1 Brief overview of key processes and actors1
Table 1.1
| Hyogo Framework for Action | Adopted at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Kobe, Japan, in January 2005, with participants from 168 countries. With the Indian Ocean tsunami (December 2004) as its backdrop, the World Conference agreed on a framework for natural disaster risk reduction, the «Framework for Action 2005 – 2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters,» known as «The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 – 2015». According to the Hyogo Framework, the authorities of each country are responsible for their own risk reduction measures, as well as for communicating information to the United Nations’ principal body for natural disaster risk reduction, the Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). The Framework sets five priorities for action: Ensure that disaster reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation. Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels. Reduce the underlying risk factors. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels. |
| International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) | The UN’s global strategy for involving actors in an international effort to reduce the risk of natural disasters and develop a culture of safety and resilience, with a view to ensuring sustainable development. The ISDR system is officially under the direction of the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and is a partnership of governments, international and non-governmental organisations, international financial institutions, academic and research institutes, civil society and the private sector. The ISDR has special responsibility for following up «The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015» – the declaration on natural disaster risk reduction from the World Conference held in Kobe, Japan, in January 2005. Norway has been supporting the ISDR financially for a number of years; its contribution in 2007 was NOK 6.3 million. The ISDR was established in 2000, and has its headquarters in Geneva. |
| ProVention Consortium | The ProVention Consortium is a global coalition of national authorities, international organisations, academic institutions, civil society and the private sector that seeks to raise international awareness of factors and measures that can reduce the extent of damage in the event of natural disasters – primarily in developing countries. The ProVention Consortium focuses on identifying particularly vulnerable areas, as well as carrying out risk and vulnerability analyses. Norway has supported ProVention since its inception, and contributed NOK 2 million in 2007. ProVention was established by the World Bank in 2000. Since 2005, the ProVention Secretariat has been based in Geneva, at the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). |
| Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery | The Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) was launched in 2006. The partnership is intended to support the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (the declaration from the World Conference held in Kobe in January 2005), while placing special emphasis on low- and middle-income countries that are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and humanitarian crises. The GFDRR supports the ISDR, the UN’s foremost body for disaster risk reduction, and in addition to risk reduction and prevention efforts it provides support for national measures following disasters, taking the countries’ own plans for reconstruction as its starting point. |
| DPA | The UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA) plays a leading role in the prevention and resolution of violent conflicts, and works to secure lasting peace in post-conflict countries. DPA monitors global political developments, advises the UN Secretary-General on peacemaking measures, gives guidance to UN peacekeeping missions in the field, and assists Member States directly when required. DPA works behind the scenes with the office of the Secretary-General and his special envoys, and is the lead department in the UN for preventing, limiting and resolving violent conflicts. This work has been further strengthened through the establishment of the Mediation Support Unit (MSU) within DPA, which is to assist mediators in the field by providing expertise and giving advice. In 2007, Norway’s contribution to the MSU was NOK 7 million. In addition, the Norwegian Refugee Council received NOK 11 million for an emergency standby force which can be put at the MSU’s disposal if required. |
| DPKO | The United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) assists Member States and the Secretary-General in their efforts to maintain international peace and security. DPKO is responsible for planning, preparing and managing UN peacekeeping operations. The Department gives logistical support to peacekeeping missions in the field, and ensures that personnel are trained and that there are sufficient financial resources. DPKO also works to integrate UN peacekeeping operations into the work carried out by national authorities, civil society organisations and other actors. It also gives guidance on issues relating to the military, the police, and mine clearance. |
| UNDP/BCPR | The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has initiated risk reduction and recovery efforts in more than 40 countries in the high-risk group for natural disasters, for example to strengthen the countries’ institutional capacity. Included in this work is the establishment of a network of specialised advisers who are to be stationed in 13 of these countries. UNDP also has a clearly-defined mandate for disaster risk reduction through its Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR). Norway has a programme agreement with UNDP. A new programme agreement for the 2007-2008 period has been drawn up. Norway will cooperate closely with UNDP on the disaster risk reduction agenda, for example through participating in UNDP’s efforts to promote good governance. UNDP/BCPR is one of Norway’s key partners in its work relating to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Cluster Munitions Initiative. |
| OCHA | The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is a department of the UN Secretariat, and it coordinates the international humanitarian response to natural disasters and complex emergencies. Promoting humanitarian preparedness is an important part of OCHA’s mandate. Norway’s core contribution to OCHA is around NOK 50 million annually. |
| UN-HABITAT | The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, has a special programme for «Risk and Disaster Management», which assists governments and local authorities with reconstruction work following conflicts or natural disasters, with particular responsibility for urban and built-up areas. Disaster risk reduction is an important part of the Programme’s mandate, and this work includes training local decision-makers and awareness-raising activities. Norway has supported UN-HABITAT’s post-tsunami reconstruction work in Sri Lanka. To date, UN-HABITAT’s management of an observation system for the housing sector in northern Iraq as part of the UN «Oil-for-Food» Programme is its largest project. |
| Cities Alliance | Cities Alliance (CA) was established in 1999, with Norway among the countries providing support. The alliance is now a global coalition of 10 major donor countries, a growing number of influential developing countries, and international associations of cities and local authorities, namely United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) and the World Association of the Major Metropolises (Metropolis). The World Bank and UN-HABITAT are also members and co-chairs of the Cities Alliance Consultative Group. CA aims to reduce urban poverty by focusing on two prioritised areas: city development strategies and citywide and nationwide slum upgrading. CA is endeavouring to integrate preventive work into its strategies to an increasing degree, for instance in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in cooperation with the Norwegian Government and Norwegian Church Aid. Norway is currently a member of the CA’s board of directors, the Consultative Group. |
| UNEP | The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has a special «Post-Conflict Branch» (PCoB), which seeks to evaluate how environmental damage in the wake of conflicts indirectly affects financial and social conditions, as well as human health. The operational contributions the Branch makes to crisis-affected areas include conducting assessments, capacity building, and giving advice. In this work, UNEP seeks to cooperate with organisations that have humanitarian expertise and competence in various environmental fields. UNEP published its report «Sudan – Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment» in June 2007. |
| The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement | The humanitarian work carried out by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) covers a range of disaster risk reduction measures and activities, including human rights efforts in accordance with international humanitarian law, and the project «International Disaster Reduction Laws». ICRC is an important actor in relation to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Cluster Munitions Initiative. IFRC has a particularly important role with regard to disaster risk reduction and responding to small and medium-scale natural disasters. |
| Group on Earth Observations | The Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is an important initiative for the global coordination and exchange of data relating to the environment, security, natural disasters, energy, water, land use, fisheries, climate and ecosystems. Particular emphasis is placed on developing countries’ situation and needs. The Secretariat of GEO is based in Geneva, and works closely with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). South Africa has played a key role in establishing GEO, and especially in setting up the Capacity Building Committee, which aims to strengthen the capability of all countries, particularly developing countries, to use Earth observation products and data. The Norwegian Government is considering supporting this work. |
1 This overview is not exhaustive, but presents some of Norway’s key cooperation partners.