1. The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP/DRR)
Meeting of European National Platforms and Focal Points for DRR, Council of Europe, Strasbourg, 7 May 2007
Lars Bernd, Programme Officer National Platforms
ISDR Secretariat, Geneva

2. What is the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction?
Part of efforts to build a strengthened ISDR system to better respond to:
Increasing vulnerability & changing nature of some hazards (new challenges)
Increased demand for support and capacity-building
Need for greater inclusiveness, more coherence & coordination
More political space and funding

3. + another milestone to build a « Risk reduction movement »
Our objective: To reduce disaster risk, worldwide, focusing on nations and communities
The instrument: Hyogo Framework for Action
The vehicle: A strenghtened ISDR system - ‘movement’
                  

4. A meeting of DRR practitioners convening for the first time as „Global Platform“ from 5-7 June 2007 (in Geneva)
400+ Delegates representing:
Governments,
UN agencies,
Int. financial institutions,
Regional bodies,
Civil society,
Private sector and
Scientific and academic communities.
Expected to become the main global forum for all stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction
Forum = Expansion of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Disaster Reduction (IATF/DR)
Will ensure much stronger participation by Governments (who were previously not represented in the Task Force)
Criteria for participation
Organizations requesting participation
Strong and continued engagement in DRR
Wide representation at international and/or regional level
Initial invitations:
Governments,
IATF/DR members
Expert organizations

5. - to install a regularity of meetings:
A step
- to install a regularity of meetings:
Global Platform convening biannually (2007, 2009, ...)
Regional consultations on even number years (2008, 2010, ...)
+ Annual UN General Assembly committee meetings on DRR
- to systematically monitor progress:
Review of national reports on Hyogo Framework implementation

6. What are the objectives of the Global Platform’s first session?
1. Raise awareness on reducing disaster risk:
Increase the profile of DRR as part of development and climate change adaptation, recognising that it is „everybody‘s business“ and must be a multi-stakeholder undertaking, with Governments playing a central role
Reiterate the commitment of policy and decision-makers to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action ( )
2. Share experience:
Learn from good practice
Provide practical guidance for nations and communities to reduce disaster risk.

7. 3. Guide the ISDR system:
Assess progress made in implementing the Hyogo Framework, identify obstacles, critical problems and emerging issues that must be addressed to speed up national and local implementation
Enhance cooperation and concerted action by the international community to support national and local implementation of disaster risk reduction including identification of priorities for the ISDR system for
In other words, it will be an opportunity for participants to:
Discuss strategies and policies to reduce disaster risk
Identify gaps in policies and programmes
Recommend remedial action
Ensure complementarities of action at all levels
Key consideration for debate:
The possible setting up of future Programme Advisory Committee, which would act as main inter-sessional fourm to ensure follow-up to Global Platform sessions and oversee the mobilisation and distribution of funding for Disaster Risk Reduction

8. Expected outcome of the first session of the Global Platform
Identify a variety of options to pursue the Hyogo Framework‘s Strategic Goals and to implement its five Priorities of Action
Provide findings and recommendations drawing on experiences in implementing the Hyogo Framework so far.
Contribute to enhanced cooperation and information sharing on national needs helping to improve international support mechanisms
Identify priorities for the ISDR system for
Those elements will be summarised in a report and constitute the basis for the UN Secretary-General‘s report to the General Assembly
The GP/DRR wil provide recommendations, which will be further debated by UN member states at the GA meeting in September (?) 2007 and lead to a new resolution on DRR and the ISDR system

9. Global Platform Structure
Ministerial statements and high level panels to increase policy makers’ awareness & commitment (1st day)
Plenary meeting to monitor progress, identify gaps and develop guidance for ISDR system partners (1st & 3rd days)
Workshops and poster sessions, to exchange experience and lessons to be learnt in specific priority areas (2nd day)
Parallel meetings and side events (all 3 days, plus day before and after)

10. Global Platform Day 1
High-level dialogue to consider the urgency for all stakeholders to engage in DRR
Reducing disaster risk through the Hyogo Framework as a key strategy for adaptation to climate change
The growing risks in mega-cities and urban areas
Making the economic, social and political case for disaster risk reduction policy
Dialogue will involve:
To be completed
Facilitated by:
TBC

11. Global Platform Day 2 Session Workshops
Technical discussions on key thematic priorities focusing on national and local implementation of DRR
Opportunity to exchange good practices, lessons learnt and provide guidance around a given subject area
Structured to provide a set of recommendations to support the implementation of the ISDR.
Divided into two agenda items:
Disaster Risk Reduction as a National Priority: Exchange of Experience Among Countries and Organizations on Different Institutional Options and Processes that Lead to Change;
Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into Sector Agendas

12. Global Platform Day 2 Session Workshops
National Mechanism Workshop
Sectoral Workshops
National Platforms – National Coordinating mechanisms
(Organisation facilitated by: NPs + ISDR Secr)
Policy and legis-lation for sustain. DRR
(UNDP)
Mainstrea-ming DRR in PRSPs and National Develop-ment Instru-ments
(WB)
From national frameworks to local implemen-tation
(ProVention Secret.)
Education and safer schools
(UNESCO)
Health and health care centres
(WHO)
Environ-ment and Ecosystem Manage-ment (UNEP)
Disaster Prepared-ness
(UN-OCHA)
Two threads running in parallel
Participants will after an introduction in plenary split in different workshops
National Mechanisms Workshop focusing on Key Activities foreseen under Priority of Action 1 „Ensure that DRR is a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis implementation“
An Exchange of experience amongst countries & organizations on different options
Sectoral workshops focusing on
PA 3 Education
PA4: Health + Envirionement
PA5: Preparedness
Organisation facilitated by ISDR partners, mainly UN, but:
Governments in the driving seat as Case study presenters + Chairs

13. Global Platform Day 3 Plenary meetings
Focus on monitoring progress (HFA progress reports)
Review findings of workshop sessions
Identify gaps, opportunities and priorities for further action by ISDR system partners

14. Side events and Parallel meetings
Recovery,
Global Wildland Fire Monitoring Network,
Implementing the HFA in the Caribbean – Focus on NPs,
Reducing DR and Building resilience to disasters in cities,
Networking for drought risk reduction,
Satellite Imagery and GIS for DRR at local level,
PLANAT – 10 yrs of experience, …
Parallel meetings:
Media training on prevention and climate change,
Global NGO network meeting,
PPP meeting with WEF,
Regional discussions Asia,
Launch of CADRI, …
GP/DRR also venue for ...
Independently arranged by ISDR system partners
Application deadlines has passed, but there probably scope to still contribute to a few side events and parallel meetings.

15. Potential contribution to the Global Platform
High-level national delegation
High-level resource person or functionary for Day 1 dialogue on the rationale for investments in DRR, climate change and DRR or urban risk
Contribution through case studies or chairmanship to the workshops on Day 2
Contribution as resource person and/or with case studies to side events and open parallel sessions
Poster presentations, display of publications …
As input to working group discussions

16. Thank you