May 6-7, 2011 Academy House, Seoul

Ecumenical Challenge 1. Immensity of disaster 2. Need for capacity building and training due to insufficient experience and expertise 3. Churches financial limitation 4. Conscience to the world to assist on the basis of humanitarian need

Turning Crisis into Opportunity 1. Demonstrate Ecumenical Movement commitment to the people of Japan 2. Manifest unity of the church with unity of humankind 3. Be a continued advocate to the international community long after CNN factor is gone 4. Demonstrate best practices in disaster assistance

Understanding vulnerability and risk 1. Limited access to: power, resources and structures 2. Inadequate local institutions, training, appropriate skills, local investments

Understanding vulnerability and risk Unsafe conditions 1. Physical environment: dangerous locations, unprotected buildings and infrastructure 2. Local economy: livelihoods at risk and low income levels 3. Government: lack of disaster preparedness

Understanding vulnerability and risk RISK = Hazard X Vulnerability

Disaster Response Best Practices Do no harm Avoiding competition for the sake of victims and their communities Avoiding flawed program designs Demonstrate accountability and transparency to both affected populations and donors

Disaster Response Best Practices Quality of intervention not quantity Actively involve all stakeholders including those whom we seek to help Relief (aid) must be accompanied by constant advocacy (political action)

Disaster Response Best Practices Ensure adequate funding Provide competent management, avoiding inexperienced or convenient arrangements Build in constant monitoring and evaluation

Emergency response has become an industry Set as part of international development. According to OECD, annual emergency relief budget among governments amounts to more than US$ 85 billion. Involving: 1. International relations and politics 2. Engineering 3. Economics 4. Environment 5. Education 6. Health

Emergencies and Development are similar Only difference is time constraint, objectives and activities. Principles, methods and approaches are similar. Two basic approaches: 1. Working at grassroot level and directly implementing activities or 2. Working through local partners or NGOs

Emergencies and Development are similar Key points to remember: 1. Affected people find their own solutions 2. Separated families find missing on their own 3. Most affected people recover from psychological wounds 4. They find ways to adapt, rebuild and restart their own livelihoods 5. External assistance important to facilitate above truths.

Spectrum of Interventions Relief Goals: 1. Relieve human suffering 2.Protect people from abuse 3. Mitigate the effects of disaster Methods: a. Provision of life- sustaining supplies b. Provision of basic social service (e.g. water & medicine) c. Advocacy of protection

Spectrum of Interventions Principles of relief delivery: Understanding context of emergency: local politics and economics cannot be separated from intervention Traditional responses by international agencies may cause more harm than good International aid is a drop in the bucket compared with local aid

Spectrum of Interventions Principles of relief delivery: Key to success in relief aid is involving local people directly Relief and development and intricately linked Relief aid is not a logistical exercise. It is a process to accelerate recovery Past lessons must be heeded

Spectrum of Interventions Rehabilitation, Reintegration, Recovery and Reconstruction Goals: 1. Reestablish conditions necessary for development 2. Reorganize social services Methods: a. Rebuild social infrastructure b. Reestablish economic activity c. Social integration of displaced d. Upgrade skills of social services professional

Spectrum of Interventions Development Goals: 1. Alleviate poverty 2. Improve social services 3. Increase choice and freedoms Methods: a. Build social capital b. Support civil society and good governance c. Enhance economic and fiscal activity

Spectrum of Interventions IFRC Development relief principles: Participation Accountability Decentralized control Demonstrating concern for sustaining livelihoods

Spectrum of Interventions IFRC Development relief principles: Basing strategies on the reality of a disaster Identifying the needs and capacities of survivors Building on survivors’ capacities Building on local institutions Setting sustainable standards for services

Ecumenical Tasks Implementing best practices Quality engagement Quality accompaniment Sustainable services Being accountable to stakeholders Relentless advocacy