Perspectives for a DRR regional Strategy in Europe

1. Perspectives for a DRR regional Strategy in Europe www.unisdr.org Expert Meeting on NMHss’ participation in DRR mechanisms and Early Warning Systems Paola AlbritoUN/ISDR Secretariat - Regional Coordinator Europe

2. GFDRR: • Track 1 Global and Regional Deliverables • Track 2:Country level deliverables • Track 3:Accelerated Disaster Recovery in Low Income Countries

3. Vulnerability of SEE Region SEE is prone to variety of disasters caused by the natural and man-made hazards: • Earthquakes (Skopje 1963; Bucharest 1977) • Floods (seasonal water surges in Balkans) • Landslides (localized, affecting communities) • Drought • Forest Fire • Technological accidents

4. Rationale for the Regional Cooperation • Many hazards are common to a number of neighboring countries • Information sharing will allow for greater reduction of hazard risk at the national and regional level • Individual countries may not be able to cope with a major disaster on their own • Stand-by, fully equipped emergency response units and relief materials are expensive • Countries are small in size and hazards risk insurance may not be optimal at the country level

5. Objective: To reduce vulnerability of SEE countries, in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action, by building the capacity and promoting a coordinated approach in disaster risk mitigation, preparedness and response. The initiative will build on the existing cooperation in the region, and will complement and consolidate the activities promoted by active organizations and initiatives in the region.

6. Key Areas of the Initiative: • Hydrological and meteorological forecasting, data sharing and early warning system • Strengthening regional capacities in disaster risk reduction and response • Financing of disaster losses and risk transfer mechanism

7. What to do and how to do it: Step 1) Undertake a review for each of the 3 areas of focus; (Get involvement and buying in of national, regional partners) Step 2) Based on outcome review develop project proposal (WB leader); Identify a number of countries to express interest on loans/grants WB as well as committed partners to support the initiative (WMO, EU/EC etc..) Step 3) Implementation phase. (Strengthen sub-regional existing organizations to facilitate the implementation phase in the SEE context)

8. Hydrological and Meteorological Forecasting, Data Sharing and Early Warning System • Initiative has been agreed during the ICEED meeting in Dubrovnik in May 2006 • Strong partnership with WMO • Objective of this initiative is to promote a coordinated approach and data sharing in Hydromet services in South Eastern Europe • Feasibility assessment has been completed and was discussed in a regional meeting on October 24-25, 2007 in Zagreb • Coverage: Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia & Herzegovina

9. Flood Forecasting and Early Warning System on Sava River • Initiative was agreed during Podgorica meeting of the Directors of Hydromet services in Sava river countries in April 2007. • Objectives is to build capacity and to re-establish data sharing and collaboration on flood forecasting and early warning system on the Sava river. • Feasibility Assessment has been completed and discussed in a regional meeting in Zagreb on October 24-25, 2007.

10. Disaster Risk Reduction and Response • Objectives is to promote and implement investment priorities for strengthening the capacity and promote a coordinated approach to disaster preparedness and response • Will be built on existing agreements: Civil-Military Emergency Planning Council and the Disaster Preparedness Initiative of the Stability Pact • Vulnerability Assessment is completed • More detailed assessment of disaster response is needed.

11. Catastrophe Risk Transfer • Creation of a regional catastrophe insurance pool that would offer affordably-priced catastrophe insurance coverage to governments of SEE countries. • Development of national catastrophe insurance programs for homeowners. • Development of standardized tradable weather risk hedging instruments to protect businesses against loss of revenue due to adverse weather conditions. • Structuring and issuance of a catastrophe risk bond for countries of the region.

12. Disaster Risk Reduction and Response • Objectives is to promote and implement investment priorities for strengthening the capacity and promote a coordinated approach to disaster preparedness and response • Will be built on existing agreements: Civil-Military Emergency Planning Council and the Disaster Preparedness Initiative of the Stability Pact • Vulnerability Assessment is completed • More detailed assessment of disaster response is needed.

13. Partnership WB-UN/ISDR secretariat in partnership with main UN agencies and actors based on the priority areas: • UN Agencies part of the ISDR system: WMO, UNICEF, UNDP etc.. • Regional Organizations: Council of Europe, the EU, DPPI, OECD etc.. • Bi-lateral/Multilateral donors: Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Italy etc.. (if interest shown by the SEE countries and by donor)

14. Program ComponentsWB on the DRIVING SEAT • The following broad components/activities are eligible for financing under the program: • Disaster Preparedness • Disaster Risk Insurance • Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation • Contingency funding • Components/activities will be tailored to country-specific needs

15. Regional Landscape • Council of Europe – EUR-OPA Agreement The European and Mediterranean Major Hazards Agreement (EUR-OPA) is a platform for co-operation between European and Southern Mediterranean countries in the field of major natural and technological disasters: its field of action covers the knowledge of hazards, risk prevention, risk management, post-crisis analysis and rehabilitation. The Agreement is “partial”, as not all member States of the Council of Europe participate, but also “open”, as 3 Southern Mediterranean countries count among its members. It has to date 25 Member States.

16. Regional Landscape • European Network of National Platforms • Germany (Chair), Switzerland, France • Aim of the network: • To facilitate and improve the exchange of information on good practices, the experiences and public policies by establishing a more structured approach to issues and problems. • To support the integration of DRR into all aspects of policy, decision making, private sector and civil society of the national, regional and international level of European countries with the aim to reduce the vulnerability of the society. • To become a partner to the European Union, the Council of Europe and other relevant international organisations in all aspects related to DRR. • To provide consolidated, substantive input to the Global Platform.

17. Regional Landscape EU/EC Main DG involved in DRR issues: DG Environment (Civil Protection), DG Relex, DG Research, DG Enlargement, DG ECHO and others ….. A number of Working Groups with sets of meeting where DRR issues can contribute to advance on the topic and vice-versa. Ex. Green Paper on Climate Change Adaptation OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) • Support sustainable economic growth, • Boost employment, • Raise living standards, • Maintain financial stability, • Assist other countries' economic development, • Contribute to growth in world trade.

18. Sub Regional Landscape DPPI – Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative. The Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South Eastern Europe was conceived as a regionally owned initiative that seeks to provide a framework for South Eastern European nations to develop programs and projects leading to strengthened capabilities to prevent and respond to natural and man-made, i.e. technological disasters. It brings together 12 countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, FR Yugoslavia). The DPPI SEE used to operate with donor resources, mainly from Norway, Switzerland and the United States of America. Now DPPI is a regional owned and driven initiative before part of Stability Pact for SEE.

19. Thank you United Nations, secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction International Environment House II 7-9 Chemin de Balexert, CH 1219 Chatelaine Geneva 10, SwitzerlandTel: +41 22 917 8908/8907Fax: +41 22 917 8964isdr@un.org

20. Component I: Disaster Preparedness • Eligible activities • Emergency management equipment such as fire trucks, ambulances, search and rescue equipment, ..etc • Communications equipment • National Command Center • Forest fire fighting equipment, including planes • Weather forecasting and flood early warning system, etc.

21. Component II: Disaster Risk Insurance • Eligible activities • Development of disaster insurance schemes that cover: • Government budget • Business • Individual households • Technical Assistance to build government capacity in catastrophe risk analysis and risk transfer

22. Component III: Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation • Eligible activities • Hazards mapping • Flood control • Dam safety • Retrofitting of schools and hospitals • Retrofitting of major infrastructure • Revisions of building codes and land use plans • Etc..

23. Component IV: Contingency Funding • Eligible activities • Immediate Funds for the use of government in the aftermath of a disaster caused by the impact of natural hazards.

24. Phasing • Phase I: Will include relatively cheap, but high impact, non-structural components/activities • Disaster Preparedness • Insurance • Non-structural activities under Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation – such as revisions in building codes and land use plans and hazards mapping • Development of comprehensive national strategies for disaster risk mitigation and adaptation

25. Phasing (Cont.) • Phase II: Structural investments • Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation – such as flood control, dam safety, retrofitting of buildings, retrofitting of key infrastructure, ..etc. • Countries may choose to combine phase I and phase II under one operation

26. Phasing (cont.) • In both phases governments could have access to contingency funding (called DDO) in the aftermath of disasters • DDO will provide financing to meet the immediate cash needs of government following a disaster

27. Advantages of Phasing • Will enable speedy preparation and start implementation of critical activities under phase I • Will give governments time to come up with a comprehensive strategy for disaster risk reduction and adaptation to define priorities according to economic, financial, environmental and social criteria

28. Next Steps and Timing • Bank communicated to all governments on the proposed program • Interested governments will decide on the list of components/activities to be included in their project • Bank team will work with governments to finalize project documents • Financing arrangements will be agreed with governments and other partners.