1. Implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action at the Local Level
UN/ISDR– ITC/ILO Cooperation Agreement for the LAC region

2. Background and justification
In response to increasing concern about the magnitude of disasters and their impact on local communities worldwide
Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) priority for action number 3
The International Recovery Platform – Capacity Building component
“Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels.”
“Disasters can be substantially reduced if people are well informed and motivated towards a culture of disaster prevention and resilience, which in turn requires the collection, compilation and dissemination of relevant knowledge and information on hazards, vulnerabilities and capacities.”
This platform (which emanates from the HFA) identifies post-disaster recovery as one of the key opportunities to reduce disaster risk and specifically calls for ‘integrating disaster risk reduction efforts in post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation processes, including through sharing of expertise, knowledge and lessons learned.’

3. Background and justification
Global governance is not a lofty, disembodied sphere. It is merely the apex of a web of governance that stretches from the local level upwards
Decent Work Agenda of the ILO
“It involves opportunities for work that is productive and delivers a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, better prospects for personal development and social integration, freedom for people to express their concerns, organize and participate in the decisions that affect their lives and equality of opportunity and treatment for all women and men.”
Conclusions of ILO’s World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization
“Policy must focus squarely on meeting peoples’ needs where they live and work. It is thus essential to nurture local communities through the devolution of power and resources and through strengthening local economic capabilities, cultural identity, and respecting the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples.”

4. The International Training Centre of the ILO
The training arm of the International Labour Organization (ILO), a United Nations agency entrusted with promoting social justice, including internationally recognized human rights and labour standards.
The Centre works to enhance the capacity of governments, employers' organizations, workers' organizations and other social and economic actors to play an effective role in the economic and social development of their countries and regions.
To promote the Decent Work Agenda which should become a global goal for all international, regional, national and local public and private actors.

5. ITC/ILO areas of expertise
Child labour
Employment
Employers
Enterprise development
Forced labour and trafficking in human beings
Gender equality
Globalization
HIV / AIDS
Informal economy
Information technology and training methodology
International labour standards
Local development
Management of the development process
Microfinance
Migration and trafficking
Occupational safety and health
Poverty reduction
Public sector management
Socially responsible enterprise
Social dialogue
Social Security
Vocational education and training
Workers' education

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

7. Specific objectives
Foster the adoption and implementation at the local level of adequate policies and actions that are sensitive to disaster risk reduction by promoting sustainable local development and strengthening participatory strategic planning.
Share and develop knowledge and practical tools that will make the management and reduction of risk an integral part of local development efforts.
Strengthen the capacity of local key players to promote and implement local development projects which contribute to build a culture of safety and resilience in their countries.
Promote experience-sharing, cooperation and the stocktaking of best practices, through the establishment of a regional network of local disaster risk and development managers.
Raise the awareness of local players of the role of preparedness, recovery and reconstruction in reducing disaster risk and vulnerabilities, while creating the socio-economic conditions for durable development.

8. Beneficiaries
Policy-makers and key socio-economic players in local development management and disaster risk reduction, meaning governmental and non-governmental institutions and civil society organizations.
e.g.: Government officials at the local, provincial, departmental and national levels; Municipal associations and federations; Associations of professionals, entrepreneurs and workers; Local Development Agencies; NGOs, Technical cooperation projects; Community-based and other grass-roots organizations; National and Local institutes engaged in disaster management and risk reduction; Regional institutions engaged in the coordination of national governments’ efforts at disaster reduction.
LAC region, with potential replication in other regions

9. Activities

10. Nature of on-going activities
Training and Capacity Building for DRR and Sustainable Local Development
Technical Assistance for the setting up of local development projects
Institutional Strengthening for Decentralization and Management of Local Development Processes
Regional Network of Local Agents in Support of HFA implementation at the local level

11. Training and Capacity Building for DRR and Sustainable Local Development
A one year specialization course “Disaster Risk Reduction within the framework of Sustainable Local Development”, implemented ILO/Delnet with participation of ISDR Central America and other regional and international partners;
Specialized training workshops and fellowships in the “Use of Satellite Imagery and Geographic Information Systems for Participatory Strategic Development Planning at the Local Level”, implemented by UNITAR/UNOSAT in collaboration with ISDR CA and ILO/Delnet;
One year access to Delnet Information, Technical Advice and Networking tools, based on e-platforms and e-learning tools.
Outputs per activity

12. Technical Assistance for the setting up of local development projects
Advice and Capacity Building for the implementation of Strategic Development Planning Processes in selected target countries/territories with a risk-reduction approach.
These countries have been beneficiaries of previous training courses.
The technical assistance for the formulation of Strategic Development Plan in priorities disaster-prone local territories will follow participatory process and the use of satellite imagery (thanks to the support of UNOSAT).
The technical assistance is carried out jointly by ITC/ILO Delnet, ILO sectorial programmes and by partner institutions: UNITAR/UNOSAT, UNI, Coorporación OSSO, among others.
Outputs per activity

13. Institutional Strengthening for Decentralization and Management of Local Development Processes
FEMICA, the Central American Association of Municipalities, in February 2008, participated in a meeting proposed by UN/ISDR, ITC/ILO and UNOSAT whose outcome was to joint forces to promote the overall objective of this project.
As a result, FEMICA decided to lead in the promotion of HFA local agenda within local authorized associations and municipalities of the region and further mainstream experience gained in the regional integration political agenda and decentralization policies and mechanisms.
Regional partnership with a “local” mandate.
Outputs per activity

14. Regional Network of Local Agents in Support of HFA implementation at the local level
Networking and support to resource mobilization for the implementation of investment plans and projects defined through SDP exercises in reference projects.
Monitoring, evaluation and systematization of experiences acquired in the context of supported reference projects.
Knowledge sharing and global outreach with other programmes, institutions and groups involved worldwide in similar approaches.
50 potential participants/institutions are already candidates for this network (coming from previous training courses held in the region).
Outputs per activity

15. Training Unit Contents
TU 1 – Globalization, decentralization and local development: disasters and their impact on societies
Local development and sustainable local development: basic concepts;
Development processes and the generation of disaster risk;
Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation practices;
Disasters and their impact on development (good and bad practice);
The global institutional framework in the region, mechanisms and resources.
TU 2 – Strategic planning at the local level with a risk reduction approach
Strategic planning for sustainable local development;
Tools for risk management planning and the rational use of local resources: geographic information systems.
TU 3 – Local risk management in the framework of sustainable local development
Local risk management: what is it? Understanding the problem;
Territorial disaster risk reduction;
Risk analysis and evaluation;
Use of climate change scenarios for prospective risk analysis;
Organization, management and resources for the reduction of disaster risk;
Methodology for risk management planning;
The use of GIS based on satellite imagery applied to strategic planning for disaster risk reduction at the local level;
The risk management plan as input into strategic planning for sustainable local development.

16. Training Unit Contents
TU 4 – The role of local actors in disaster preparedness
Preparedness efforts: what they are and how they are linked to local risk management and to development sustainability;
Detection of vulnerabilities, threats and capacities;
Early warning and preparedness;
Local coordination for preparedness;
Methodology and tools for preparedness planning;
Preparedness planning: the steps;
The link between relief and reconstruction.
TU 5 – Post-disaster reconstruction as an opportunity for enhancing sustainable local development
The historical focus of post-disaster reconstruction
Reconstruction in local risk management: an opportunity for promoting development, change and sustainable recovery in disaster-prone areas
Fundamental principles of sustainable reconstruction and recovery
The institutional framework and participation by key players in a sustainable reconstruction process
Activity planning for reconstruction and resource management
Examples of good reconstruction practice.
TU 6 -Project design with a risk reduction approach
Setting objectives, results and activities.
Priorities and feasible strategies.
Project cycle and design, implementation and follow-up, with a DRR approach.

17. Expected results by 2009

18. Results
At least 50 new participants from most vulnerable areas in the Americas will be trained by the Delnet Programme of the ITC/ILO at the end of year 2009.
At least 5 Strategic Development Planning Projects will be started up. Selected countries: Nicaragua (Mancomunidad de la Cuenca del Río Telica), Colombia (Resguardo Indigena del Volcán Nevado del Huila), Cuba (area to be confirmed) Haití (area to be confirmed) and Honduras (San Pedro de Sula in partnership with FEMICA).
Partnerships agreements with key international and regional institutions with a local development mandate will be ratified to foster decentralization processes in the region (namely, FEMICA, and other institutions to be explored).
A network of 100 former participants/institutions will be actively launched through to consolidate the ISDR regional network in support of the HFA implementation at the local level.

19. Implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action at the Local Level
Interest in replicating this experience in other regions and territories