JAPAN’S APPROACH TO HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Kae Yanagisawa

Japan International Cooperation Agency

October 21, 2015, Beijing

Topics to be covered

1. An overview of JICA’s approach to disaster risk reduction

2. Japan’s international humanitarian assistance

3. Actors involved in humanitarian assistance

4. Strengths and Weaknesses of the current system

5. What we learned from past experiences

1. An Overview of JICA’s approach to disaster risk reduction

JICA and disaster risk reduction• JICA is an implementing agency of international development and

humanitarian assistance of the Government of Japan

< Our belief>• All phases of disaster management cycle should be covered• Investing in prevention and preparedness measures is less costly

than spending in relief and recovery• When hit by disasters, recovery should be made in a “Build Back

Better” way so that the future risk of similar disasters is reduced• Disaster risk reduction should be pursued at all level of the society,

and government should play a critical role

①Prevention / Preparedness

Disaster

②Emergency Response/Relief

③Recovery

Strengthen the role of government

Assised National Disaster Management Agency of Pakistan in creating National Disaster Management Plan and Provincial Human Resources Development Plan

JICA

Engineering works

Drainage well for landslide prevention, Honduras

Flood prevention in urban Phnom Penh,Cambodia

JICA

Cooperation with China

JICA

Upgrading Response Capacity

Community-based capacity development for better preparedness

< Thailand > Evacuation drill< Nepal >

Hazard MapJICA

Build Back Better

After Wenchuan Earthquake

Recovery of vegetation of forestryPsychological support and education for disaster risk reduction JICA

2. Japan’s International Humanitarian Assistance

Channels of Japan’s international humanitarian assistance

GOJ

Own resources

UN organizations,IFRC, etc.

NGOs

Affected country

Donations from companies and

individuals

Implementing organizations for different causes

Natural disasters

Complex (man-made) emergencies

Disaster relief teams

Relief goods

PKOElection support, etc.

Financial support

Relief goods

Cabinet Office

MOFA

JICA

Distinct features of Japan’s international humanitarian

assistanceUnlike other governments in Europe and US, the Government of Japan

1) Uses its own (human and material) resources

NGOs are not implementing government-led

　　　 humanitarian assistance

2) Assistance to natural disasters and complex emergencies are placed under the responsibilities of different organizations

Origin of Japan’s humanitarian assistance

• In 1979, more than a million Cambodian refugees fled to Thailand• Japan was the second largest economy in the world.• Japanese Government provided financial assistance of $60million.• European NGOs were operating in large scale, but there was

almost no international NGO in Japan at that moment.

Criticism: Japan only provides money, but no human contribution.

1979 Japan Medical team was created by the GOJ.1982 Japan Medical Team for Disaster Relief was created. Purpose: to maintain a pool of medical professionals who register voluntarily and agree to work under the leadership of the government.

1987 The Law concerning the Dispatch of Japan Disaster Relief Team passed the parliament Search and Rescue Team and Expert Team were added as JDR Team. Purpose: to reach the same level of capabilities with other countries

Origin of separating natural disasters and complex emergencies

JDR teams had been deployed to both natural disasters and complex emergencies until 1991.

Turning point: the Gulf War in 1990-1991

GOJ contributed $13.5 billion and deployed Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force for mine-sweeping operations.

But reaction from the international community was again, “just money, no human contribution”!

1992 Act on Cooperation for United Nations Peace Keeping

Operations and Other Operations passed the parliament

　　　　　　　　　 The Law concerning the Dispatch of JDR was amended to

enable the deployment of JSDF for natural disaster relief.

MOFA explained to the parliament that JDR teams would not

be deployed for complex emergencies

Political and diplomatic motive

vs. perception of the public toward international conflicts

3. Actors involved in international humanitarian assistance

A. Own resources of the government

Japan disaster relief team

Relief goods 　

Implementing Agency

MOFAMOFA

Goods

Personnel

Emergency Grant 　　　　　　　　　Finance

Search and Rescue

Disaster experts

JSDF

Medical

Responsible body

GOJ

Functions of the Japan Disaster Relief Team

Search and Rescue Team

Search and rescue of the collapsed buildings

Medical Team Clinical care and surgery

Expert TeamAdvice on epidemic control,

building diagnosis, monitoring of volcanic activities, etc.

JSDF TeamMedical assistance

Transportation

19 times

57 times

45 times

16 times

B. Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs)< History>

Most international NGOs were created at the onset of

major international disasters, starting from the

Cambodian refugee case in 1979

< Categories>

a) Japan Red Cross Society (since 1877)

b) Affiliated to international NGOs originated in other

countries

Save the Children, World Vision, etc.

c) Home grown NGOs

Characteristics of Japanese NGOs

• Certain portion of NGOs are focused on international cooperation, while the rest address both international and domestic affairs

• Many NGOs are engaged in long-term development projects (education, health, water, community development, etc.) in addition to humanitarian assistance

• They do not differentiate humanitarian crises on the base of origins (natural disasters vs. complex emergencies)

• Small-scale NGOs are working in a limited number of countries on limited number of issues

Challenges NGOs are facing• Relatively small financial base

Comparison of annual revenue

World Vision Japan: USD 37 million

World Vision USA: USD 982 million

Save the Children Japan: USD 25 million

Save the Children USA: USD 694 million

• Difficulty in mobilizing funding to respond to emergency cases

Collective efforts for effective humanitarian assistance

Japan Platform

Individuals

Companies

Organi-zations

Consultative group

Private sector

Govern-ment

47 memberNGOs

Money

Goods

Goods

Money

Member NGO

Member NGO

Member NGO

4. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Current System

Analysis of Japan’s international humanitarian assistance

Strengths Weaknesses

Government Quick decision based on-Legal framework-Financial resources-Readily available teams and goodsPreparation-Regular training of teams-Stockpiling of goods

Skewed to emergency phase

Lack of flexibility

Distinction between natural and manmade disasters

NGOs FlexibleLong-term engagementNo distinction between natural and manmade disasters

FragmentedWeak financial base

Overall

Division of labor of different actors is clear

But,

Comprehensive assessment and coherent planning and implementation are missing

Disaster

Emergency phase

Recovery periodNormal

life

Life-saving activities

Water and sanitation,Health,

Nutrition,Care for the elderly and

disabled,Education etc.

JDR teamsRelief supplies

NGOsUN organizations

Affected population

Media coverage, Public attention

Reconstruction

JICA’s development assistance

4. What we learned from past experiences in humanitarian assistance

Working environment we are facing

• Politicians, media and general public tend to emphasize speed, but not necessarily effectiveness of assistance

• They are compassionate with disasters that are familiar in Japan (earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.) but less attentive to unfamiliar disasters (drought, complex emergencies, etc.)

• They are interested in the visibility of Japan’s contribution

What we need to respect as basic principles

Fundamental objectives of humanitarian assistance

Save lives

Alleviate suffering of affected population

Maintain and protect human dignity

And

Reduce burden of the affected country

What we should do

1. Be part of international coordination mechanism

UNDAC, Cluster system, etc.

2. Adhere to principles

UN General Assembly Resolution 46/182

Code of Conduct

(27 NGOs are signatories and others on waiting list)

Core Humanitarian Standards

International Disaster Response Law (IDRL)

3. Flexible and responsive to the needs on the ground

4. Bridging between humanitarian assistance and development assistance

In the floods in Thailand, 2011

JICA

In Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu, 2015

New South Wales, Fire and Rescue News, June 2015

In the earthquake of Nepal, 2015

Yosuke Okita, OCHA

謝謝

Thank you for your attention