A short history of Drought Risk Networking

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1 A short history of Drought Risk Networking Mohamed Abchir, PHD, ISDR-Secretariat The ISDR Ad Hoc Discussion Group on Drought TOR, Membership, Main Recommendations Regional Drought Preparedness network Drought and EWCII, 2003, Bonn, Germany Drought andwcdr, January 2005, Kobe Japan Forum for Drought Risk and Development Policy. January 31 st Feb 2 nd, Nairobi, Kenya

2 The UN s strategy - the ISDR The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction: the follow-up to IDNDR, centerpiece of UN efforts Coordinated international effort to reduce risks Inter-Agency Task Force (UN, regional and civil society organizations) A vehicle for stimulating and coordinating action Secretariat roles: Policy development, Advocacy, Information, and Partnerships On December 10, 2003, the UN General Assembly passed two detailed resolutions calling on governments and UN agencies to work more actively to reduce the risks of disasters.

3 Term of Reference of the ad-hoc discussion group on drought The Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction (IATF/DR) chaired by USG for Humanitarian Affair initially established 4 WGs: Climate and Disasters (WMO), EWS (UNEP), Risk, Vulnerability and Impact Assessment (UNDP), Wildland Fire (GFMC) The Chair and the members of the TF requested in 2002 the establishment of the ad hoc discussion group on drought as a temporary panel of experts with the objective of producing an expert report on this critical issue. As agreed by the Task Force, the TOR of the Group was: Carry out an analysis of drought as a natural hazard and its implications for disaster reduction Identify success stories on drought vulnerability reduction Provide recommendations on what should be done in the framework of the ISDR to address drought issues, and Focus on regional or sub-regional implications of drought

4 ISDR Ad Hoc discussion Group on drought The work took place mainly by exchanging views through electronic mail The Group met once in Geneva to finalise the report Chair: Don Wilhite (USA-NDMC) Membership: NDMC, UNDP/DDC-BCPR, UNISDR, WMO, FAO, ESCAP, DMCN, CEDERA, IRI, JRC, GFMC and independante expert (Margie Buchannan-Smith) The final report was released in april DROUGHT. Living with Risk: and integrated Approach to Reducing Societal Vulnerability to Drought

5 Environmental governance Society exposed to a natural hazard: Extended period of unusually low precipitation Societal response to Consequences, reinforcement living with risk Nature Society Vulnerable to Drought Lack of drought management policies not implemented Lack of drought preparedness Violent conflict Poverty Dependence on, Overexploitation of Natural Resources Society vulnerable to drought Locally specific factors (historical, political, social, economic, cultural) resulting in marginalized groups lacking skills / resources / options to mitigate impacts. Vary over time Lack of drought mitigation Potential disaster

6 Consequences, Reinforcement Environmental Governance Societal Response to living with risk Culture of prevention, Nature Society Resilient to Drought Society exposed to a natural hazard: Extended period of unusually low precipitation early warning systems Drought management policy implemented Drought awareness & preparedness Authorities aware and accountable to vulnerable populations Appropriate land tenure arrangements Society resilient to drought Political capital Policies to enhance social adaptive capacity, at both local and national scales Incentives for preparedness Appropriate relationships with international economy Drought management policies implemented Lessons learned Impacts mitigated

7 Some of the critical issues identified by the Ad Hoc Discussion Group Understanding the principal causes of drought at local, regional, and global levels; Development of decision support models for the dissemination of drought-related information to end users and appropriate methods for encouraging feedback on climate and water supply assessment products, and on other forms of early warning information; Development and dissemination of vulnerability/risk assessment tools that are appropriate for different social and environmental conditions; Dissemination of drought planning methodologies that could be adopted by drought-prone countries in the preparation of plans; Development of national and regional drought management policies that emphasize monitoring and early warning, risk assessment, mitigation, and response as an essential part of drought preparedness; Support development of regional networks for drought preparedness Education and awareness of policy makers and the public regarding the importance of improved drought preparedness as a part of integrated water resources management;

8 Key recommendations Support to the development of regional drought preparedness networks Support to the development of a global network on drought preparedness Facilitate the development of an information clearinghouse on drought management ISDR s Ad Hoc Drought Discussion Group, should continue to collaborate on how to implement actions designed to achieve the integrated approach to reducing societal vulnerability to drought

9 Why regional networks for drought preparedness? To build greater institutional capacity at the local, national, and regional levels by sharing lessons learned in drought monitoring, prediction, vulnerability assessment, preparedness, and policy development; On-going initiatives Asia-Pacific network (UNESCAP) Near East Network (FAO and ICARDA) FAO, EU and CIHEAM-Zaragoza are linking the Near East network with the Mediterranean region USA and Canada (USA-NDMC and Canadian Authorities) Sub-Saharan Africa: not yet

10 Proposed Activity by the Ad Hoc Discussion Group on Drought Organize regional workshops to launch the regional Networks and identify partners and coordinating institutions, as well as the primary objectives and activities of the regional network; The group also recognised that Sub-Saharan Africa, one of the most affected region of the world should be considered with special attention and UNDP-DDC, ISDR, DMC s should play a critical role in collaboration with other partners. This Forum on Drought Risk and Development Policy (UNDP/DDC-BCPR and ISDR) is a great step towards the achievement of this goal and the establishment of an African Drought Preparedness network

11 A side event on Drought organised during the Second EWC in Bonn, Germany. The main conclusions and recommendations of the parallel session on drought were as follows: 1. The ISDR ad hoc Drought Discussion Group should be a part of any effort to develop the international platform for early warning platform. 2. The social component of drought is critical as a component of disaster risk reduction and must be an integral part of future efforts of the ISDR and its Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction (IATF/DR). 3. Development of Regional drought preparedness networks 4. Emphasis needs to be placed on the development of regional drought networks in the Sub-Saharan African region (e.g. with leadership from UNDP's Dryland Development Center, ISDR and DMCs)

12 5. Comprehensive drought early warning systems relying on multiple natural and social indicators and indices of drought are the foundation of drought preparedness planning and should be promoted in drought-prone countries. 6. Closer ties and collaboration with UNCCD needs to be developed on drought early warning and preparedness. 7. Resources need to be directed immediately toward the development of a more comprehensive drought information clearinghouse for the international community.

13 Promote early warning as disaster reduction tool, in UN and elsewhere Provide information on best practices, and stimulate development of new methods Build networks and sustain greater dialogue and shared agendas The four elements of a complete and effective early warning system Knowledge of the risks faced by communities Technical monitoring and warning service Dissemination of useable information Knowledge and capacity to act!!!!!!strong linkage need to be developed between the African Network and the Platform in view of the upcoming UN Conference on EW proposed by Germany if adopted by the GA

14 Draft common statement of the Special Session on the Indian Ocean Disaster: Risk Reduction for a Safer Future Review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of action for a Safer World Hyogo Declaration Programme outcome document. Building the resilience of nations and communities: Hyogo Framework for action Expected outcomes: the substantial reduction of disasters losses, in live and in the social, economic and environmental assets of communities and countries Strategic goals adopted OUTCOMES 5 Priorities for action adopted: 1. Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation; 2. Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning; 3. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels; 4. Reduce the underlying risk factors; 5. Strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels Follow-up: States, regional organisations and institutions, International organisations and the ISDR THE AFRICAN REGIONAL STRATEGY FOR DISASTER REDUCTION (AU/NEPAD) facilitated by ISDR-Africa with the support of UNDP-BCPR is also based on those priorities area for action with concrete targets and activities.

15 Outcomes of the drought in Kobe: Seamless Approach to the Global Problem of Drought Primary issues One of the major challenges of addressing risks associated with drought is raising the awareness of drought and its impacts to the public, decision makers, and policy makers. Societies currently react to drought in the post-drought period rather than to risk-based drought mitigation planning. Lack of a comprehensive and integrated approach to monitor, assess and predict drought, which is the key for drought mitigation planning. Insufficient drought reduction and relief strategies at local levels to save lives, eradicate poverty, and to ensure sustained food security. Insufficient data for assessing the impacts of human actions on drought risk (e.g. grazing, forestry and ground water management). Inadequate capacity building, education, communication, training. Critical to drought mitigation and reduction. Inadequate international and regional cooperation and coordination for sharing information, knowledge and experiences.

16 Suggested targets and indicators to measure accomplishments Improve global drought monitoring network capacity by 30% in Complete the implementation of the U.S. National Integrated Drought Information System, and 3 major drought prone nations/regions (e.g. China and Africa) by Establish regional networks on drought preparedness in Asia, Africa, North America, and Latin America by Develop a comprehensive international drought information clearinghouse that emphasises public education (e.g. human action impacts), drought monitoring, preparedness, and mitigation tools by Reduce regional drought induced agricultural loss by 10% in Proposed Partnership (not exhaustive): National Drought Mitigation Centre, U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. National Integrated Drought Information System, Chinese, Meteorological Administration, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, IGAD Climate, Prediction and Applications Centre, AGRHYMET, Drought Monitoring Centre Harare, African Center for Meteorological Applications for Development, U.S. International Research Institute, World Meteorological Organization, UNDP, FAO, UNESCAP, UNEP

17 National platforms for disaster risk reduction AFRICA Botswana Comoros Djibouti Gabon Kenia Madagascar Republic of Congo Uganda Zimbabwe MULTI-SECTORAL MULTI-STAKEHOLDER National Meteorological Services MULTI-DISCIPLINARY

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