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Indira Kulenovic DIPECHO South Asia

Picture:Bangladesh ExperienceFloods 2002 vs. Floods 2004

School Earthquake Safety Project in Shimla – small DIPECHO initiative in a state with very high risk of earthquakes and landslides as secondary effect.

Pilot project well coordinated initiative received positively by all stakeholders involved (school children and their parents, teachers, education authorities) with possible positive future through local ownership and replic ation. To be taken up on greater scale..

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ECHO-UN ISDR Partnership – “Knowledge and Capacity Building for Disaster resilience”

Seismically faulty structures collapsing were not necessarily result of lack of economic wealth of the country but predominantly due to lack of safe construction knowledge, practices and appropriate skills of the building craftsman.

ÆÆ Inappropriate reconstruction/rehabilitation = Rebuilding Risk Inappropriate reconstruction/rehabilitation = Rebuilding Risk –– back back to square oneto square one!!

ÆÆ Existing institutions set up for Existing institutions set up for reactive naturereactive nature rather than rather than preventivepreventive --no sustained national/local capacities for DRno sustained national/local capacities for DR

ÆÆ Transformative recovery opportunities not possible without Transformative recovery opportunities not possible without up scaling up scaling small innovative initiativessmall innovative initiatives led by civil society organizations /NGOs in led by civil society organizations /NGOs in the larger reconstruction plans. the larger reconstruction plans.

ÆÆ Maximize the impact of post crisis context Maximize the impact of post crisis context -- more receptiveness to more receptiveness to risk reduction measuresrisk reduction measures

ÆÆ Specialized agencies providing training for masons in safe buildSpecialized agencies providing training for masons in safe building ing constructions not always available.constructions not always available.

èè In partnership with UNDP, In partnership with UNDP, ECHO/DIPECHO is currently supporting ECHO/DIPECHO is currently supporting the development of National Strategy the development of National Strategy for Disaster for Disaster Risk Reduction based on Risk Reduction based on Hyogo Framework for Action.Hyogo Framework for Action.

èè More than 24 Ministries, the National More than 24 Ministries, the National Planning Commission and 2 national Planning Commission and 2 national organizations, plus Civil society, organizations, plus Civil society, corporate sector, I/NGOs, CBOs, external corporate sector, I/NGOs, CBOs, external development partners (donors), academic development partners (donors), academic institution involved, institution involved,

èè Once developed, DIPECHO support will Once developed, DIPECHO support will be far too small to make it be far too small to make it ““alivealive””-- the the strategy strategy –– once finalized once finalized -- would need would need much greater external support for the much greater external support for the practical and successful implementation.practical and successful implementation.

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ÆÆ Tendency by practitioners/government/NGOs/Donors to passively suTendency by practitioners/government/NGOs/Donors to passively support pport Hyogo Framework for Action Hyogo Framework for Action –– integrated approach is not synchronized yet..integrated approach is not synchronized yet..

ÆÆ Relatively widely spread orientation to fireRelatively widely spread orientation to fire--brigading (response) actions at all brigading (response) actions at all levels rather than risk reduction vision levels rather than risk reduction vision -- big picture missing. big picture missing.

ÆÆ Insufficient pressure on implementing agencies to mainstream disInsufficient pressure on implementing agencies to mainstream disaster aster reduction in their rehabilitation/reconstruction and developmentreduction in their rehabilitation/reconstruction and development projectsprojects

ÆÆ Although ECHO/DIPECHO does not have DRR strategy but orientationAlthough ECHO/DIPECHO does not have DRR strategy but orientation, , efforts have been made through our limited interventions to insiefforts have been made through our limited interventions to insist with all st with all potential partners that DRR approach would be supported and one potential partners that DRR approach would be supported and one time off time off intervention that would not promote intervention that would not promote ““do no harmdo no harm”” approach would not be approach would not be supported. Remains a challenge as even the long term partners insupported. Remains a challenge as even the long term partners inDP have DP have demonstrated insufficient knowledge and commitment to such approdemonstrated insufficient knowledge and commitment to such approach (in ach (in practical terms) ... practical terms) ...

ÆÆ Lack of formal/informal trainings in DRR (possibly ISDR to develLack of formal/informal trainings in DRR (possibly ISDR to develop op ––equivalent to FACT and UNDAC training in response/relief) equivalent to FACT and UNDAC training in response/relief) –– requested at requested at all field levels: i.e.: currently lots of confusion between disaall field levels: i.e.: currently lots of confusion between disaster ster preparedness, disaster risk reduction, development preparedness, disaster risk reduction, development –– many fail to see the many fail to see the linkages and complementarities.linkages and complementarities.

Lessons from the field..Lessons from the field..ECHO ECHO -- DIPECHODIPECHO

ÆÆ Preparedness is the first response mechanism at the onset of disPreparedness is the first response mechanism at the onset of disasteraster..

ÆÆ Small Investments diverted from humanitarian response/rehabilitaSmall Investments diverted from humanitarian response/rehabilitation tion towards risk reduction measures, oriented towards local capacitytowards risk reduction measures, oriented towards local capacity and and awareness raising can ensure that spontaneous recovery is disastawareness raising can ensure that spontaneous recovery is disaster resilient er resilient –– DRR mainstreamingDRR mainstreaming -- ““do no harmdo no harm”” approach..approach..

ÆÆ All post disaster humanitarian support should proactively seek All post disaster humanitarian support should proactively seek opportunities opportunities for risk reduction in relief spend for risk reduction in relief spend -- DP/DRRDP/DRR MainstreamingMainstreaming……Minimum Minimum Standards to be developed!! (equivalent to Sphere for emergency Standards to be developed!! (equivalent to Sphere for emergency relief relief minimum requirements)minimum requirements)

ÆÆ Hyogo Framework strategic goal of integrating disaster reductionHyogo Framework strategic goal of integrating disaster reduction/resilience /resilience in recovery and reconstruction can be in recovery and reconstruction can be monitored by developing indicatorsmonitored by developing indicators( percentage of resources for risk reduction, assessment of temp( percentage of resources for risk reduction, assessment of temporary orary housing and water supply restoration whether these conform to rihousing and water supply restoration whether these conform to risk resilient sk resilient standards)standards)

ÆÆ Need for specialized training/awareness raising in DRR with pracNeed for specialized training/awareness raising in DRR with practical tical demonstrationsdemonstrations–– simply introducing the simply introducing the ““attractiveattractive”” document is not enough document is not enough –– there is lack of understanding at all levels about DRRthere is lack of understanding at all levels about DRR……we need to support we need to support it through more proactive policies/strategies followed by integrit through more proactive policies/strategies followed by integration of ation of smaller scale good practices/pilot projects into longer term/scasmaller scale good practices/pilot projects into longer term/scale le development projects. Setting up good examples.. development projects. Setting up good examples..

DRR is an investment, not a cost,DRR is an investment, not a cost,DRR is everyoneDRR is everyone’’s businesss business……