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Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2015: Disasters without borders - Regional resilience for sustainable development
This flagship publication of UN ESCAP provides an overview of the state of disaster resilience in Asia-Pacific region, and places disaster risk reduction at the heart of sustainable development. It identifies emerging new risks in the region and the sectors that are most at risk.
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Disaster risk reduction efforts in the Greater Horn of Africa : In International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, March 2015, volume 6, issue 1, pp. 49-61
This article assesses the current state of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA), and focuses on interventions and policies to mitigate hydrometeorological risks. The research analyzes, as main case study, the program “Regional Climate Prediction and Risk Reduction in the Greater Horn of Africa” funded by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID OFDA) in the early 2000 that targeted risk preparedness.
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Reflections on the current debate on how to link flood insurance and disaster risk reduction in the European Union
This paper investigates if and how current EU policies influence flood insurance. While the question of supply and demand is at the core of the debate, the authors argue that another key dimension is often overlooked: how to use insurance as a lever for risk reduction and prevention efforts.
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Tropical Cyclone Pam: lessons learned workshop report
Vanuatu - Gov, 2015This report summarises the discussions and outcomes from the national debriefing workshop to identify lessons learned following Tropical Cyclone Pam (TC Pam). It reviews key aspects of coordination, including preparation, response and recovery.
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Planning for a more resilient future: a guide to regional approaches
This report summarizes the rapidly-growing body of research on resilience, describing the main ideas that are driving policy and practice across the country, and examining current thinking on regional and economic resilience. It is intended for regional development organizations (RDOs) as well as local governments, community foundations, voluntary organizations, and others who step forward as planners, conveners, organizers, fundraisers, mediators, coordinators, and advocates on behalf of communities impacted by, or at risk of being impacted by, disasters, natural and human-induced.
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Big data for climate change and disaster resilience: realising the benefits for developing countries
This synthesis report explores the opportunities, challenges and required steps for leveraging the new ecosystem of Big Data to monitor and detect hazards, mitigate their effects, and assist in relief efforts. Ultimately the goal is to build resilience so that vulnerable communities and countries as complex human ecosystems not only ‘bounce back’ but also learn to adapt to maintain equilibrium in the face of natural hazards.
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ASEAN disaster management reference handbook
This handbook provides decision makers, planners, responders and disaster management practitioners with an overview of the disaster management structure, policies, laws, and plans for ASEAN countries.
The handbook presents an overview of natural and man-made threats most likely to affect ASEAN countries, basic country background information, including cultural, demographic, geographic, infrastructure and other data, as well as endemic conditions such as poverty, water and sanitation, food security and other humanitarian issues. It also provides an overview of the health situatio ...
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State of social media technologies for disaster preparedness in Asia Pacific region
This report aims to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the implications of social media analysis tools for disaster preparedness, focusing on the Asia Pacific region. The research it is based on follows a technology-in-practice approach, that is, it examines users’ practices enacted in their interaction with technological features and functions (e.g., message broadcasting on Twitter, visual analytical tools on ThinkUp) in different situations. Specifically, this research aims to solicit data from humanitarian organizations’ self-reported opinions and usage of social media and relat ...
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Disaster microinsurance: an innovation for transformation: In Southasiadisasters.net issue no. 133, July 2015
The Policy Brief is primarily aimed at a human rights audience, and intends to both inform human rights policymakers and provide guidance on how international human rights law, institutions and mechanisms might contribute to more effective, just and sustainable policy responses (at the international and national levels) to climate change and crossborder displacement.
It reflects primary and secondary research; the outcome of a meeting during the 25th session of the Human Rights Council (the Council) on the ‘human rights implications of displacement in the context of disasters’ o ...
Monitoring and evaluating climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Uganda
This scoping study report is an analysis of the monitoring and evaluation frameworks and tools in Uganda with focus on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. It provides an overview of Uganda’s climate change and other related policy context and their provisions for monitoring and evaluation frameworks. The report also highlights the current reporting systems and the mandates of different institutions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The tools and systems used for data and information collection, processing, reporting, storage and dissemination are hig ...
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Social participation and disaster risk reduction behaviors in tsunami prone areas: In PLoS ONE 10(7)
This white paper explores the lessons learned from Katrina and how the recovery in New Orleans inspired the creation of new methods of building resilience. The paper identifies a number of critical areas to keep stakeholders aligned, including prioritizing flooding as the paramount risk, devoting more resources to preventive measures rather than post-event disaster relief, and overcoming current infrastructure vulnerabilities. The paper also offers first steps and tactics to help assess and address communities at risk, and ways to improve the affordability of risk-based disaster insurance.
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Beyond Katrina: lessons in creating resilient communities
Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center (Risk Center) ; Zurich Insurance Group Limited - Zurich Insurance Group Limited, 2015This white paper explores the lessons learned from Katrina and how the recovery in New Orleans inspired the creation of new methods of building resilience. The paper identifies a number of critical areas to keep stakeholders aligned, including prioritizing flooding as the paramount risk, devoting more resources to preventive measures rather than post-event disaster relief, and overcoming current infrastructure vulnerabilities. The paper also offers first steps and tactics to help assess and address communities at risk, and ways to improve the affordability of risk-based disaster insurance.
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Malawi 2015 floods post disaster needs assessment report
Malawi - government, 2015The PDNA report indicates that the Malawi 2015 floods affected 1,101,364 people, displaced 230,000 and killed 106 people. The assessment focuses on medium to long term reconstruction and provides the guiding principles for recovery, including assessment of the damage, losses, and recovery and reconstruction strategies for each sector are provided in detailed sector.
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Managing flood and coastal erosion risk : April 2014 to March 2015
The report describes the extensive work undertaken by all risk management authorities to (i) manage the risks from flooding and coastal erosion, (ii) achieve the objectives of the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy for England, (iii) plan for future flood and coastal erosion risk. It also reports how lead local flood authorities have progressed on their local strategies and asset registers.
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Global estimates 2015: people displaced by disasters
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC); Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) - Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, 2015This annual report draws on information from a wide range of sources, including governments, UN and international organisations, NGOs and media, to provide up-to-date figures and analysis on displacement caused by disasters associated with rapid-onset geophysical and weather-related hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods and storms. The report, the sixth of its kind, aims to equip governments, local authorities, civil society organisations and international and regional institutions with evidence relevant to these key post-2015 agenda.
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Adaptation strategies after cyclone in southwest coastal Bangladesh, pro poor policy choices: In American Journal of Rural Development, Vol. 3, No. 2
This research paper explores the ‘atlas of the locally adopted strategies’ to cope with adverse effects of cyclone Aila in southwest coastal Bangladesh. Particularly, this research has explored the community level practices in agriculture, housing, water resources, communication and employment generations. An empirical survey was undertaken with 145 respondents by using semi-structured interviews with selected social groups and their households’ assistants. Besides face-to-face interviews, this survey applied group level qualitative assessment methods i.e. FGD (focus group discussion), Social ...
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Twitter as a potential disaster risk reduction tool: a systematic review. In PLOS Currents Disasters. 2015 Jul 1, Edition 1
This four-part study examines Twitter as a viable communications tool at the community level during crisis events with potential for disaster risk reduction and management, and establishes an evidence-based technological science and knowledge base necessary for community-level replication and education and training of this communications tool.
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Application of behavioral theories to disaster and emergency health preparedness: a systematic review. In PLOS Currents Disasters. 2015 Jul 1, Edition 1
The major objectives of this systematic review are to: (i) identify which behavioral theories have been applied to disasters and emergency health preparedness and investigate why these theories were preferred over others; (ii) assess as to which theories have been applied with regard to specific natural and man-made disasters and emergencies preparedness; (iii) examine the most common theories and models applied in different regions of the world pertaining to various natural and man-made disasters and emergency preparedness; and (iv) investigate and analyze the methods of analysis used for eac ...
International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) in Italy : a study on strengthening legal preparedness for international disaster response
This report examines Italy's legal preparedness for managing incoming international disaster assistance in light of the Guidelines for the Domestic Facilitation and Regulation of International Disaster Relief and Initial Recovery Assistance (IDRL) Guidelines.
It seeks to identify the main obstacles that existing rules create for international cooperation in the event of disasters in Italy. It does so by looking at the IDRL Guidelines, adopted by state parties to the Geneva Conventions at the 30th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and at the EU Host Nati ...
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Local level planning to cope with heat waves in India: In Southasiadisasters.net, issue no. 132, June 2015
This issue of Southasiadisasters.net focuses on the theme of the 'Risk of Heat Waves and Climate Change in India'. It tries to highlight the phenomena of heat waves from the perspectives of various stakeholders ranging from the local authorities to the vulnerable communities such as street vendors, construction workers, children and the elderly. The Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan has been highlighted as a policy level intervention worth emulating in other Indian cities. Similarly, an anthropological perspective to heat wave planning is also posited.
This issue's contents includes: ( ...
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Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 outlines seven clear targets and four priorities for action to prevent new and reduce existing disaster risks: (i) Understanding disaster risk; (ii) Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk; (iii) Investing in disaster reduction for resilience and; (iv) Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to "Build Back Better" in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. It aims to achieve the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physica ...
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Nepal earthquake 2015 : post disaster needs assessment
Nepal - Government, 2015The report presents a comprehensive post disaster needs assessment exercise, launched simultaneously with response and relief efforts at the request of the Government of Nepal, with the objective to estimate damages and losses caused by the earthquake and to help identify recovery needs as well as strategy required for its implementation. The assessment exercise was led by the National Planning Commission (NPC) with assistance of more than 250 national and international experts who worked round the clock to produce this assessment covering 23 sectors in less than one month.
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Thematic mapping for disaster risk assessment in case of earthquake
This paper examines some problems that arise in thematic mapping for disaster management in case of earthquake due to the various types, structure and classification of data provided by various organizations. It represents some of the efforts performed within the framework of the university UACEG-CNIP research project dealing with a conceptual model for information system for expert express evaluation of the earthquake risk over the Bulgarian territory using GIS.
Main stages for data harmonization including georeferencing the information into a geographical reference system, sta ...
Flood risk assessment report 2015
The report identifies 606 riverine flood risk category-1 and 1,770 risk category-2 prone Union Councils of Pakistan using the hi-tech and low-cost analytical tools and capabilities of the Alhasan Systems, a development company. This national level exercise is followed by a detailed profile of Union Council Haibat of District Kashmore, Sindh to exhibit what is achievable at such scale for not only enhanced damage/needs assessments, but also long-term disaster risk management and development exercises.
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Country profile: Nepal - disaster management institution and system in Nepal
The report provides an overview of the disaster risk reduction and management in Nepal, a country under threat of multiple natural hazards: earthquakes, floods, landslides, fires, storms, the epidemics, and others. It presents background information on the country, its disaster profile, its legal and institutional framework, the country's achievements in regards to the Hyogo Framework for Action, and looks at the challenges and future steps in the area of disaster management in Nepal.
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25 April 2015 Nepal earthquake disaster risk reduction situation report
PreventionWeb, 2015This disaster risk reduction situation report on the 25 April 2015 Nepal earthquake is divided into three parts: historical disaster impacts, risks and scenarios, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) implementation status. It provides an overview of Nepal's nationally reported losses 1971-2013 and internationally reported losses 1900-2014; probabilistic economic loss risks in terms of probable maximum loss (PML) and average annual loss (AAL) and deterministic risks; disaster risk reduction implementation at the national and local levels as reported by the government of Nepal and local authorities ...
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Japan-World Bank: mainstreaming disaster risk management in developing countries - 2014-15 annual report
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the ; Government of Japan ; World Bank the - World Bank, 2015This annual report highlights progress and results achieved of the Japan-World Bank Program for mainstreaming disaster risk management in developing countries for the period April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015. The program was established in February 2014 as a partnership between the Ministry of Finance of Japan (MoF) and the World Bank.
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German contributions to the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction
This document explains the contributions of German institutions and organizations to develop flood risk management plans by December 2015 that outline plans for the implementation of prevention, protection and preparedness measures. The document mentions the importance for Germany to review preliminary flood risk assessment by December 2018, flood hazard and risk maps by December 2019, and flood risk management plans by December 2021 and every six years thereafter.
The document also explains the contribution of Germany to the expert symposium on multi-hazard early warning system ...
Water for a sustainable world: the UN world water development report 2015
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); UN Water - United Nations, 2015The report elaborates upon the future of water towards 2050 by describing how water supports healthy and prosperous human communities, including through measures that reduce vulnerability and improve resilience to water-related disasters such as flood and drought management approaches, maintains well-functioning ecosystems and ecological services, and provides a cornerstone for short and long-term economic development.
It provides an overview of the challenges, issues and trends in terms of water resources, their use and water-related services like water supply and sanitation, a ...
Riesgos al sur: diversidad de riesgos de desastres en Argentina
Esta publicación ofrece un estado del arte sobre los riesgos de desastres en Argentina y reflexiones sobre las formas de abordarlos desde las ciencias sociales. Los 17 trabajos publicados muestran la complejidad del territorio argentino y dan cuenta de la comprensión de los fenómenos naturales y la amenaza que estos representan cuando las sociedades son vulnerables.
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Les déterminants du coût des catastrophes naturelles : le rôle du changement climatique en France
Peinturier Cédric; Ministère de l'Écologie, du Développement durable et de l'Énergie (MEDDE) - Gouvernement de France, 2014L’objectif de l’étude est d’établir un bref état de l’art dans le domaine de l’économie des risques naturels et du changement climatique, afin, à la fois, de donner des clés de lecture des événements passés et de comprendre les points critiques des prochaines décennies.
L’étude s’appuie sur de nombreuses publications scientifiques. Elle constitue une synthèse, non exhaustive, des réflexions et travaux menés au cours des dernières années par les experts économistes et techniques. Il s’agit d’abord d’expliquer, sur la base de ces travaux scientifiques, l’augmentation des coûts des ...
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Recommendations for the post-2015 Hyogo Framework for Action (HFAII) : calling for increased attention to the need for integrated water and wetland management to reduce disaster risk
This paper summarizes a set of recommendations on wetlands for inclusion in the post-2015 HFA, calling for increased attention to the need for integrated water and wetland management to reduce disaster risk. It argues that emerging trends in disaster risks underline the need to consider the role of water and wetland management as important elements of disaster risk reduction and risk management strategy as wetlands are crucial in regulating the water cycle by reducing peak flood flows, storing excessive precipitation or recharging groundwater.
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Beyond reaction : drought and climate change in Central America
CARE International (CI), 2014This document is a joint research report that was presented on the 5th of December during COP20 and on the 9th of December at the People's Summit in Lima, Peru. It argues that, for the construction of new governance under difficult conditions due to the drought and the impacts of climate change in Central America, it is urgent not only to allocate financial resources for adaptation, but also to take synergic actions that will implicate the civil society and the governments.
Based on the expected impacts of climate change for Central America, presented through various forecast s ...
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Managing disaster risks for a resilient future : a work plan for the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery 2015-2017
This work plan lays out how the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) will continue to implement its Strategy 2013–2015. It responds to priorities articulated by disaster-prone countries based on GFDRR’s established relationships with partners through its portfolio of projects. It focuses on activities and results to be supported by the new multi-donor trust fund (MDTF), for which GFDRR must mobilize new resources. It also includes activities and results to be financed in FY15 from the balance of the existing MDTFs. Additional activities have been separately planned using ...
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Hyogo Framework for Action, post-2015 : what would we like to see. Voices from the field
This Delphi study aims to feed lessons learned from working and implementing projects on disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the field into the policy dialogue on a HFA2. The study is designed to build a bridge between field practitioners and policy makers. The key messages are derived from DRR practice, based on the perspectives of Civil Society Organizations which work with men and women in affected communities. The study provides concrete evidence for the importance of a holistic and integrated approach to DRR and the roles of multiple actors in increasing community resilience and reducing the ...
Resilience programming among nongovernmental organizations : lessons for policymakers
IFPRI, 2014This food policy report reviews resilience processes, activities, and outcomes by examining a number of case studies of initiatives by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to enhance resilience capacity, and draws implications for policymakers and other stakeholders looking to strengthen resilience. It argues that resilience building relies on integrated programming, which is defined as a cross-sectoral approach with a long-term commitment to improving the three critical capacities: absorptive capacity (disaster risk management), adaptive capacity (longer-term livelihood investments), and tran ...
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Integrated risk management: its importance in protecting people
Switzerland Government, 2014Integrated risk management (IRM) is a central element of disaster risk reduction in Switzerland and it is applied in many of the risk-oriented planning guidelines of the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP). It is also applied by other federal offices, cantons and organisations, and is described in a variety of publications. The document explains the different components and aspects of integrated risk management means as it is used in disaster risk reduction in Switzerland. It is intended to support a better understanding of its meaning and its relevance to different areas. The document ...
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Islands of the future: building resilience in a changing world
UNESCO, 2014This booklet outlines UNESCO's activities in small island developing States (SIDS), covering the period from 2006-2013. It features chapters on: (i) promoting quality education in islands; (ii) building island resilience; (iii) valuing and sharing island heritage and identities; (iv) building knowledge societies in islands; (v) enabling island cohesion and social well-being; (vi) managing natural resources for a sustainable future; and (vii) the UNESCO participation programme in SIDS.
On resilience, the booklet underlines the particular vulnerability of SIDS to disasters, which ...
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Emergencies and disasters: WHO Regional Committee, sixty-fifth session
World Health Organization (WHO) - WHO, 2014This document responds to the need to ensure that health measures focused on prevention and mitigation of risks related to natural hazards are implemented in the Western Pacific Region. It presents the draft Western Pacific Regional Framework for Action for Disaster Risk Management for Health, which focuses on all phases of the disaster risk management for health (DRM-H) cycle: prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in order to prevent and mitigate risks associated with disasters.
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Global reinsurance : strengthening disaster risk resilience
This publication address the threat posed by natural disasters, disruptive technologies, political turmoil, terrorist attacks, and environmental degradation to companies, cities and entire nations and the essential role played by global reinsurers in absorbing disaster shocks by providing predictable financial relief and strengthening societal resilience.
It gathers the extensive experience of the members of the Global Reinsurance Forum (GRF) in assessing current and future risks, in managing risks, and in creating tailor-made risk transfer solutions. It considers the critical role pla ...
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Global estimates 2014: people displaced by disasters
This document addresses the need for coordinated approaches to prevent, manage and respond to the enormous challenge of disaster-induced internal displacement. It is an essential contribution to the knowledge of the scale and impacts of rapid-onset disasters.
It provides a solid evidence base for understanding global patterns and trends in displacement, and to inform frameworks for the achievement of post-2015 goals on disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. It also underscores the need for climate change adaptation plans and donor commitments that give due attenti ...
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A catalyst for change: how the Hyogo Framework for Action has promoted disaster risk reduction in South East Europe
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the ; United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR); World Bank the - GFDRR, 2014This report celebrates some of the many achievements made in the South East Europe (SEE) region in the context of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (HFA), and suggests areas for further development and improvement. It is set in the context of the South Eastern Europe Disaster Risk Mitigation and Adaptation Programme (SEEDRMAP) and aims to present some evidence-based elements of success and key regional achievements in addressing the HFA, as well as highlighting areas for further work at regional and national level. The res ...
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Madagascar: country case study report - How law and regulation supports disaster risk reduction
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) ; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - UNDP, 2014This report considers the extent to which disaster risk reduction (DRR) is mainstreamed into the disaster risk management laws and institutions in Madagascar. It identifies key laws and regulations in the area of disaster risk management (DRM), especially those applicable nationwide. It finds that these legal frameworks currently focus more on response and recovery than on prevention and DRR. Legislation also provides for DRM bodies at all levels of government administration, including at the community level, although the establishment and effective functioning of these bodies remains a challe ...
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Hyogo Framework for Action, post 2015: what would we like to see - Voices from the field
Picard Mary; International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) ; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - UNDP, 2014The aim of this report is to support legislators, public administrators, DRR and development practitioners and advocates to prepare and implement effective disaster risk management (DRM) legal frameworks for their country’s needs, drawing on examples and experience from other countries.
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Retrospective evaluation of the GFDRR program in a sample of disaster-prone countries
DARA - Spain, 2014This evaluation presents evidence of the Secretariat of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)'s improvements in disaster risk management (DRM) performance in five countries (Guatemala, Malawi, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam) and analyzes the implications for the theoretical model that sustains its approach and the current Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework.
In particular, the evaluation sought to fulfill following objectives: (a) identify if program outputs are contributing to expected (and unexpected) improvements in DRM performance in a sample of ...
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Disaster resilience : topic guide
This topic guide focuses on resilience to natural hazards, with emphasis on humanitarian action, in fragile and conflict-afflicted states as well as in other contexts. Although some principles are common to both contexts, there remains a high level of uncertainty about how to build resilience in adverse political economies. The document is a useful guide for policymakers and practitioners synthesizing the evidence, approaches and lessons that emerge from the literature.
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Technical guidance on choosing targets for reducing natural disaster risk
Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) ; Overseas Development Institute (ODI); Risk Management Solutions (RMS) - ODI, 2014This report presents the findings of a study that has explored climate finance delivery in Ethiopia. For the first time, estimates of the level of climate change relevant expenditures that appear in the national budget are presented, and their policy and institutional impacts analyzed.
The report indicates there are major challenges for Ethiopia to finance its response to climate change as there appears to be a major financing gap caused by the difference in the national Climate Resilient Green Economy strategy and the national budgetary resources for climate change-relevant act ...
Operational plan for integrated disaster risk management 2014–2020
Asian Development Bank (ADB) - ADB, 2014This operational plan highlights the urgent need to enhance the management of residual disaster risk, including through the establishment of adequate disaster risk financing arrangements. It outlines a series of crosscutting actions to address these needs, focusing on institutionalizing integrated disaster risk management, strengthening capacity and knowledge, investing in disaster resilience, and engaging stakeholders. The operational plan recognizes the importance of reducing disaster risk in both the immediate and long term, taking the possible effects of climate change into account.
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What does it take to mainstream disaster risk management in key sectors?
This guide draws on the experience of CDKN’s programmes on climate-related disaster risk management (DRM) within the context of climate compatible development. It explores why mainstreaming DRM into development policy has had widely varying results between countries. In doing so, this guide attempts to delve beneath the surface of mainstreaming and identify the ways forward for integrating short- and long-term considerations for disaster risk reduction in important development sectors.
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Building Morocco’s resilience: inputs for an integrated risk management strategy
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the ; Switzerland Government - World Bank, 2014This report aims to support the Government of Morocco in the development of an integrated risk management strategy. The report summarizes methodologies, data, assumptions, results, comparative analyses, international benchmarks and other aspects of Morocco’s risks.
Developing and adopting a national strategy for integrated risk management (IRM) will not only make Morocco better prepared to avoid future crises, and be more reactive and resilient if/when they occur, but also allow the government to make more informed decisions on overall resource allocation and prioritization.
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Natural disasters in the Middle East and North Africa: a regional overview
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the ; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR); et al. - GFDRR, 2014This report focuses on the challenges of managing natural disasters, presenting a synthesis of the status of disaster risk in the Middle East and North Africa (MNA) Region, including gaps and areas for remedial or enhanced actions. It highlights the progress already made and opportunities to learn from best practices, and provides critical feedback to governments and partners on efforts and processes required to make the region disaster resilient. This report proposes a strategic framework to help MNA countries shift from disaster response to proactive risk management.
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Analysis of disaster risk management in Colombia: a contribution to the creation of public policies
World Bank, 2013This document evaluates the progress of risk management in Colombia proposes recommendations that will enable the Government to set up public policies in this area on a short-and long-term basis. It defines a set of recommendations so that disaster risk management becomes a State policy, emphasizing that improving land use and land occupation conditions is a priority in reducing the impact of disasters. The technical analysis included in the report is intended for those responsible for implementing disaster risk management policies, as well as professionals, researchers, and experts in the sub ...
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Roles of Pacific regional organizations in disaster risk management
This report documents the current contributions of Pacific regional organizations to disaster risk management (DRM) and explores the potential for them to play more substantial and active roles in the future. Although regional mechanisms are playing increasingly important roles in DRM, there has been remarkably little research on their contributions and few published studies on their comparative advantages. At a global level, this recent Brookings study sought to address this gap by summarizing the work of more than thirty regional organizations involved in DRM, drawing some comparisons and ge ...
Rethinking disaster risk management and climate change adaptation
Howes Michael; National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) - Griffith University, 2013This report investigates impacts of climate change, population growth, and urban coastal development on Australian environment, economy, and society, particularly in relation to bushfire and flood. The report aims to develop the foundations for a nationally consistent approach to disaster risk management and climate change adaptation that would be supported by a set of appropriate reforms to governing institutions and tools.
This is the final report of a research project entitled "The Right Tool for the Job: Achieving climate change adaptation outcomes through improved disaster ...
Six steps to flood resilience: guidance for local authorities and professionals
University of Manchester, 2013This guide introduces the concept of local flood risk management and outlines a six step process for local officials to find and implement effective adaptation policies and strategies. The guide is divided into sections based on the six steps, which include mapping and assessing risk, selecting the appropriate method of adaptation, implementation of the flood management plans, and long-term maintenance. At the end of each section there is guidance on recommended information resources.
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Working with nature: towards integrated approaches to disaster risk reduction
This document addresses the often complex underlying causes of risk and calls for better integration of approaches to disaster risk reduction, bringing together expertise from relevant sectors and making optimal use of the natural protection provided by ecosystems. It considers floods, coastal defences and hybrid engineering.
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Yes, we can: manage good practices for disaster risk reduction in Bangladesh
This paper argues that improving local communities’ resilience to natural hazards is a key to an efficient disaster risk management as local communities are on the front-lines of both the immediate impact of a disaster and the initial emergency response. Therefore the paper identifies the best practices from community-facilitated activities to those facilitated through NGOs. The project aims to improve local resilience, supporting communities to self-organize and be active agents for positive change.
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Before disaster strikes: transformations in practice and policy
This series of regional best practice reports presenting best practices in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation based on the discussions and recommendations of more than 120 experts from around the world involved in the CATALYST Project: Capacity Development for Hazard Risk Reduction and Adaptation". The papers present the best actions needed to build capacity in DRR and adaptation, and to improve early planning of regional strategies against natural hazards.
To avoid the one-size-fits-all approach to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, ...
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Climate change adaptation and risk management: reflections and implications
Lavell Allan; Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) ; Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO) ; et al. - Germany - Government, 2013This paper is the first of a series of technical notes arising from the Public Investment and Climate Change Adaptation Project (IPACC) project and whose principle goal is to facilitate an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation relevant to the public and private sector. It aims to further advance a discussion of the issues that could be used to adapt, update or expand on the conceptual framework of disaster risk management in the light of climate change and adaptation.
The paper comprises four chapters th ...
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Implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action and the Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action 2005-2015: report for the period 2009-2013
Applied Geoscience and Technology Division of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC/SOPAC), 2013This report provides a review and analysis of progress since 2009 towards disaster risk reduction and disaster management in the Pacific region. Successes and ongoing challenges are measured against the global Hyogo Framework for Action’s (HFA’s) priorities for action and indicators and the Pacific’s Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action’s (RFA’s) themes and key activities. Given the strong synergies between disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA), progress includes capturing relevant climate change (CC) related programs, initia ...
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The geography of poverty, disasters and climate extremes in 2030
The Met.Office, 2013This report examines the relationship between disasters and poverty. It concludes that, without concerted action, there could be up to 325 million extremely poor people living in the 49 countries most exposed to the full range of natural hazards and climate extremes in 2030. It maps out where the poorest people are likely to live and develops a range of scenarios to identify potential patterns of vulnerability to extreme weather and earthquakes – who is going to be vulnerable and why. These scenarios are dynamic: they consider how the threats may change, which countries face the greatest risk ...
Research priorities on vulnerability, impacts and adaptation responding to the climate change challenge
UNEP, 2013This set of research priorities was developed by the Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (PROVIA) in consultation with both experts and policymakers to respond to the demand for better coordination of research. The research priorities include new and emerging topics, the importance of which is now coming into focus, and topics that have long been recognized as important but for which research is still required. They reflect the balance between research supply from experts and research demand from policymakers.
The focus of the research ...
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The geography of poverty, disasters and climate extremes in 2030
ODI, 2013This report examines the relationship between disasters and poverty. It concludes that, without concerted action, there could be up to 325 million extremely poor people living in the 49 countries most exposed to the full range of natural hazards and climate extremes in 2030. It maps out where the poorest people are likely to live and develops a range of scenarios to identify potential patterns of vulnerability to extreme weather and earthquakes – who is going to be vulnerable and why. These scenarios are dynamic: they consider how the threats may change, which countries face the greatest risk ...
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Urban disaster risk management in Latin American cities
Watanabe Eiji - ELLA, 2013Complex interactions between urban population dynamics, social processes and a wide variety of natural hazards are increasing the vulnerability of Latin American cities to disaster risk. So how are cities in the region aiming to strengthen disaster risk management?
This Guide begins by describing the complex interaction between processes of urbanisation and natural hazards that generate and intensify disaster risk in Latin America. It then provides a panorama of the evolution of urban disaster risk management in the region, including examples of key achievements towards building ...
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Financing Disaster Risk Reduction : a 20 year story of international aid
Kellett Jan; Caravani Alice; Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, the ; et al. - ODI, 2013This report examines the record of the international community to date, investigating the priorities in financing of DRR, and asking questions of both the equity and adequacy of past efforts. Beyond this it points to the future of a more rational, targeted investment in risk reduction.
Tsunami 2004
WHO, 2013In 2010, the EEA produced its first assessment of global megatrends as part of its five-yearly assessment of the European environment’s state, trend and prospects (SOER 2010). In preparation for SOER 2015, the EEA is updating each of the megatrends, providing a more detailed analysis based on the latest data. This publication is one of the 11 updates being published separately in the second half of 2013 and early-2014. In 2014 the chapters will be consolidated into a single EEA technical report, which will provide the basis for the analysis of megatrends included in SOER 2015.
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The SAFRR (Science Application for Risk Reduction) tsunami scenario: executive summary and introduction
This document presents a tsunami scenario that depicts a hypothetical but plausible tsunami created by an earthquake offshore from the Alaska Peninsula and its impacts on the California coast. The scenario was developed to better understand tsunami impacts to California coastal communities. It includes evaluations of tsunami science such as tsunami source mechanics and tsunami deposits, as well as estimates of potential damage and the socio-economic and environmental impacts from such a scenario.
The document presents evidence for past tsunamis, the scientific basis for the sou ...
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Report of the 4th Africa regional platform on disaster risk reduction: protect development gains and build resilience of African nations
UN/ISDR, 2013This report covers the proceedings of the 4th Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (AfRP) from 13 to 15 February, 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania hosted by The African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Regional Office for Africa. The 4th AfRP focused on the progress made at the national, sub-regional, and regional levels in the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and its Programme of Action, and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). The theme of the 4th AfRP was ‘protecting developmen ...
Status of disaster risk management: plans for floods, hurricanes and drought in the agriculture sector - a Caribbean perspective
FAO, 2013This report presents the findings of a study commissioned by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to review the status of development and implementation of disaster risk management (DRM) plans for the agriculture sector throughout the Caribbean. The report is divided into four sections: (i) the first section introduces the background of the region, the Hyogo Framework for Action, and the methodology and objective of the study; (ii) section two reviews the status of disaster risk management (DRM) strategies in the agricultural sector, highlighting the participation ...
Recent trends in and preparedness for extreme weather events: final report
This document is the final report of a Senate inquiry by the Environment and Communications References Committee looking at Australia’s extreme weather and asking if the country is ready. It looks at any emerging trends on the frequency of extreme weather events. Based on evidence on future projections of such events and on global warming scenarios of between 1C and 5C by 2070, the inquiry looks at the costs of extreme weather events and their impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure and human health. It also examines the “availability and affordability” of private insurance in disaster-prone are ...
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Organizational and institutional issues in climate change adaptation and risk management
IFPRI, 2013This report explores the challenges and opportunities for building human, organizational, and institutional capacity for more effective climate change adaptation in developing countries. It particularly focuses on climate change issues related to the agriculture sector and rural livelihoods in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mali.
The report is part of a larger research project titled “Enhancing women’s assets to manage risk under climate change: potential for group-based approaches,” which is being conducted to help organizations better understand ways in which development pr ...
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Disaster risk management in Asia and the Pacific: issues paper
This paper explores various issues surrounding disaster risk reduction in the Asia-Pacific region, a region which experiences high vulnerability to disasters.
The paper is divided into three sections: (i) section one explains the background and scope of the study, highlighting recent disaster data organized by disaster type, continent, and number of lives lost; (ii) section two explains the major issues found in the course of the study and the coordinating recommendations, including recommendations for compound disasters and climate change adaptation; (iii) section three summar ...
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Fourth session of the global platform for disaster risk reduction proceedings
UN/ISDR, 2013The proceedings of the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction highlight the four days of deliberations, discussions and presentations via various forums, which called for a shared vision and commitment for the next 30 years – a trans-generational compact for the sustainability of development. This Session generated critical and substantive advice for the preparation of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction, commonly called “HFA2”, and for the Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, which will take place Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture in March ...
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Report on school based awareness and simulation exercise in Dhaka and other locations
Ibne Habib; Khan Md.Muzahid; Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (CORDAID) ; et al. - CMDRR Forum, 2013This document reports on four school based simulation programmes aimed at raising public awareness and developing capacity on disaster risk reduction (DRR) that were organized in Babugonj, Chittagong, Kurigram and Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh between February and April 2013. It concludes that simulation programmes create a good positive learning for the community in the management of pre, during and post disaster situation. It provides lessons learned and recommendations intended to help the agencies working with disaster risk reduction and these types of campaigning programmes.
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Enhancing resilience to shocks and stresses
This document explains resilience in the context of disaster and climate change, giving nine examples of case studies from Action Contre la Faim (ACF) resiliency projects around the world. The document is comprised of six sections: (i) section one defines resilience and the effects of shocks and stresses; (ii) section two explains ACF's target groups for resilience (individuals, households, and communities); (iii) section three explains how to measure resilience and the characteristics of disaster resilient communities; (iv) section four offers three strategies to operationalize resilience to ...
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The Pacific experience in developing policy and legislation on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
UN/ISDR, 2013Taking into account the strong basis of learning the Pacific offers in the area of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA), this study explores and unpacks what were the drivers and process to develop joint national action plans on disaster risk management and climate change (JNAPs), primary DRM legislation, and sustainable development plans addressing DRR and CCA in Pacific islands countries. Their impact and potential in facilitating effective DRM and CCA is assessed, as well as potential linkages between legislation and policy documents The three Pacific islands co ...
Strengthening hydro-meteorological services in Southeast Asia
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ; United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR); World Bank the; et al. - UN/ISDR, 2013The Country Assessment Reports for Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines and Viet Nam investigate the capacity of the national hydrological and meteorological services (NHMSs) and recommend improvements through a regional approach.
Initial assessments in the reports show the cost-effectiveness of strengthening national hydro-meteorological services through regional cooperation for reducing adverse impacts of natural hazard-induced disasters and climate change which know no national boundaries.
The World Bank and UNISDR produced the reports in collaboration w ...
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Challenging disparities in capacity development for disaster risk reduction: In International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Volume 3, March 2013
Elsevier, 2013This report summarizes lessons learnt from the Y Care International supported Sierra Leone YMCA project to carry out a disaster risk reduction (DRR) pilot project in two urban slum communities of Freetown in 2012. The project is a good example of youth participation in DRR, collaboration with other agencies, and learning through research on youth volunteerism. The aim of this pilot project was to learn the best ways of reducing the risk of disasters such as flooding and cholera in urban slum communities of Freetown through involving young people in preparing for, carrying out activities to red ...
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Sierra Leone youth-led community-based disaster risk reduction
YCI, 2013This report summarizes lessons learnt from the Y Care International supported Sierra Leone YMCA project to carry out a disaster risk reduction (DRR) pilot project in two urban slum communities of Freetown in 2012. The project is a good example of youth participation in DRR, collaboration with other agencies, and learning through research on youth volunteerism. The aim of this pilot project was to learn the best ways of reducing the risk of disasters such as flooding and cholera in urban slum communities of Freetown through involving young people in preparing for, carrying out activities to red ...
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Urgency to strengthen science-informed decision making in disaster risk management in India
Patra Jyotiraj; Integrated Action on Resilience and Global Sustainability (InAcReGS) - InAcReGS, 2013This policy brief analyses some of the existing institutional constraints, as well opportunities, for systematic and robust coordination among scientists/researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the field of disaster risk management in India. Building on the recent experience of the Himalayan Tsunami, it suggests a set of action points and a framework that would further strengthen science-informed decision making to deal with the uncertainties and complexities in a changing disaster risk context in India.
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Flood risk management in Europe: an exploration of governance challenges
Utrecht University, 2013This report explores the need for a shift in flood risk management strategies (FRMSs), such as risk prevention, flood defense, mitigation, preparation and recovery, in order to create a more resilient Europe, and the governance challenges which such a shift in FRMSs may pose to society. The aim of this report is to identify questions for further research.
This report is the second in a series of four which were compiled by the STAR-FLOOD project.
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Shaping post-2015 development (HFA) agenda bottom-up: AIDMI statement of contributions to HFA during 2012-13
AIDMI, 2013This paper offers a brief overview of how the All India Disaster Mitigation Institute's (AIDMI) risk reduction initiatives and their results have contributed to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) goals and how they can help shape the post-2015 development agenda from the bottom-up. The paper includes a description of AIDMI, a description of the HFA goals, and a chart which maps AIDMI's activities to the HFA priorities for action.
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A global urban risk index
Which cities have the highest risk of human and economic losses due to natural hazards? And how will urban exposure to major hazards change over the coming decades? This paper develops a global urban disaster risk index that evaluates the mortality and economic risks from disasters in 1,943 cities in developing countries. Concentrations of population, infrastructure, and economic activities in cities contribute to increased exposure and susceptibility to natural hazards. The three components of this risk measure are urban hazard characteristics, exposure, and vulnerability. For earthquakes, cy ...
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Pushing Through Reform: Lima's Disaster Risk Management Strategy | ELLA
Watanabe Masahiro - ELLA, 2013In recent years, there have been a number of important actions at the institutional level for promoting disaster risk management (DRM) in developing countries. Yet securing a city-level political commitment that ensures the required investment and specific action plans in big cities has remained a pending challenge. This Brief describes how the Municipality of Lima designed and implemented its Disaster Risk Management Strategy, in particular analysing how disaster risk management was successfully positioned through advocacy and communications efforts. This case highlights some particularly int ...
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Latin American experience in combining Disaster Risk Management with poverty reduction
Watanabe Masahiro - ELLA, 2013Extreme weather events have a direct impact on households' welfare, and in particular, the poorest, most socially excluded populations. Increasing frequency and intensity of disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and flooding, is closely linked to the growing vulnerability of households and communities. Thus, the impacts of extreme events on poverty, income, consumption, health and education present a serious challenge to the well-being of these populations, and also produce negative long-term consequences for economic and social development across the region. In order to reduce the impact ...
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Funding disaster risk reduction
VOICE, 2013The paper from the VOICE series on disaster risk reduction (DRR) explores the issue of “funding for DRR”. It states that DRR should be seen as a long-term investment, necessary to protect lives and livelihoods and to ensure the sustainability of development outcomes. It asserts that the need to address disaster risk remains urgent for vulnerable communities around the globe, and the resourcing of risk reduction measures is an area where progress is still needed.
The paper follows the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which gathered thousands of participants from 172 ...
Turn down the heat: climate extremes, regional impacts, and the case for resilience
This report focuses on the risks of climate change to development in Sub-Saharan Africa, South East Asia and South Asia. Building on the 2012 report, Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided, this new scientific analysis gives a more detailed look at how the negative impacts of climate change already in motion could create devastating conditions especially for those least able to adapt. It asserts that the case for resilience has never been stronger. This report demands action. It reinforces the fact that climate change is a fundamental threat to economic development and the ...
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The role of science in the management of natural hazards and major risks : Scientific expertise in Switzerland and within International Geneva
EPA, 2013Based on aforementioned observations, the objective of this publication is to present a report on the management of natural hazards and major risks in Switzerland with a particular emphasis on the role of science in this context. This report starts by examining the national strategies created in Switzerland and relates them to the international context. It then presents an overview of the actors involved in the battle for the integrated prevention of disasters – be they natural or technological in nature – by way of background to the introduction of a practical tool which facilitates the iden ...
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Inter agency meeting on outer space activities 2013: report
UN/ISDR, 2013This document summarizes the conclusions of the joint UNOOSA/UNISDR open informal session of the United Nations Inter-Agency Meeting on outer space activities: "Space and disaster risk reduction: Planning for resilient human settlements" - Perspectives towards the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.
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Shaping post 2015 development (HFA) agenda bottom-up: AIDMI statement of contributions to HFA during 2012-13
AIDMI, 2013This statement offers a brief overview of how All India Disaster Mitigation Institute’s (AIDMI) humanitarian and risk reduction initiatives and their results have contributed to the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) goals and how they can help shape the post-2015 development agenda from the bottom-up.
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Lessons and recommendations from Japanese civil society for the post 2015 DRR framework
JANIC, 2013This document summarizes the recommendations from major organization from Japanese civil society based on the lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake and its numerous challenges with this unprecedented scale of triple disaster (9.0 earthquake, tsunami, and accident at nuclear power plant), and particularly its evolution and adaption to one of the most challenging humanitarian response it faced in the history.
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Relationships matter: the application of social capital to disaster resilience
IFRC, 2013The report summarises the inaugural Red Cross National Disaster Resilience Roundtable, held in Melbourne in September 2012, and which brought together 43 researchers, policy makers, peak bodies, not for profit organisations and community members, representing both emergency management and the community sector, to explore the application of social capital to disaster resilience. It considers social capital as a type of capital, like financial and human capital, that can be invested in and drawn upon; and it examines in more detail the application of social capital as a concept, to further under ...
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A new global partnership: eradicate poverty and transform economies through sustainable development
United Nations, 2013This report sets out a universal agenda to eradicate extreme poverty from the face of the earth by 2030, and deliver on the promise of sustainable development. It calls upon the world to rally around a new Global Partnership that offers hope and a role to every person in the world. The report recognizes the need to build climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction into regional and national strategies, and encourage countries to focus on these plans.
Strong, safe and resilient: a strategic policy guide for disaster risk management in East Asia and the Pacific
This report outlines the challenges and opportunities as well as new priorities for the disaster risk management (DRM) field in East Asia and the Pacific. It takes stock of the most important activities, highlights examples of global good practice and innovative products, and makes recommendations for reducing risks and building resilience in the short, medium, and long run. It presents a comprehensive disaster risk management framework that offers practical opportunities for targeted policy action and investments, stretching across sectors and jurisdictions and reaching all the way to communi ...
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Ensuring robust flood risk management in Ho Chi Minh city
Ho Chi Minh City faces significant and growing flood risk. Recent risk reduction efforts may be insufficient as climate and socio-economic conditions diverge from projections made when those efforts were initially planned. This study demonstrates how robust decision making can help Ho Chi Minh City develop integrated flood risk management strategies in the face of such deep uncertainty. Robust decision making is an iterative, quantitative, decision support methodology designed to help policy makers identify strategies that are robust, that is, satisfying decision makers' objectives in many pla ...
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GIZ training on flood risk management in cities
Germany - Government, 2013This paper addresses the growing risks of flooding in cities and presents GIZ's expertise in the domain. It introduces hazards involved in urban flooding and describes the main contents of the GIZ training course for urban flood risk management. It also includes a case study examining flood risk and governance in Vietnam. The paper was developed by the working group for Water and Sanitation in Asia.
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Asia Pacific synthesis report: consultations on the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (HFA2)
UN/ISDR, 2013This paper synthesizes consultations held at the regional, national and community levels throughout the Asia-Pacific region on the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (the successor of the Hyogo Framework for Action or HFA2). The document is particularly targeted at countries and stakeholders from Asia Pacific for their engagement at the global deliberations on HFA2 at the Fourth Session of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (4th GPDRR) in May 2013. It also informs all stakeholders and countries engaged in the HFA2 discussions.
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Using science for disaster risk reduction : report of the ISDR scientific and technical advisory group
UN/ISDR, 2013This report asserts that the more widespread integration of science into disaster risk reduction policy making will depend on science being ‘useful, useable and used’. The case studies in the report describe specific examples of scientific learning being employed to enhance disaster risk reduction, providing evidence that science is useable for disaster risk reduction. The case studies were selected from across the breadth of scientific disciplines and from all parts of the globe. They demonstrate that science can: (i) be driven by the need to address the adverse effects of disasters on lives, ...
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