Strengthening the network of European National Platforms

Meeting of European National Platforms and HFA Focal Points

Strasbourg, 07.05.2007

Karl-Otto Zentel, DKKV –

Paola Albrito, UN/ISDR secretariat

www.unisdr.org

Overview of presentation:

1. Why National Platforms;

2. The initiative and overview on information collected and outcome “products”;

3. Opportunities for NPs, HFA Focal Points and regional partners;

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.

What is a national platform?

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.

1.

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.

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.

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

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 collaborationFacilitating NPs establishment workshops and training material package to support the capacities of NP’s;

2. Strengthening the network of European National Platforms

To identify possible common areas of activities and synergiesTo enhance linkages between National PlatformsTo establish the necessary information to promote the basis for an enlargement of the NP systemTo advocate for better integration of disaster reduction at the national levelTo support networking among National Platforms to strengthen regional capacities in disaster risk reduction

Goals of the Initiative

            

      

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

ULTIMATELY

            

      

Bulgaria; Czech Republic; France; Germany; Hungary; Spain; Switzerland.

Their Coordinating Ministries:

Ministry of Sustainable Development; Ministry of Environment; Ministry of Interior; MOFA;

National Platforms

Overview of information collected

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:CroatiaTurkey

National Platforms Under Development

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.

Countries with designated HFA Focal Point:

European Union / European CommissionCouncil of Europe / Major Hazards AgreementOrganisation of Economic Cooperation and Development

Sub-regional structures/initiatives are currently being reviewed:

CEUDIP Central European Disaster Prevention NetworkDPPI: Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative/Stability Pact;CMEPC: Civil-Military Emergency Preparedness Council;

Regional structures analysed

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

Outcomes and concrete products

Website

Bilateral – Trilateral – MultilateralRegional InternationalSectoral

3. Synergies and Opportunities for Collaboration

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.

Synergies Bilateral – Trilateral - Multilateral

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

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

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

Synergies - Regional

Advocacy for DRR at international levelAgenda 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.

Synergies - International

Potential Synergies - Sectoral

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.

Future steps

Identify and promote concrete sectoral and regional synergies Initiate a structured approach to European institutions to harmonize DRR efforts across the European countriesEstablish partnerships with regional structures

Future steps

Thank you!