Strengthening European Disaster Risk Reduction Platforms

1. Strengthening the network of European National Platforms Meeting of European National Platforms and HFA Focal PointsStrasbourg, 07.05.2007Karl-Otto Zentel, DKKV – Paola Albrito, UN/ISDR secretariat www.unisdr.org

2. Overview of presentation: • Why National Platforms; • The initiative and overview on information collected and outcome “products”; • Opportunities for NPs, HFA Focal Points and regional partners;

3. 1. What is a national platform? a nationally-owned and led arrangement –adopting the form of a forum, committee, network, etc.- that serves as advocate for disaster risk reduction at different levels, and contributes with both analysis and advice on action through a coordinated and participatory process. National platforms should be the custodian of the nationally adapted and agreed Hyogo Framework and should aim at contributing to a comprehensive national disaster reduction system, as appropriate to each context.

4. WHY NATIONAL PLATFORMS? • A national platform promotes the engagement of more practitioners, civil society, private sector, academia and political decision makers in disaster risk reduction and the multi-stakeholder approach and dialogue. • A NP is not a goal in itself. It serves as a tool to improve the implementation of DRR at the national level through a consultative and participatory approach. • NPs are pillars of the ISDR at national level. They link to the international community and are an entry into the UN system. • Disaster reduction is seen as an important element to achieve sustainable development and to reach the MDG’s. National Platforms provide the necessary multi-stakeholder fora to promote the cross-cutting issue of disaster reduction.

5. WHY NATIONAL PLATFORMS? • First an foremost disaster risk reduction projects are implemented at the national level. • National disaster risk reduction policy is crucial for the effective implementation of disaster reduction. • Disaster reduction as a cross-cutting issue needs a multi-stakeholder, inter-sectoral approach for effective integration into development policies. • Regional political structures are becoming increasingly important for disaster risk reduction.

6. PRIMARY FUNCTIONS • support national consultation and identification of priority for DRR • support to and advocate for the implementation of HFA • facilitate the formulation of policies • monitor the implementation and review of DRR activities • link between local, national, regional and international activities of the country • advocate at regional and international level for DRR • serve as a catalyst to bring forward joint activities • mediation function

7. 2. Strengthening the network of European National Platforms • Review of the functions and effectiveness of existing regional capacities and national platforms in Europe with the intention of developing and strengthening NP’s networks and capacities within Europe (EU countries in particular) and with other NP’s; In order to respond to NPs call to the UN/ISDR secretariat to: • Support NPs in gaining visibility on their activities; • Provide opportunities for exchanges with among themselves and other partners; • Support the development on synergies and opportunities of collaboration • Facilitating NPs establishment workshops and training material package to support the capacities of NP’s;

8. Goals of the Initiative • To identify possible common areas of activities and synergies • To enhance linkages between National Platforms • To establish the necessary information to promote the basis for an enlargement of the NP system • To advocate for better integration of disaster reduction at the national level • To support networking among National Platforms to strengthen regional capacities in disaster risk reduction

9. ULTIMATELY • To promote the establishment of a strong regional but national owned disaster risk reduction system as an essential component of the ISDR system.

10. Overview of information collected National Platforms Bulgaria; Czech Republic; France; Germany; Hungary; Spain; Switzerland. Their Coordinating Ministries: Ministry of Sustainable Development; Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Interior; MOFA;

11. National Platforms Under Development • Austria (Austrian Academy of Science) • Ireland (Environment) • Italy (Civil Protection/MOFA) • Norway (Interior and Justice) • Sweden (Swedish Rescue Service/Interior) • Romania (Interior) Manifested intention to develop one: • Croatia • Turkey

12. Countries with designated HFA Focal Point: What is an HFA focal points? The HFA request States to: Designated an appropriate national coordination mechanisms for the implementation and follow up of this framework, and communicate the information to the secretariat of the UN/ISDR. 25 Countries in Europe (including existing NPs): • Denmark; Finland; Greece; Lithuania; Malta; Portugal; Romania; Sweden; United Kingdom; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Cyprus; Iceland; Moldova (Rep. of); Monaco; Norway; Serbia and Montenegro; Turkey Focal Points’ Ministerial Provenience: Ministry of Interior/Civil defence; MOFA; Ministry of Public Works and Settlement; Hydro-meteorological services.

13. Regional structures analysed • European Union / European Commission • Council of Europe / Major Hazards Agreement • Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development Sub-regional structures/initiatives are currently being reviewed: CEUDIP Central European Disaster Prevention Network DPPI: Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative/Stability Pact; CMEPC: Civil-Military Emergency Preparedness Council;

14. Outcomes and concrete products • Information on NP in Europe and Focal points were collected together with good practises. • Analysis of possible support instruments at regional structures was carried out the outcomes will be fully shared before the Global Platform; • « UN/ISDR European Website » is under development to be made available for the Global Platform; • A two days facilitation workshop agenda has been developed, based on past UN/ISDR experiences to facilitate the establishment of national platforms and training material package is under development

15. Website

16. 3. Synergies and Opportunities for Collaboration • Bilateral – Trilateral – Multilateral • Regional • International • Sectoral

17. Synergies Bilateral – Trilateral - Multilateral Exchanges on existing know-how on specific topics in DRR (risk mapping, early warning systems, education, research) Potential for co-operation has been identified: E.g. • Cross border catchment areas, river basins, mountain areas E.g. international commissions on rivers, convention on the Alps, warning systems of met-services.

18. Synergies - Regional Establish a regional cooperation in order to • Liaise with regional structures in areas as: research, development, environment, disaster peparedness • Strengthen advocacy capacities on regional level • Become partner to regional structures/networks

19. Synergies - Regional Potential for co-operation has been identified between: E.g. • National Platforms and the European Specialized Centres of the Council of Europe Major Hazard Agreement; E.g.: Cyprus Specialized centre for Education and Disaster Reduction expertise can be used by NPs when undertaken initiatives related to Education; PLANAT experience in avalanches can be shared with Council of Europe

20. Synergies - Regional • EU/EC and National Platforms/HFA Focal Points: DG Research in relation to seismology; DG Environment on the issue of Climate Change. EU Presidencies and NPs role: NPs of the Countries heading the EU Presidency should consultant on how to raise the profile of DRR – the topic of climate change has been identified as one of the common topics that could be perpetuated in the next 2 years • Cooperation on cross-border hazards: Floods: International river commissions, Earthquakes: SAFER (Seismic Early Warning for Europe) • Longer list of opportunities indicated in the outcome document

21. Synergies - International • Advocacy for DRR at international level • Agenda setting • Integration of DRR into humanitarian assistance and development programmes E.g.: IOC Tsunami Programme and the mediterranean, Global Earthquake risk map (OECD), Adaptation to Climate Change; Global Platform; Exchanges with other « regions » on experiences and lessons learnt.

22. Potential Synergies - Sectoral

23. Future steps • Build on and enlarge the European Network of NPs and HFA Focal Points; • Promote the establishment of additional NP and Focal points in Europe and in other regions; • Improve the exchange of information among NPs; • Establish a system of improved information exchange between UNISDR and NPs; • Facilitate the exchanges and opportunities between NPs and Sub-Regional/Regional and International partners.

24. Future steps • Identify and promote concrete sectoral and regional synergies • Initiate a structured approach to European institutions to harmonize DRR efforts across the European countries • Establish partnerships with regional structures

25. Thank you!