Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

Disaster Risk ReductionProgramme Guidance Note

SUMMARY

Definition

Disaster risk is the potential loss expressed in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, which could occur to a particular community or a society due to the impact of a natural hazard1. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a systematic approach to identifying, assessing and reducing that risk. Specifically, the purpose of disaster risk reduction is to minimize vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society in order to avoid (prevent) or to limit (mitigate and prepare for) the adverse impacts of natural hazards, and facilitate sustainable development. Disaster risk reduction is also recognized as a key climate change adaptation strategy.

Purpose

This Note responds to the global recognition, including in the Millennium Declaration, of the rise in disaster risk related to natural hazards and its impact on children, as well as to specific calls for guidance and support from UNICEF field offices and partners working in countries with high levels of disaster risk. This Guidance Note is intended to support the adoption on a more strategic and consistent approach for UNICEF to disaster risk reduction at the global level and most importantly, through Country Programmes. Annex 1 summarizes examples of programming related to DRR which is intended to serve as a useful reference.

Summary of the Issue

Disasters and disaster risk are on the rise. Disasters negatively impact children’s and women’s rights, disproportionately affect poor countries, erode development gains and set back progress in achieving the MDGs. Disasters thus exacerbate already existing vulnerabilities and inequalities of boys, girls, women and men. As disasters are a function of hazard, vulnerability and capacity, they are both a humanitarian and a development concern. UNICEF has an obligation to address disaster risk as it impedes progress towards the MDGs and the realization of child rights.

DRR within UNICEF’s overall approach to development programming and humanitarian action

Strengthening UNICEF’s work in disaster risk reduction is part of a wider organizational effort to enhance the effectiveness of the country programme process, and a continued commitment to excellence in humanitarian action. This process includes a set of principles, approaches and specific interventions that cover preparedness, response and early recovery, and thus bridge the gap between development and humanitarian programming. The vision for humanitarian action is spelled out in the revised Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action. One of the approaches underpinning this vision is emergency risk-informed programming in all country contexts. Emergency risk informed programming is a process that lays out steps in the programme cycle to help ensure that UNICEF regular programming better addresses priority emergency risks threatening the rights of children in a 1 Adapted from ISDR, 2009

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Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

given country through (1) increased prevention, mitigation, and preparedness related to these risks (whether related to natural disasters, social/political conflict and/or health crisis), and (2) improved response and recovery from actual emergencies. DRR is a key component of emergency risk-informed programming and should be integrated accordingly. DRR can also constitute a stand-alone programme outcome area for higher risk countries and contexts. DRR further encompasses a set of specific programme actions that take place in humanitarian action as well as development assistance, and forms a central part of Country Programme cooperation.

Disaster risk reduction is closely related to capacity development, which is a key strategy of UNICEF’s approach to both development and humanitarian action. Capacity development of both rights-holders and also duty-bearers reduces underlying vulnerabilities, increases resilience to disasters, and contributes to enhanced preparedness and early recovery2. Early recovery, which is an approach that must be adopted from the onset of response, often results in undertaking specific DRR programme actions.

BACKGROUND

Overview of Context

Disasters are first and foremost a “local” phenomenon. Local communities are on the frontlines of the immediate impact of a disaster and the immediate emergency response. The number of people affected globally by disasters has been increasing by an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 per decade, since the early 1970s, with 250 million affected per year over the last decade3. Ninety-five percent of disaster deaths occur in developing countries. Climate change impacts are projected to increase the numbers of children affected by disasters from an estimated 66.5 million per year in the late 1990s, to as many as 175 million per year in the coming decade.4 Between 1991 and 2005 disasters also caused economic losses of up to US$1.2 billion – sometimes costing poor countries multiples of their GDP.

The United Nations declared the 1990s the first ‘International Decade for Disaster Reduction’ (IDNDR) and this led to the formation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) in 2000. The ISDR Secretariat promotes disaster risk reduction and is tasked with supporting governments in the implementation of The Hyogo Framework for Action: 2005 – 2015 ‘Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disaster’ adopted by 168 member states in January 2005, containing the following five priorities:

1. To ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation;

2. To identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning;3. To use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience

at all levels;4. To reduce underlying risk factors;5. To strengthen disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels.

2 For additional information, refer to the Oral report background note to the UNICEF Executive Board “The approach of UNICEF to capacity development” (E/ICEF/2010/CRP.20, 3 August, 2010). 3 Humanitarian Costs of Climate Change, Tufts, 20094 SCF Legacy of Disasters, 2007

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Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

Governments, civil society, and international cooperating partners are increasingly developing DRR policies, networks, bodies and capacities. Much of the leadership behind the support for disaster risk reduction increasingly has come from NGOs and from the South. National platforms to advance disaster risk reduction have been established in an estimated 56 countries. Civil society and NGO disaster risk reduction networks5 have been created and regional bodies, such as the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), have been mandated to develop the capacity of governments and civil society. In addition, many donors, UN and other international organizations have developed disaster risk reduction policies and increased their capacity in this area. Within the UN, for example, a guide for the UN Country Team on integrating disaster risk reduction into country level processes has been developed (for further detail see page 6 of this guidance note)

2009 Global Assessment Report

The flagship report produced by ISDR in June 2009 found that global disaster risk is highly concentrated in poorer countries with weaker governance. Particularly in low and low-middle income countries with rapid economic growth, the exposure of people and assets to natural hazards is growing at a faster rate than risk-reducing capacities are being strengthened, leading to increasing disaster risk. The report also found that progress towards reducing disaster risk is still mixed. In general terms, countries are making significant progress in strengthening capacities, institutional systems and legislation to address deficiencies in disaster preparedness and response, and in enhancing early warning. However, countries report little progress in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into social, economic, urban, environmental and infrastructural planning and development, and achieving results at the local level.

A considerable financing gap still persists to address disaster risk in developing countries6. At the national level arrangements continue to focus primarily around limited regular budgetary allocations mostly for humanitarian response and in limited cases for preparedness. Early recovery, which is part of the response, is often under-funded as well. Additional resources are obtained on an ad hoc basis in the aftermath of disasters, primarily via budgetary reallocations and international community grants and loans. Some progress has however been made through contingent credit arrangements, social funds and risk financing.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation

Commitment to disaster risk reduction has also been marshalled by the climate change agenda. The Bali Action Plan (2007)7 explicitly recognizes the importance of disaster risk reduction. By 2011, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will prepare a scientific assessment on managing the risk of extreme events and disasters to advance climate change adaptation. This represents an unprecedented opportunity to bring the world’s attention to accumulated knowledge and experience in reducing and managing disaster risk.

5 The Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction is an international network of 300 civil society organisations in 90 countries

6 Chair’s Summary of the Second Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, 20097 In December 2007 the thirteenth conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP13) and the third Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP3) were convened in Bali, Indonesia to discuss, among others, the future of the international climate regime after 2012.

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Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

The recent Copenhagen Accord8 (2009) calls for international co-operation to support “the implementation of adaptation actions aimed at reducing vulnerability and building resilience in developing countries.” However the degree to which disaster risk reduction will be explicitly included and funded remains unspecified. Although disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation have developed as independent practice areas and within separate institutional frameworks, they share the common goal of managing uncertainty, reducing vulnerability and building resilience for communities at risk. The link between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation is increasingly acknowledged by practitioners at local, national and international levels. Disaster risk reduction has been conceptualized as the first line of defense against climate change, supporting resilience of countries and communities by helping them anticipate, resist, cope, respond and recover from hazard impacts.9 At the same time, climate change adaptation policies can benefit from the proven risk reduction frameworks and methodologies. In the face of climate change and variability, disaster risk reduction programmes need to take a long term perspective to prepare communities not just against current, but also projected climate related risk.10

Promoting Environmental Sustainability

Strengthening ecosystem services and environmental management reduce risk, decrease poverty and achieve more sustainable development. Ecosystems are affected by disasters, but also contribute to saving lives and protecting livelihoods. The following should be noted: Healthy ecosystems provide natural defences, wetland ecosystems for

example function as natural sponges that trap and slowly release surface water, while mangroves, dunes and reefs create physical barriers between communities and coastal hazards.

Conversely, degraded ecosystems reduce coping capacities of communities and social systems. There is a strong causal relationship between poverty, a degraded environment and higher disaster risk. Environmental management, including community based resource management, help to increase community resilience.

Disaster recovery processes need to take the state of ecosystems and ecosystem services into account to avoid re-creation or exacerbation of pre-existing vulnerabilities.

In some cases, human activities directly affect the nature of the hazard, in particular through climate change and desertification.

(adapted from ISDR document, 2008)

Disaster Risk Reduction and Children’s Rights

Children typically represent 50-60 percent of those affected by disaster. Children are directly affected by death and injuries as well as from diseases related to malnutrition, poor water and

8 Adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 15)

9 For more on UNICEF and resilience, see Humanitarian Action for Children Report, 2011 (pages 1-5)10 AP-HDNet (http://www2.undprcc.lk/ext/HDRU/index.php)

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Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

sanitation —conditions that are exacerbated by disasters. In addition, disasters disrupt education and can cause psychological trauma.

Ignoring the different capacities of girls and boys means undermining those of the community as a whole to address disaster risk and cope with disasters. Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) children have inalienable rights in all circumstances—including disasters, when they are at their most vulnerable – and the right to participate in decisions that ultimately affect them. The CRC and disaster risk reduction are mutually reinforcing. For instance, educating a child about disaster risk and empowering the child to use that knowledge supports Article 6 (life, survival and development), while ensuring the participation and voice of a child in disaster risk reduction efforts upholds Article 12 (respect of the child’s views).

Using Human Rights-Based Approach to Analyse DRRUsing a HBRA means asking the crucial questions of ‘what, why, and whose capacities’? In the context of disaster risk, this means a risk analysis based on human rights should ask the following questions:

What disasters pose the biggest risk, where are these disasters happening, and who is most vulnerable and therefore the most affected?

Why are these problems occurring? What are the underlying and root causes of the vulnerabilities which are leading certain groups to suffer from disaster risk

Who or which individuals and/or institutions have the duty to reduce these disaster risks?

What capacities are needed to address disaster risk, both for those who are being denied their rights through disaster vulnerability, and those who have the duty to address these problems?

Further supporting the need to involve children, a recent study11 commissioned by UNICEF and the Children in a Changing Climate Coalition found that children can make a number of positive contributions to disaster risk reduction: as analyzers of risk and risk reduction activities; as designers and implementers of disaster risk reduction interventions at community level; as communicators of risks and risk management options (especially communications to parents, adults or those outside the community); and as mobilizers of resources and action for community-based resilience. Both the vulnerability and experience of children, therefore, constitute a crucial component of managing disaster risk.

Efforts to identify and reduce disaster risks faced by children have nonetheless been slow. Reasons for this include a lack of disaggregated data on how girls and boys are affected by and cope with disaster, limited mainstreaming of child-focused approaches in disaster reduction policy and practice, insufficient progress in implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 at the community level, and limited leadership and advocacy at the international level.

11 UNICEF (2009) Children and Disaster Risk: Taking Stock and Moving Forward. http://www.childreninachangingclimate.org/docs/Child%20Led%20DRR_Taking%20Stock.pdf

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Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

Using Gender Analysis in DRR

“Gender is a core factor in disaster risk and in the implementation of disaster risk reduction. Gender is a central organizing principle in all societies, and therefore women and men are differently at risk from disasters. In all settings - at home, at work or in the neighborhood - gender shapes the capacities and resources of individuals to minimize harm, adapt to hazards and respond to disasters.” (“Words Into Action” (2007))Social inequalities, including poverty, social class, age group, ethnicity and gender, shape the different vulnerability and capacities of girls, boys, women and men to respond to and survive disasters. For example: The majority of those living in poverty are women, as such they are more likely to live in

places vulnerable to disaster risks, with poorer quality and location of housing; Women and girls are often assigned socially ascribed roles of caring for children and the

elderly, which may limit their mobility when a disaster strikes. This also positions them in primary assistance roles in prevention and during disasters.

Lower levels of education and less access to assets mean that women and girls often have less involvement in decision-making, including in regards to disaster response.

Women may have traditional knowledge of natural resources that can help manage disaster risk and adaptation; their local knowledge of surroundings and natural resources can be essential for recovery

Women can play a key role in mobilizing community level action – thus encouraging their participation leads to safer communities.

Using a gender analysis helps to highlight the different vulnerabilities, risks and capacities of girls, boys, women and men that may influence their level of risk and their capacity to respond. This information is critical to ensuring that DRR strategies are locally relevant, targeted, efficient and effective. The Hyogo Framework for Action calls on a gender perspective to be integrated into all DRR policies, plans and decision making processes. 12

UNDG’s Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction

In 2007, the UN Secretary General’s Policy Committee recommended further action to mainstream disaster risk reduction and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) into the UN system policies and practices. As a result UNDG, with support from UNDP-BCPR and ISDR, developed a Guide on ‘Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction into the CCA/UNDAF’. The purpose of this Guide is to provide step by step advice on how to integrate disaster risk reduction (DRR) into the process of CCA/UNDAF preparation, formulation and monitoring and evaluation. The guidance is intended to complement and provide additionality to the United Nations Development Group’s (UNDG) Guidelines for UN Country Teams on Preparing a CCA and UNDAF. The document can also be useful to the wider development community by providing helpful insights on integrating DRR into broader development analysis, strategic planning and programming. The guidance note can be accessed – together with other tools and resources – on the new DRR web-space on the UNDG website: www.undg.org/drr.

12 Additional commitments to assure the integration of a gender perspective into all disaster management decision-making processes, including those related to risk assessments, early warning, information management, education and training include: Manila Declaration for Global Action on Gender, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (2008) and Beijing Agenda for Global Action on Gender-Sensitive Disaster Risk Reduction (2009).

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Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

The UNDG guidance also provides useful information on how to use a Human Rights Based Approach to assess disasters risk within the Situation Analysis and /or country analysis phase of the development of a new UNDAF and Country Programme.

Partners’ Approach to DRR

Over the past decade, several key UNICEF partners in the UN and other international organizations have developed policies and increased their capacity to engage in programming for disaster risk reduction13. Whilst there is no official division of responsibilities, WFP prioritizes risk assessment, disaster preparedness and food for assets to achieve resilience and bolster livelihoods protections, whereas UNDP is focusing on developing a disaster risk reduction perspective and the human, financial and legislative capacity of its national counterpart. UNEP is integrating risk analysis into water resource management. UNESCO is currently developing a disaster risk reduction strategy and promoting resilient education systems and outreach to communities through disaster risk reduction education. OCHA sees its role in strengthening the institutional preparedness of the humanitarian system (and the capacity of national authorities to work with it). The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which is perhaps the largest international actor in this field, through a ‘global alliance on disaster risk reduction’ is mobilizing its network of volunteers in 186 countries to enhance community resilience; and Save the Children, Plan International and World Vision each have a specific focus on children and disaster risk reduction that includes national advocacy campaigns, school based learning and integrated programming in high risk communities.

UNICEF’s Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction

Summary

UNICEF has long recognized the importance of disaster risk reduction. UNICEF fully supported the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction in the 1990s. In its 1994 position paper14, UNICEF concluded that “disaster prevention and preparedness programmes are not routinely or even frequently built-in to development programmes. Sustainable development is therefore compromised.” In 2005 UNICEF committed to the Hyogo Framework for Action and in 2006 became a formal member of the ISDR System. Since 2006, UNICEF has played a role not only in strengthening the ISDR System but has been an active participant in a number of global, regional and national networks. Moreover, during the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference (COP 15), UNICEF and its partners brought together children and senior humanitarian leaders to advocate for the right of children to participate in disaster risk reduction.

At the country level, UNICEF is uniquely placed to strengthen its programming on DRR given its presence and focus on building partnerships with government and civil society from the national to the community level. UNICEF should promote and help ensure adequate and specific focus on the rights and vulnerabilities of girls, boys, adolescents and women. In line with emergency risk informed programming and building on the mainstreaming of emergency preparedness and response all UNICEF Focus Areas in the framework of the

13 Most agencies practice at national level links disaster risk reduction with adaptation to the humanitarian consequences of climate change14 IDNDR, UNICEF position paper, Rosemary Fieth, 1994

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Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

MTSP provide an opportunity to prepare for, prevent and mitigate disaster risk. Annex 1 summarizes examples of programming related to DRR which is intended to serve as a useful reference.

DRR in the Revised UNICEF CCCs

DRR is an important component of the recently revised UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs). In addition to clarifying UNICEF’s commitments to children in terms of standards and benchmarks to be measured during emergencies, the CCCs formalize a new thrust of humanitarian action as representing a set of principles, approaches and specific interventions that cover preparedness, response and early recovery, and thus bridge the gap between development and humanitarian programming. This vision is informed by the foundation principles that guide UNICEF's work overall, namely a Human Rights-Based Approach to Cooperation and Gender Mainstreaming and a commitment to apply humanitarian principles. Emergency Risk Informed Programming and Capacity Development are key approaches that underpin this vision of humanitarian action.

DRR Programme Actions feature prominently in the revised CCCs, in recognition of the fact that disaster risk reduction is essential to realizing the CCCs.

Examples of DRR Measures in Revised CCCs Ensure periodic training of health workers, including community agents in

emergency preparedness and response Undertake contingency planning for WASH, Nutrition, Health, Education and Child

Protection response Promote school emergency preparedness plans, advocate for safe school structures

and include disaster risk reduction measures in school curricula Ensuring WASH recovery interventions are based on a robust analysis of disaster

risk Adapt nutrition information systems to facilitate decision making for enhanced

malnutrition prevention

UNICEF’s Strategic Framework and Programme Operations

There are already significant on-going initiatives on DRR in UNICEF. For example, organizational early warning and emergency preparedness – including updates of emergency risk assessment, preparedness planning and emergency response readiness as documented in the EWEA system – is one of the main pillars of disaster risk reduction. UNICEF is also integrating disaster risk reduction into the work of the global education, health, WASH and protection clusters.

However, in order for UNICEF to address this challenge in a more strategic way, the following framework for disaster risk reduction would enable UNICEF and its partners to:

Identify strategic opportunities to help identify, understand and significantly reduce the specific disaster risk faced by boys and girls, including adolescents; as well as women, and build on their capacities to respond when a disaster strikes ;

Communicate what UNICEF does in disaster risk reduction better to facilitate internal leadership as well as external accountability, advocacy and fund-raising;

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Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

Contribute to a coherent approach to climate change adaptation (meeting the humanitarian consequences of climate change), at the local level, in national policy frameworks and in international fora.

Protecting the rights of children, including fostering participation, cuts across all four of the following strategic directions:

GOAL: The rights, safety and resilience of vulnerable girls, boys and women in hazard prone communities, including those affected by climate change, are enhanced through a reduction in disaster risk

Outcome Supporting Strategies1. DRR for children and

women is a national and local priority

Promote the inclusion of child focused DRR in Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) and National Development Plans and related policy and budget instruments

Promote inclusion of child focused DRR in the Common Country Assessment and UN Development Assistance Framework

Include child focused DRR in UNICEF Country Programmes in line with emergency risk-informed programming

Collaborate with governments, UN, NGO and other partners to advance the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action

Promote the voice and participation of girls, boys, adolescents/young people and women in DRR

2. Different risks faced by girls, boys and women are identified and addressed

Include a robust assessment of disaster risk, including related vulnerabilities and capacities in UNICEF-supported Situation Analysis, data collection and monitoring, and other child-focused research

Promote sub-national Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment in high risk contexts as appropriate; ensure assessment is informed by a gender and rights analysis.

Include monitoring of risk in UNICEF’s programme management, review and evaluation cycle

Promote & strengthen national systems to assess and monitor risk including people-centred early warning systems

Collaborate with NGO partners and others to establish an evidence and research base on disaster risks with a focus on differential vulnerabilities and capacities of girls, boys, and women

3. Safer and more resilient conditions for girls, boys and women

Promote DRR knowledge and awareness at household and community level through C4D

Strengthen school safety and the formal and non-formal education of children in DRR and climate change adaptation

Ensure water, sanitation & hygiene facilities are protected from hazards and contribute to resilience

Strengthen child protection systems and social policy strategies to reduce risk posed by disasters

Promote health and nutrition strategies to increase safety and resilience

Promote in specific high risk contexts an integrated programming approach linking national development and policy processes to community resilience frameworks; ensure approach is informed by a gender and rights analysis.

4. Strengthened Support the capacity development of national and sub-national

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Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

Outcome Supporting Strategieshumanitarian preparedness, response & early recovery

partners in preparedness, response including early recovery approaches.

Support UNICEF led / co-led humanitarian clusters to advance disaster risk reduction including capacity development of national and sub-national partners mentioned above

Strengthen UNICEF internal capacities in preparedness, early warning, response with an early recovery approach.

Throughout the suggested approach, it is recognized that situation assessment and regular monitoring are central to a sound strategy for DRR. This is also true of the broader approach underpinning emergency risk informed programming, which strongly emphasizes the requirement for Country Offices to work with government and partners to develop a robust risk assessment within the SITAN process and documentation with a focus on the assessment of priority emergency risks (caused by natural disasters, social/political conflict and health crisis), the related different vulnerabilities and capacities of girls, boys and women and the related capacities of regional, national and local actors to prevent, mitigate, prepare for, respond and recover from disasters. Through sound assessment of emergency risks more generally, disaster risks must be more specifically identified and analysed, as a basis to design sound programme interventions.

In line with emergency risk informed programming, to deliver on the above framework a minimum set of actions are required at all levels of UNICEF. The following Table outlines the key actions and standards for DRR within UNICEF. This set of standards is divided according to the level of risk of a country facing a natural disaster. Other factors, such as the level of vulnerability of children and also the current capacity in each country to respond to a natural disaster, should also be taken into consideration when defining the risk in each country.

UNICEF’s Programme, Policy and Procedures Manual is currently being revised to reflect, among other changes, the approach of emergency risk-informed programming, of which the standards below are a subset.

Table: Key Actions and Standards for DRR within UNICEF

Office Accountability Risk of Natural Disaster

Standards

Country Office

DRR included in country programme according to disaster risk assessment

N.B. Standards are cumulative for CO risk level

LOW RISK OF NATURAL DISASTERS (i.e. unlikely to occur during the programme cycle)

1. Ongoing Situation Analysis identifies and analyses disaster risk including related vulnerabilities and capacities, with gender and age differentiation

2. Cross cutting emergency response readiness self reported through key actions 1 to 13 in the EWEA system

3. Emergency preparedness included in the management results of UNICEF rolling workplans

MEDIUM RISK OF NATURAL DISASTERS

4. Child-focused DRR included in the CCA/UNDAF and UNICEF CPD/CPAP

5. DRR promoting strengthened community

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Office Accountability Risk of Natural Disaster

Standards

(i.e. may occur during the programme cycle)

resilience included under sectoral programme components in UNICEF CPD/CPAP and rolling workplans

6. Capacity Development for CCC interventions in place

7. Evidence base, good practice & lessons-learning processes in place

8. Advocacy and policy engagement strategy on children & disaster risk

9. Sectoral emergency response readiness self reported through key actions 14 to 20 in the EWEA system

HIGH RISK OF NATURAL DISASTERS(i.e. will likely occur during the programme cycle)

10. DRR as an explicit UNDAF outcome and CPD/CPAP and rolling workplan programme component result (including community resilience whenever appropriate)

11. Capacity in place to implement DRR outcome

Regional Office

Ensure each CO addresses DRR 1. Regional office management plans and workplans include monitoring and analysis of disaster risk

2. DRR technical support available to assist high risk countries

3. Regional collaboration and advocacy for HFA implementation.

4. Advocacy strategy on children & disaster risk

Headquarters Provide global advocacy, policy, guidance and technical support

1. Global DRR policy, guidance, tools and good practices

2. Technical support to RO and selected CO in place

3. DRR knowledge management support4. Global inter-agency advocacy5. Resource mobilisation support.

Annex 1 provides examples and case studies in various contexts of DRR programming. Annex 2 summarizes the currently available support and Annex 3 provides a list of useful references.

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Annex 1: Examples/Case Studies

In 2009, UNICEF and its partners published a research report that included 15 case studies of child focused DRR15. Additional examples within UNICEF programming are set out below under the above four outcomes:

DRR for girls, boys and women is a national and local priority

In Cote D’Ivoire in 2010, UNICEF worked with the UN Country Team to support the establishment of a national DRR platform to advance the HFA.

To highlight the impact disasters have on children’s rights and the reducing their risk, UNICEF has included this issue on the agenda of a High Level Meeting on International Cooperation for Child Rights in the Asia Pacific Region (October 2010).

To advocate for governments and negotiators at the Copenhagen Climate Conference (COP15) to address children and DRR in future agreements, UNICEF co-led a side event on children and climate change.

Strengthened humanitarian preparedness, response and early recovery through capacity development

In Mozambique, UNICEF and WFP co-led an inter-agency process to develop a joint UN programme on capacity development for government and other partners for emergency preparedness. This resulted in enhanced early warning, more timely response and ultimately lives saved during the 2009 floods.

In Laos, UNICEF in partnership with French Red Cross has implemented Community-Based Disaster Risk Management trainings for district officers responsible for Heath, Water Supply and Sanitation provinces affected by 2008 Mekong flooding, in order to give them the knowledge needed to conduct CBDP training at community level. Nine pilot villages have developed Disaster Risk Reduction Plans as a result. Government of New Zealand has shown interest to support scale up of this activity through UNICEF.

Different risks faced by girls, boys, adolescents and women are identified and addressed

In Kenya, in order to gain a better understanding of disaster risk faced by children and women, UNICEF has led a process to carry out a gender-sensitive vulnerability and capacity assessment at the district level. In partnership with the Kenya Red Cross and local government, this participatory process has helped inform local and national humanitarian and development plans.

In Haiti, UNICEF partnered with Plan International to ensure children’s voices and their perspectives of disaster risk were included in the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and subsequent recovery plans.

In Mozambique, UNICEF co-organized a national workshop on Gender in Emergency Preparedness and response, which contributed to building the capacity of national and international partners to strengthen the gender-dimensions of their disaster preparedness programmes (November 2009).

Safer and more resilient conditions for girls, boys and women15 http://www.childreninachangingclimate.org/docs/Child%20Led%20DRR_Taking%20Stock.pdf

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Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (February 10, 2011)

In Algeria, to reduce disaster risk posed by earthquakes, UNICEF supported activities in 64 schools. This included the training of emergency focal points (teachers and children), the provision of emergency and first aid kits and the establishment of evacuation plans. Simple life schools, such as to ‘duck, cover and hold’ (a measure to reduce the likelihood of a being hit by falling objects during a quake) were also included in school curricula.

In Central Asia (Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan), UNICEF partnered with the European Commission and others to implement a programme on DRR and education. At the national level more than 50 senior government officials engaged in the programme while 10,000 teachers and disaster management officials were trained on school safety and 380,000 school children were taught basic life-skills to help ensure their safety at school and within their communities

In Brazil, UNICEF is leading an initiative to improve conditions for children and women at municipal level. The ‘Municipal Seal’ (seal of approval) is awarded to mayors on the basis of their proven ability to make municipalities safe for children. This includes addressing factors such as exclusion from education and inequity that contribute to vulnerability to disasters (including in the favelos).

In Zimbabwe, UNICEF is reviewing its WASH programme from the perspective of disaster risk. This is to prevent wells and latrines from being destroyed and to reduce the likelihood of an associated further cholera outbreak.

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Annex 2: Available Support

A selected list of internal/external resources, websites and institutions is included in Annex3.

Internal Support

Dedicated DRR technical capacity and support is provided by EMOPS Recovery and Risk Reduction Section (RRRS) (NY and Geneva)

Programme Policy and Guidance (DPP). Dedicated Preparedness and Early Warning technical capacity and support is provided by

EMOPS Early Warning Preparedness (EWP) Section (Geneva). Dedicated DRR technical capacity and support is provided by Regional Offices. DRR Community of Practice on the Emergencies Portal UNICEF research report on Children and Disaster Risk Reduction. Dedicated support to address gender dimensions of DRR is provided by EMOPS,

Humanitarian Policy Section, and the Gender and Humanitarian Action Community of Practice on the Emergencies Portal.

A UNICEF Community of Practice on DRR

External Support

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) has technical support capacity in most regions.

The ISDR Prevention Web has a significant database of good practice, community of practices, academic resources and tools

The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) has developed guidance and technical support capacity in integrating DRR and climate change adaptation in the CCA/UNDAF

Regional bodies such as Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), All India Disaster Management Institute (AIDMI) and academic institutions, including the University of Cape Town, exist in most regions

The Gender and Disaster Sourcebook provides an electronic guide to integrating gender in disaster preparedness and response: http://www.gdnonline.org/sourcebook/

International Financial support

The international community has begun efforts to provide financing, and a number of donor governments have allocated funds to disaster risk reduction. As early as 2004, for example, at least one donor government announced a policy to reserve 10% of its contribution for each natural disaster to prepare for and mitigate the impact of future disasters.

The EU allocated EUR180 million in 2009 for disaster risk reduction to the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions and in 2010 is expected to seek an additional EUR 100m from the European Parliament. Since its establishment in 2006, the World Bank’s Global facility for disaster reduction and recovery (GFDRR) has committed an estimated $54 million to “risk assessment, mitigation financing and capacity building programmes to the strengthen resilience of communities”.

The Adaptation Fund established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) under the Kyoto Protocol is estimated to have $450 million available

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until 2012. Several International Financial Institutions (IFIs) have also begun to explore the use of contingent credit arrangements. In 2009, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) announced a new $600 million contingent credit facility to cover urgent post-disaster financing needs. Additional financing opportunities also exist from the private sector (eg. Insurance Companies).

While donor policy on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation continues to evolve, further specific detail on the current policies and practice of donors can be accesses on respective websites or by contacting UNICEF headquarters.

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Annex 3: References (selected)

AusAID, Investing in a Safe Future, (2009)http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/pdf/disasterriskreduction.pdfBenfield Hazard Research Centre http://www.benfieldhrc.orgBenson, C. and J. Twigg ‘Measuring Mitigation’: Methodologies for AssessingNatural Hazard Risks and the Net Benefits of Mitigation (2004), ProVention Consortium http://www.proventionconsortium.org/?pageid=37&publicationid=33DFID (2006) Reducing the Risk of Disasters (2007) http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/disaster-risk-reduction-policy.pdfGlobal Network of Civil Society Organisations Clouds but Little Rain (2009)http://www.preventionweb.net/files/globalplatform/VFLsummaryreport0609.pdfIFRC World Disasters Report: Focus on Reducing Risk, InternationalInternational Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva http://www.ifrc.org/publicat/wdr2009/index.asp?navid=09_03Interagency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE)http://www.ineesite.org/INEE, Guidance Notes on Safer School Construction (2009)http://www.ineesite.org/index.php/post/safer_school_construction_initiative/IPCC, Fourth Assessment Report, 2007http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-wg1.htmISDR, Global Assessment Report (2009)http://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/gar/ISDR, Prevention Webhttp://www.preventionweb.net/english/Netherlands Red Cross Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Guide (2003)http://www.climatecentre.org/site/publications/85Pelling, M. The Vulnerability of Cities: natural disasters & social resilience (2003),Earthscanhttp://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/publications/v.php?id=643Provention Consortium, Community Risk Assessment Methodologies & Case Studieshttp://www.proventionconsortium.org/?pageid=43SCF-UK. A legacy of disasters (2007)http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/docs/legacy_of_disasters.pdfSCF-UK. In the face of disaster(2008)http://www.childreninachangingclimate.org/docs/In%20the%20Face%20of%20Disaster.pdfTwigg, John. Characteristics of a Disaster Resilient Community,(2008)http://www.benfieldhrc.org/disaster_studies/projects/communitydrrindicators/community_drr_indicators_index.htmUNDG, Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction in the CCA and UNDAF (2009)http://www.undg.org/docs/9866/UNDG-DRR-Guidance-Note-2009_DUP_08-07-2009_11-43-02-734_AM.PDFUNICEF, Climate Change and Children, A Human Security Challenge, (2008)http://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/climate_change.pdfWorld Bank, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recoveryhttp://gfdrr.org/index.cfm?Page=home&ItemID=200

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