Local-level implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action remains one of the major challenges to achieve, requiring the active participation and involvement of local government actors at different levels. From the regional to the municipal level, local governments have a key role to play in reducing disaster risks and vulnerabilities.
Today, a broad consensus has been reached among different stakeholders on the need to establish a mechanism that brings together local governments to address DRR issues in a more coherent and inclusive manner, and bridges the existing gap between the local, national and global levels. In view of the above, the UNDP Special Unit for South-South Cooperation (UNDP/SU-SSC) and the UN/ISDR secretariat have forged a strategic partnership to build a “Local Government Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction” (LGA/DRR), which will complement other existing capacities.
For information:
Michele Cocchiglia
cocchiglia@un.org |
Meetings
Second Consultative Meeting of the Local Government Alliance for DRR
12-14 November 2008 - Chengdu, China
Based on the outcomes of the first Consultative Meeting, this meeting aimed to reach a higher level of commitment from local and regional authorities in developing the LGA/DRR. The meeting was hosted by the “Global Dialogue on Wenchuan Earthquake Response”, organised by the Beijing Normal University and the University of Hong Kong to review good practices and lessons learned six months after the Sichuan Earthquake. It was organised by UNISDR in collaboration with the UNDP Special Unit for South South Cooperation and the International Training Center of the ILO, and attended by a small number of local government officials from Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Overall, the meeting achieved the following objectives: (i) It provided an opportunity for local and regional authorities to learn from the Sichuan Earthquake response and recovery experience through participation in the “Global Dialogue”, (ii) It reviewed major decisions made in Barcelona, assessed progress made up to Chengdu, and agreed on the way forward. In particular, the meeting reviewed and agreed upon the draft ToRs of the LGA/DRR, and established an "Advisory Group" that will guide the development of the Alliance in the coming months.
Finally, a specific session on "DRR Training for Local Sustainable Development” was facilitated by ILO on 14th November 2008. Although formally a separate session, this meeting was seen as an integral part of the LGA/DRR event and discussions. The ILO session was aimed to review the potential content, structure and target audience of an English training course on DRR that will be delivered to local government officials as of 2009.
Consultative Meeting
22-23 May 2008 - Barcelona
A Consultative Meeting for developing the LGA/DRR was held in Barcelona, Spain, on 22-23 May 2008. The meeting was attended by some 15 representatives of local and regional authorities from Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States, as well as from UN agencies, NGOs and the academia.
The meeting served as a reality check and a brainstorming session to obtain preliminary feedback on a proposal to develop the LGA/DRR. Based on the draft Concept Note prepared by the UN/ISDR secretariat, the meeting stimulated a constructive debate around the potential scope, objectives and added value of the Alliance.
Substantive comments and observations on the LGA/DRR concept were put forward, and initial commitment to the Alliance reached. Next steps and follow-up actions were also discussed and agreed upon, in the lead-up to the next session of the GP/DRR in June 2009.
A broader meeting will be organized in the coming months, to which additional partners – including a broader range of local governments and city associations – will be invited to participate. The meeting was co-organized by the UN/ISDR secretariat, the UNDP Special Unit for South-South Collaboration, and the Advisory Council for Sustainable Development of the Government of Catalonia.
| Background Documents |
 |
Concept Paper: Building a Local Government Alliance for DRR |
|
Final Agenda |
|
Final List of Participants |
| |
| Outcome Documents |
|
Meeting Report |
| |
|
| Presentations |
| Day 1 |
|
 |
Civil Protection Office, Government of Catalonia, Spain - Ms. Nuria Gasulla |
|
RiskCat Project, University of Barcelona - Mr. Joan Manuel Vilaplana |
|
Overstrand Municipality, Western Cape Province, South Africa - Mr. Stephen Muller |
|
Albay Public Safety & Emergency Management Office, Philippines - Mr. Cedric Daep |
|
Partnerships between regions and the United Nations, UNDP Geneva - Mr. Christophe Nuttall |
|
Space technology as a tool to facilitate sustainable development planning, UNOSAT - Mr. Alain Retière |
|
Implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action at the local level, ILO/Delnet - Ms. Alice Vozza |
|
National Institute of Disaster Management, India - Mr. Santosh Kumar |
|
Pune Municipal Corporation, India - Ms. Rajlaxmi Bhosale |
|
Lessons learned from the development of previous government networks/alliances, UNDP/SU-SSC -
Ms. Zenaida Willison |
|
Background and rationale for building a “Local Government Alliance for DRR”, UN/ISDR - Mr. Michele Cocchiglia |
| |
|
| Day 2 |
|
|
Presentation and review of main points emerged from discussions on day 1 - Ms. Zenaida Willison |
|
Re-centering the rural agenda - Mr. Sam Ebukali |
|
The International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) - Ms. Pamela L'Heureux |
| |
|
|
|
