretical framework) 2 Journals (Delnet and ISDR insight on the course)

The training experience in Latin American Participation in ISDR Regional Platform on Urban Risk (Feb 2008) GIS for Strategic Planning (included into the on-going course year 2008 and to be developed through new activities in 2009) with UNOSAT and ISDR Americas Workshop with local authorities associations in partnership with FEMICA and ISDR Americas (Feb 2008) to detect concrete needs of Central American local governments and to set-up together a capacity building strategy on SLD and DRR Participation in the 14th Central American Network on Decentralisation and Strengthening of Municipal Administration (Guatemala, Sept 2008) Network of multiplier agents and focal points for training and capacity building at the local level: peer group of former participants for content validation, focal points in the field, bridges to high-risk and difficult target countries, etc.