The Strategy – PRERED, Forum outcomes Pablo Torrealba

13/08/2008 Forum outcomes Proposed Forums Topics  Discussion of the member economies on the strategy document  Public/Private Investment, territorial planning and vulnerability reduction in future markets;  Support of Cooperation agencies and regional institutions to improve the proposal;

13/08/2008 Forum outcomes Outcomes of topic 1: Discussion of the member economies on the strategy document  Existing results:  In the Americas, ISDR is working on a thematic platform for urban risks (being cities complex systems);  OIT DELNET program has developed the Disaster Risk Reduction Programme in it’s Local Sustainable development framework.

13/08/2008 Forum outcomes Outcomes of topic 1: Discussion of the member economies on the strategy document  Comments to the existing Strategy document:  Preparedness and response elements don’t appear to be all included as they should be. And risks indicators should include community services and not only commercial processes;  When centred in only 3 strategic lines (technical and economic cooperation; investment liberalization and market facilitation) is too limited and does not allow to include local governments, grass-roots organizations and community impacts;  It is very important to strengthen local communities’ resilience, but seems isolated. This should be better integrated in the Strategy

13/08/2008 Forum outcomes Outcome of Topic 2: Public/Private Investment, territorial planning and vulnerability reduction in future markets 4 questions were proposed to be discussed: 1.Which disaster impacts do you know from your experience? 2.How does territorial knowledge or lack of knowledge influence the increase of negative disaster impacts? 3.Which positive examples relating territorial management and vulnerability reduction do you know, in order to allow competitive economic activities to continue after extreme events? 4.What kind of mechanisms should we implement in the years to come and before 2015 to avoid ENSO setback the economies?

13/08/2008 Forum outcomes Outcome of Topic 2: Which disaster impacts do you know from your experience?  Disaster impact affects more those with less resources. Disasters and development should be discussed jointly;  There is a need to go from reactive actions to prospective actions. We should thing the challenge is to decrease vulnerabilities;  To reduce vulnerabilities, all actors should be aware, so mass communication media are fundamental allies;  Examples from El Niño in Peru and Katrina hurricane were given

13/08/2008 Forum outcomes Outcome of Topic 2: How does territorial knowledge or lack of knowledge influence the increase of negative disaster impacts?  Even though information access can not guarantee vulnerability reduction, lack of it surely produces vulnerabilities (2 examples from Peru);  Civil Defences organizations in the Americas are often left aside after “big” disasters by temporary Gov. Organizations, generating confusion and institutional overlapping;

13/08/2008 Forum outcomes Outcome of Topic 2: Which positive examples relating territorial management and vulnerability reduction do you know, in order to allow competitive economic activities to continue after extreme events?  Exposition levels are determined by territorial usage. Territorial planning is a key tool to reducing risks;  Development sustainability can’t be ensured if it does not include territorial and risk management. Vulnerability needs to be recognized in order to include it’s reduction as a development and investment goal.

13/08/2008 Forum outcomes Outcome of Topic 2: What kind of mechanisms should we implement in the years to come and before 2015 to avoid ENSO setback the economies?  7 out of 10 models predict one similar 82/83 ENSO during ;  Education, policy, legal and scientific actions should then be taken, such as:  Generate local capacities in Risk Management and adapt the tools to territories and cultures;  Strengthen inter and intra-institutional coordination;  Support citizen participation in decision making for territorial planning and event monitoring;  Strengthen the scientific agenda with South-South and North-South cooperation;  APEC Strategy is then an opportunity by invigorating several processes such as: technical information and good practices exchange, integrating information systems, and affecting policy

13/08/2008 Forum outcomes Outcome of Topic 3: Support of Cooperation agencies and regional institutions to improve the proposal  Suggestions:  Include the risk variable into public investments plans (with a risk analysis which methodology is still to be built). There is an example in Peru, supported by GTZ;  Systematize and disseminate case studies on risk variable inclusion in planning process, risk variable inclusion at local, national and regional levels;  Integrate all information systems by establishing exchange mechanisms for: early warnings, impact information an disaster management, and territorial information for risk reduction;  The strategy should focus on strengthening existing capacities, develop research programs, develop information production programs, and define information production and exchange policies.

Thank you Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Asia Pacific region : Internet forum outcomes