About the recipients of the 2009 UN Sasakawa Prize for Disaster Reduction
The 2009 laureate for the Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction is geologist Dr. Eko Teguh Paripurno, as was unanimously decided by the jury for the Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction. Additionally, five organizations actively involved in disaster reduction are awarded Certificates (two Certificates of Distinction, three Certificates of Merit). All award winners significantly contributed to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, a globally adopted plan to further Disaster Risk Reduction. The decisions were taken following a selection process involving careful deliberation and a thorough review of the submitted material.
Laureate 2009
Dr. Eko Teguh Paripurno, Indonesia
Dr. Eko Teguh Paripurno was selected as this year’s laureate for the Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction. Dr Paripurno is the Director of the Research Center for Disaster Management of the University of National Development in Yogyakarta and consultant to local and national governments as well as to various civil society organizations. In these roles, Dr Paripurno is significantly contributing to reduce disaster risk in Indonesia, one of the countries most vulnerable to multiples hazards. The recommendation for the Award followed the jury’s assessment of his lifetime contribution and his outstanding commitment to reduce disaster risk and build capacity at the community level in Indonesia, one of the countries most vulnerable to multiple hazards.
Dr Paripurno is both scientist and practitioner, and has hence opened new paths in an outstanding career combining sound science and its application for public safety, appropriate technology and advocacy for mobilizing resources. He has worked in the area of science, technology and society without losing touch with the community. Dr Paripurno demonstrates life long learning and ties together technical and community level experiences in risk reduction. He has contributed to legislation, and has helped to establish policies which guide the development of strategies and good practice. This work has been put into operation in Indonesia where it supports disaster risk reduction for a number of different hazards, reaching from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions to floods. He has played an active role in awareness raising and advocacy with strong support for the commitment to public education and media involvement.
Examples of his work include a deep involvement in actions taken in the aftermath of the Yogyakarta earthquake of 2006, which killed nearly 6000 people. Moreover, he has been with working with communities located near the Merapi Volcano, Egon Volcano and Kelud Volcano. Dr Paripurno has worked consistently in the field of community based disaster risk management in Indonesia for more than fifteen years. He has contributed directly to capacity building through his involvement in more than 750 local disaster risk management projects in 20 provinces in Indonesia and has indirectly reached thousands of people.
Dr Paripurno has demonstrated a deep personal commitment and enthusiasm throughout his life, steadily broadening his own expertise and expanding his influence to meet the needs of communities and of his country for improved Disaster Risk Reduction.
Certificates of Distinction
Development Workshop France (DWF), France
The French Non-Governmental Organization Development Workshop France, active in Central and South-East Asia and Africa, is one of the awardees of the Certificate of Distinction. DWF was founded 35 years ago and can look back on a long history of Disaster Risk Reduction. Earthquake resistant construction techniques have been disseminated since the very beginnings of DWF, and since the late 1980s the organization has worked on cyclone resistant reconstruction. Experiences gained and strategies developed in Vietnam were applied to develop the ‘Safe House’ programme together with the British Red Cross in Aceh, Indonesia addressing long term community-based safe construction needs. After the cyclone Nargis disaster in 2008, DWF has most recently devised and implemented the ‘Safer Schools’ programme in partnership with Save the Children in Myanmar. Activities of this programme include strengthening of school buildings as well as raising awareness for safer schools and homes by educating school children, their families and the communities at large. Furthermore, technical skills amongst community builders are being developed.
Jeunesse en Mission Entraide et Developpement (JEMED), Niger
Jeunesse en Mission Entraide et Developpement (JEMED), a Non-Governmental Organization in Niger, was selected for one of the Certificates of Distinction. Since its establishment in 1989, JEMED has focused on assisting pastoral communities in Northern Niger to maintain a semi-nomadic way of life and adapt to their increasingly challenging environment. Climate change, resulting in a growing number of droughts, and increased environmental degradation have led to worsened food insecurity and severe threats to the livelihoods of the pastoralists. By means of a participatory approach, JEMED is empowering the pastoral communities on risk reduction and educates them on sustainable ways of adapting to the impacts of climate changes. Initiatives reach from providing water resources by digging wells, via cereal and animal fodder banks to health and nutrition education. These approaches bore fruit during the 2004/5 drought and food crisis in Niger: beneficiary communities had 30-50% lower animal loss than non-beneficiary communities and were able to recover from the crisis much quicker. JEMED cooperates with local governments and the Government of Niger and is currently working in a consortium with other NGOs on a country wide Disaster Risk Reduction programme.
Certificates of Merit
Tehran Disaster and Mitigation Management Organization (TDMMO), Iran
TDMMO, established in 2005 and affiliated to Tehran Municipalities the Government of Iran, focuses on Disaster Risk Reduction in the megacity of Tehran. TDMMO’s projects include the preparation of groups of volunteers by providing training and equipment in order to respond with basic technical and medical first aid to the community within their neighbourhoods after disasters such as major earthquakes. Numerous volunteer groups have been set up so far and all important mechanisms and procedures have been put in place in order to increase the disaster response capacity of the entire city.
Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS), Pakistan
Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS), an affiliate agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, specializes in community-based search, rescue and disaster response and has trained more than 34,000 community volunteers. In the wake of the 2005 earthquake in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad, its search and rescue as well as assessment and response teams actively and successfully participated in the post-earthquake operations.
International Research Centre on El Niño (CIIFEN), Ecuador
The interagency mechanism CIIFEN has been operating since 2003 and devotes its work to climate modeling to improve early warning with respect to the El Niño phenomenon, the building of information systems and the training of scientists and industry experts. CIIFEN’s products are used by decision-makers in planning, prevention and preparedness activities in order to reduce climate risks and are also valuable for capacity building and education.
The Jury wishes to commend the candidates, many of whom demonstrated dedication, innovative approaches and it was particularly pleased to see the many instances where outreach, extension and networking initiatives were being actively and aggressively pursued in spite of significant resource (and governance) challenges and constraints. UNISDR sincerely hope that these awards will stimulate further efforts in the field and most importantly contribute to the full implementation of the Hyogo Framework and mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Reduction. |
