1 UN Strategic Support for Disaster Risk Reduction in Thailand: Optimising the 6 th Asian Ministerial Conference in 2014 UNCT Thailand Meeting 25 th April 2013 Amari Watergates Hotel, Bangkok

2 Asia Pacific Disaster Report 2012: Development contributes to reducing vulnerability. Development contributes to expanding exposure.

3 Economic losses increasing… Losses have grown more than 16 times since 1970, while GDP increased by 13 times Economic losses in 2011, 80% of total losses for 2000 to 2009

4 Economic vulnerability in Southeast Asia Source: World Bank, 2012 … because many factors define economic vulnerability…

5 Private citizens and communities who pay the highest price … and its private sector and citizens who pay for disaster losses.

6 Investing in DRR reduces economic vulnerability… US$ 4.3 Billion in losses 1998 Cyclone Investments to raise agricultural productivity in low lying areas, flood protection & drainage in urban areas, irrigation schemes to enable dry season crop, coastal ‘greenbelt’ projects. Bangladesh’s DRR investments over 35 years US$ 2.4 Billion in losses 2007 Cyclone US$ 0.27 Billion in losses 2009 Cyclone

7 …and social vulnerabilities can be reduced by investing in social protection… Scaling up social protection to reduce disaster risk affordable: Ranges from 1- 3% of Gross national investment (GNI)

8 …and setting targets helps design DRR investments. 2.38% of GDP/year in losses Past 20 years By 2015 Reduce to 1.5% of GDP/year in losses Investments in early warning, risk assessment, ICT for DRR, CBDRM, education and awareness China’s comprehensive disaster prevention and reduction plan ( )

9 Implementing the HFA ( ) Countries report on continued progress in DRR but critical challenges remain

National HFA progress Much progress in developing DRR legislation and policies but enforcement is a challenge Few are accounting for disasters – Only few countries have established national disaster loss databases DRR integration or mainstreaming into policies and plans is slightly improved but limited to development of guidelines. Early Warning is improving, however local warning systems left behind Integrating DRR into school curricula improving including special university courses and professional training in DRR

11 The Post 2015 Framework for DRR (HFA2) The Hyogo Framework for Action is approaching its tenure UN General Assembly Resolution 66/199 requested UNISDR to faciliate development of a Post 2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (HFA2) Participatory consultation process launched in March 2012 for: A new framework to advance DRR significantly, anticipating new risks and addressing HFA lessons Ensure that resilience and risk reduction goals and targets are included in the post-2015 development agenda

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13 The Asia Regional Platform on DRR Consists of: Political arm – the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) held every two years Operational arm – the ISDR Asia Partnership on DRR (IAP) held at least twice a year

14 Asian Ministerial Conference on DRR (AMCDRR)  Jointly organized by different Asian countries and UNISDR since 2005  Provides unique opportunity for Ministers in charge of disaster management and stakeholders from the region to reaffirm commitment to reducing disaster losses through the implementation of the HFA  Serves as a forum to exchange experiences on successful DRR practices and innovative approaches  Focus or Theme selected by the host country, responding to national and regional priorities  Previously held in Yogyakarta (2012), Incheon(2010), Kuala Lumpur(2008), New Delhi (2007) and Beijing (2005)

15 The Previous AMCDRRs 1AMCDRR, Beijing, August 2005, focused on regional implementation of HFA, adopting the Beijing Action for Disaster Risk Reduction. 2AMCDRR, New Delhi, November 2007, focused on the coordination mechanism in the region, adopting Delhi Declaration establishing the Asia Regional Platform and ISDR Asia Partnership 3AMCDRR, Kuala Lumpur, December 2008, focused on implementation at national level with a particular focus on Public Private Partnership, adopting the Kuala Lumpur Declaration. 4AMCDRR, Incheon, October 2010 focused on DRR and climate change integration, adopting the Incheon Declaration and regional action plan (REMAP) 5AMCDRR Yogyakarta, October 2012 focused on local level implementation, adopting the Yogyakarta declaration.

16 5AMCDRR More than 2,600 participants from 72 countries participated Two heads of State, the Presidents of Indonesia and Nauru attended High-level delegations from 50 countries across the Asia Pacific region which included 24 government ministers More than 58 events organized The ‘Yogyakarta Declaration’ was consulted adopted by governments and partners Distinct stakeholder groups fully participated in the conference and prepared their own statement of commitments

17 Stakeholder Groups 1.Governments 2.Mayors/ local Government 3.Parliamentarians 4.Organization focused on Children issues 5.Organization focused on people with disability 6.Gender and DRR 7.Research and Academia 8.Private sector 9.Civil Society 10.Media 11.National societies of Red Cross and Red Crescent 12.Community, grassroots and indigenous groups (New group formed after 5AMCDRR)

18 6AMCDRR Date: 9-12 June 2014 (tentative) To be defined: –Objective and purpose of the conference –Theme and sub themes –Structure of the conference –Expected outcome (declaration/ commitments/ action plan or …??)

19 Expected outcomes from the conference AMCDRR is expected to deliver a political declaration with an action plan or commitments from key stakeholders –The declaration forms the political commitments of governments towards minimizing the impact of disasters by accelerating DRR and development actions. –The stakeholder’s commitment statements aim at prioritizing the role and commitments of the key stakeholders –Monitoring and follow up process established for all ministerial conference outcomes

20 Proposed Conference Themes by IAP 1.Promoting investments for resilient nations and communities 2.Building resilience for safer communities 3.Investing in DRM for building resilience 4.Safer investment for building resilience 5.Investing in DRR for sustainable development Main interests: -Resilience (of nations and communities) -More investments in disaster risk management and building resilience as imperative for sustainable development

21 Sub-themes/Important Issues 1.Unpack “Disaster Resilience” People: Inclusiveness, Social safety net, Ability to recover Property: Physical resilience, Business continuity Environment: Eco-system 2.Enhance resilience at local (sub-national) levels Focus on communities, poor and vulnerable groups Social service and protection Local level capacity development Risk transfer, insurance scheme Education and public awareness

22 Sub-themes/Important Issues 3. Increase public investments for disaster and climate risk management to protect development gains  How to embed DRM in public planning and financing such as in land use, agriculture, tourism, health, education  Multi stakeholder and multi-hazard risk assessment  How Government can invest in DRM/resilience building beyond financing i.e. building capacity  Cost-benefits of investing in DRM  Address trans boundary risk – role of inter-governmental organizations  Role of science (emphasis on social science) and technology and channels to enable Government understanding of risk and decision making  Enhancing accountabilities

23 Sub-themes/Important Issues 4. Private sector role - Public-Private Partnership for DRR  BCP to encourage private sector to invest in disaster risk reduction and management  DRR footprint to encourage investment for DRR in community  How Government can better engage private sector to leverage investments  The role of private sector in safer investments  Promoting PPP at the community level

24 The 6 th Asian Ministerial Conference on DRR Leveraging 6AMCDRR for UN Strategic Support for DRR in Thailand

25 The Opportunities  Royal Thai Government interest showcase DRR progress at 6thAMCDRR  National Action Plan for Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation expires in 2014, Cabinet decision to prepare update  Issues of interest and concern, amongst others:  National policy, strategy and plan to boost multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder actions in DRR  Community awareness and participation, strengthening information management system  Economic and social measures, as learned from the 2011 flood recovery and reconstruction  Private sector involvement, building confidence on a disaster safe investment environment

26 Possible UNCT Contribution 1.A high-level session on Thailand DRR on the Opening Day, organized by Government of Thailand and UNCT Possible topics to be determined: i.e. Social protection to reduce disaster risk 2.Agencies’ technical advice/contribution to background studies and sessions design 3.Agencies organize side events, in collaboration with sector ministries and CSOs 4.UN Thailand joint exhibition

27 Leveraging On-going Work Agreed joint deliverables on DRR for 2013 by DRR working group under Joint Team on CC: National SOPs for emergency operational plan A concept note to develop Handbook/Guidelines on DRR The initiation of the update of the National Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Plan that brings DRR focus. Ultimately, the process aims at building a strong partnership (or National Platform) of government agencies, NGOs, academia, private sector, UN and development partners for DRR in Thailand Possibility of a Development Cooperation Seminar (DCS) in early 2014 to consolidate the work and develop policy recommendations to feed to the 6AMCDRR. DRR and Social Protection could be a good topic for the DCS, which will also facilitate cross-joint team collaboration within the UNPAF.

28 Thank you More info: