economic and social commission for asia and … · economic and social commission for asia and the...

DMR A2009-000083 TP 270209 DP 020309 DI 030309 CDR_INF5

FOR PARTICIPANTS ONLY E/ESCAP/CDR/INF/5 3 February 2009

ENGLISH ONLY ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction First session 25-27 March 2009 Bangkok

ENHANCING REGIONAL COOPERATION ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

(Item 5 of the provisional agenda)

PRELIMINARY LIST OF MAJOR NETWORKS ON KNOWLEDGE

SHARING AND ANALYSIS FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION

Background information note

SUMMARY

The present information note contains a preliminary list of major national, regional and international initiatives and networks which have been assisting the ESCAP member States in knowledge sharing and analysis for disaster management. The methodology for compiling this list was online research, review of literature and informal interviews with disaster experts. The compilation of this list is an ongoing initiative and therefore its contents are not exhaustive. In order to better serve member States, the secretariat would appreciate receiving any relevant information from participants with a view to updating the list.

CONTENTS Page

I. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES.................................. 2

II. INTERGOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES .......................................................... 7

III. INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS....................................... 11

IV. UNITED NATIONS ENTITIES...................................................................... 11

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I. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES

Name: Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF)

Coverage: Members

URL: www.aprsaf.org

Location: Japan

APRSAF was established in 1993 to enhance the development of the space programmes of its members and to exchange views toward future cooperation in space activities in the region. Its members include: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Bhutan, Canada, Cambodia, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United States of America and Viet Nam. APRSAF leads the Sentinel Asia initiative to share disaster information in the Asia-Pacific region and to make the best use of Earth observation satellites data for disaster management in the region. It is an Internet-based, information distribution backbone, distributing satellite and in situ spatial information on hazards in the region. The system draws on satellite derived products and imagery from Japan, India, Thailand and, in the future, the Republic of Korea.

Name: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)

Coverage: Asia

URL: www.adpc.net

Location: Thailand

ADPC is a non-profit organization supporting the advancement of safer communities and sustainable development through the implementation of programmes and projects that reduce the impact of disasters upon countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific by: (a) developing and enhancing sustainable institutional disaster risk management capacities, frameworks and mechanisms, and supporting the development and implementation of Government policies; (b) facilitating the dissemination and exchange of disaster risk management expertise, experience and information; and (c) raising awareness of and enhancing disaster risk management knowledge and skills.

Name: Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN)

Coverage: Asia

URL: www.adrrn.net

Location: Malaysia

ADRRN is a network that promotes coordination, information sharing and collaboration among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders for effective and efficient disaster reduction and response in the Asia-Pacific region. It was founded in 2002 when the Asia Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC) Kobe and the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Kobe, with the assistance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foundation, brought together NGOs from all over Asia to discuss the need for a network of NGOs for disaster reduction and response in Asia. The organization links more than 20 NGOs.

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Name: The Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP)

Coverage: East and South-East Asia

URL: www.ccop.or.th

Location: Thailand

CCOP is an organization whose mission is to facilitate and coordinate the implementation of applied geoscience programmes in East and South-East Asia in order to contribute to economic development and the improvement of the quality of life in the region. CCOP promotes capacity-building, technology transfer, exchange of information and institutional linkages for sustainable resource development, management of geo-information, geo-hazard mitigation and protection of the environment. Its member countries are: Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. Its cooperating countries are: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America.

Name: Duryog Nivaran, South Asian Network for Disaster Risk Reduction

Coverage: South Asia

URL: www.duryognivaran.org

Location: Sri Lanka

Duryog Nivaran is a research, training and advocacy network committed to promoting disaster risk reduction in South Asia at the policy and community levels. It strives to build the knowledge base of stakeholders by sharing research findings, information, experiences and insights on emerging issues of disaster management in the countries and among the communities of the region. The network links 20 non-governmental organizations.

Name: Earthquake and Megacities Initiative (EMI)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.emi-megacities.org

Location: Philippines

EMI is an international, not-for-profit, scientific organization dedicated to the reduction of disaster risk in megacities and major metropolises. It was founded in 1998 in response to the urgent need to stimulate urban earthquake preparedness and mitigation in developing countries. It serves as a catalyst for the delivery of scientific and technical knowledge to local government officials, policymakers, practitioners, and disaster management technical personnel.

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Name: Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.earthobservations.org

Location: Switzerland

GEO is a voluntary partnership of Governments and international organizations, providing a framework within which the partners can develop new projects and coordinate their strategies and investments. GEO coordinates international efforts to build a Global Earth Observation System of Systems, which interconnects a diverse and growing array of instruments and systems for monitoring and forecasting changes in the global environment. This system of systems supports policymakers, resource managers, science researchers and other experts and decision-makers. The members of GEO include 74 Governments and the European Commission. Additionally, 51 intergovernmental, international and regional organizations with a mandate in Earth observation or related issues have been recognized as participating organizations.

Name: International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.fdsn.org

Location: Not available

FDSN is a global organization with a membership comprised of groups responsible for the installation and maintenance of seismographs either within their geographic borders or globally. Members agree to coordinate station-sitting and provide free and open access to their data. This cooperation helps scientists all over the world to further the advancement of earth science and particularly the study of global seismic activity.

Name: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.ifrc.org


The disaster section of IFRC deals with disaster response work, which provides assistance to refugees and victims of natural disasters. IFRC also devotes significant attention to disaster preparedness activities, aiming to make communities more aware of the risks they face, how to reduce their vulnerability, and how to cope when disaster strikes. It comprises 186 Red Cross and Red Crescent member societies and more than 60 delegations around the world.

Name: International Charter on Space and Major Disasters

Coverage: Global

URL: www.disasterscharter.org

Location: Not applicable

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The International Charter on Space and Major Disasters is aimed at providing a unified system of space data acquisition and delivery to those affected by natural or man-made disasters. Each member agency has committed resources to support the provisions of the Charter and thus helps to mitigate the effects of disasters on human life and property. The International Charter was declared formally operational on 1 November 2000.

Name: International Recovery Platform (IRP)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.recoveryplatform.org

Location: Japan

IRP is a joint initiative by the United Nations System and partners, with the support of the Government of Japan and other countries as well as the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), aimed at supporting a more coordinated United Nations system methodology and approach to the disaster recovery process. Its goals are: (a) to translate into practice the strategic goal of integrating risk reduction into post-disaster recovery; (b) to provide a coordination framework and network for post-disaster recovery; (c) to facilitate the dissemination of lessons learned using common tools and mechanisms; (d) to provide advice and support on the formulation of post-disaster recovery planning and programming (e) to strengthen national capacities ensuring links with longer-term development programming; (f) to facilitate South-South cooperation between disaster-prone countries; and (g) to utilize the accumulated know-how of these countries.

Name: International Seismological Centre (ISC)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.isc.ac.uk

Location: United Kingdom

ISC is an NGO charged with the final collection, analysis and publication of standard earthquake information from all over the world. Earthquake readings are received from almost 3,000 seismograph stations representing every part of the globe. The Centre’s main task is to determine earthquake locations making use of all available information and to search for new earthquakes previously unidentified by individual agencies.

Name: Münchener Rück AG (MUNICH-RE)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.munichre.com

Location: Germany

MUNICH-RE is a reinsurance company with operations in more than 160 countries. This company makes available to the public the NATural Hazards Assessment Network (http://mrnathan.munichre.com), which includes interactive natural hazard maps, country profiles and statistics on the geography, population, economy and natural-hazard situation of countries around the world.

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Name: Pacific Disaster Center (PDC)

Coverage: Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions

URL: www.pdc.org

Location: Hawaii, United States

PDC is an applied science, information and technology centre, working to reduce disaster risks and impacts to people’s lives and property. The centre applies its expertise to integrate technologies for disaster management support in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions and beyond. It provides informational and analytical products in times of emergencies. PDC is also engaged in capacity-building projects around the world, providing support and training regarding data and information management, decision and policy support, applications development, and information systems engineering.

Name: Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/

Location: Hawaii, United States

PTWC is the operational headquarters for the Pacific Tsunami Warning System. It provides warnings for Pacific basin tsunamis to countries around the Pacific rim and to most of the Pacific island States. The functions of PTWC are carried out under the auspices of the UNESCO IOC International Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning System.

Name: ProVention Consortium (ProVention)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.proventionconsortium.org


ProVention is a global coalition of international organizations, Governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and academic institutions dedicated to increasing the safety of vulnerable communities and to reducing the impacts of disasters in developing countries. It provides a forum for multi-stakeholder dialogue on disaster risk reduction and a framework for collective action.

Name: Tropical Storm Risk (TSR)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.tropicalstormrisk.com


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TSR is a consortium comprising experts on insurance, risk management and seasonal climate forecasting. The consortium provides information and innovative forecast products, such as an online tool for forecasting the risk from tropical storms worldwide, to benefit risk awareness and decision making in insurance, other business sectors, Government and society. The industry expertise is drawn from reinsurance and claims management companies, and the scientific expertise from climate physicists, meteorologists and statisticians from academic institutions.

II. INTERGOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES

Name: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Task Force for Emergency

Preparedness (APEC-TFEP)

Coverage: Member countries

URL: www.apec.org

Location: Singapore

APEC-TFEP is a task force coordinating work among members of APEC. Established after the adoption of the Strategy on Response to and Preparedness for Natural Disasters and Emergencies, it aims at building community resilience and preparedness for emergencies and natural disasters. The purpose is to promote expertise sharing and collaboration on emergency preparedness and to collectively prepare for future natural disasters. APEC was established in 1989 to facilitate economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. The group has 21 members: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Republic of Korea; Russian Federation; Singapore; Taiwan Province of China; Thailand; United States; and Viet Nam.

Name: Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO)


URL: www.apmcsta.org

Location: China

APSCO, established in 2005, promotes cooperation among countries in the Asia-Pacific region with capability in the field of space technology and its applications. It was established by the members of the Asia-Pacific Multilateral Cooperation in Space Technology and Applications (AP-MCSTA), which itself was established in 1992. The following countries have signed the APSCO Convention: Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Mongolia, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand and Turkey. APSCO is currently developing a satellite constellation for disaster monitoring.

Name: Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC)

Coverage: Asia

URL: www.adrc.or.jp

Location: Japan

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ADRC was established with a mission to enhance the disaster resilience of its member countries, to build safe communities, and to create a society where sustainable development is possible. The Center works to build disaster-resilient communities and to establish networks among countries through programmes and activities in areas such as information sharing on disaster reduction, human resources development, and building community capabilities. The membership includes 27 member countries and 5 advisory countries.

Name: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Committee on Disaster Management (ASEAN-ACDM)


URL: www.acdm-online.net

Location: Indonesia

ASEAN-ACDM is a committee consisting of heads of national agencies responsible for disaster management in member countries of ASEAN. It coordinates the work related to disaster management, such as that of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response, the ASEAN Regional Programme on Disaster Management, and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management. ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967. The member States are: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Name: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)


URL: www.bimstec.org

Location: Thailand

BIMSTEC is a subregional grouping that carries out work covering various priority sectors, including environment and disaster management. It was established in 1997 and its members are: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Name: ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee (Typhoon Committee)


URL: www.typhooncommittee.org

Location: Macao, China

The Typhoon Committee is an intergovernmental body established in order to promote and coordinate the planning and implementation of measures required for minimizing the loss of life and material damage caused by typhoons in the Asia-Pacific region. It has 14 members: Cambodia; China; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Macao, China; Malaysia; Philippines; Republic of Korea; Singapore; Thailand; United States; and Viet Nam.

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Name: European Community Humanitarian Aid department, Disaster Preparedness (DIPECHO)

Coverage: Central, South and South-East Asia

URL: www.ec.europa.eu/echo

Location: Belgium

ECHO is the service of the European Commission responsible for humanitarian aid. It provides rapid and effective support to the victims of disasters beyond the European Union’s borders. In 1996, ECHO launched DIPECHO, a programme dedicated to disaster preparedness which is active in Central Asia, South Asia and South-East Asia.

Name: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)


URL: www.icimod.org

Location: Nepal

ICIMOD is a regional knowledge development and learning centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. The Centre addresses topics such as globalization and climate change, which have an increasing influence on the stability of fragile mountain ecosystems and the livelihoods of mountain peoples.

Name: Mekong River Commission, Flood Management and Mitigation Programme (MRC-FMMP)


URL: www.mrcmekong.org

Location: Cambodia

MRC-FMMP provides technical and coordination services, such as forecasts, flood data, technical standards and training packages, to the four countries in the Lower Mekong Basin. The components of the programme are: (a) the establishment of a regional flood centre; (b) structural measures and flood proofing; (c) mediation of transboundary flood issues; (d) flood emergency management strengthening; and (e) land management. MRC was formed in 1995; its membership includes the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Thailand and Viet Nam, as well as China and Myanmar, which are dialogue partners.

Name: Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network-Pacific Disaster Net

Coverage: Pacific

URL: www.pacificdisaster.net

Location: Fiji

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The Pacific Disaster Net is a partnership between the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and OCHA. These partners have developed the Pacific Disaster Net, a web portal for collecting and sharing resources on disaster risk management for the Pacific island countries. The portal is a tool for assisting national planning and decision-making.

Name: Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC)

Coverage: Pacific

URL: www.sopac.org

Location: Fiji

SOPAC is an intergovernmental, regional organization focusing on providing assistance to its member countries through three key programmes: Ocean and Islands; Community Lifelines; and Community Risk, which is aimed at reducing community vulnerability through improved hazard assessment and risk management. It comprises 20 member countries, including 18 Pacific island countries and territories, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Name: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, Disaster Management Centre (SAARC-SDMC)


URL: www.saarc-sdmc.nic.in

Location: Nepal

SAARC-SDMC provides policy advice and facilitates capacity-building services, including strategic learning, research, training, system development and exchange of information for effective disaster risk reduction and management in South Asia. SAARC was established on 8 December 1985 with the aim of accelerating the process of economic and social development in its member States, which are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Name: WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (Panel on Tropical Cyclones)


URL: www.tsuptc-wmo.org

Location: Pakistan

The Panel on Tropical Cyclones was created to establish nationally and regionally coordinated systems to ensure that the loss of life and damage caused by tropical cyclones are reduced to a minimum. It includes eight member States: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

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III. INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Name: Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Coverage: Asia and the Pacific

URL: www.adb.org

Location: Philippines

ADB is an international development finance institution, the mission of which is to help its developing member countries reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of their people. ADB has developed a Disaster and Emergency Assistance Policy (DEAP) which encompasses natural, technological and environmental hazards; health emergencies; and country conflict situations. The DEAP action plan develops an approach that embeds disaster risk management in the operational practices of ADB.

Name: World Bank

Coverage: Global

URL: www.worldbank.org

Location: United States

The World Bank provides countries with assistance in preparing for and recovering from natural or human-made disasters that can result in human and economic losses. The Disaster Risk Management team of the World Bank aims to reduce human suffering and economic losses caused by natural and technological disasters by promoting the integration of disaster prevention and mitigation efforts into the range of development activities.

The World Bank provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries and is composed of two development institutions owned by 185 member countries, namely the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association.

IV. UNITED NATIONS ENTITIES

Name: Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS) and Virtual On-

Site Operations Coordination Centre (Virtual OSOCC)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.gdacs.org, www.ocha.unog.ch/virtualosocc

Location: Europe

GDACS combines existing Web-based disaster information management systems with the aim of alerting the international community of major sudden-onset disasters and to facilitate the coordination of international response during the relief phase of the disaster. GDACS is a joint initiative of the United Nations and the European Commission. The main purpose of Virtual OSOCC is to facilitate decision-making for international response to major disasters though real-time information exchange by all actors of the international disaster response community. It was developed by the Field Coordination Support Section at OCHA with sponsorship from the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team, the International Humanitarian Partnership and ECHO.

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Name: International Maritime Organization (IMO)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.imo.org


IMO disseminates tsunami warnings and other vital information on natural disasters through The World-Wide Navigational Warning Service. Established in 1959, the main task of IMO has been to develop and maintain a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping, and its remit today includes safety, environmental concerns, legal matters, technical cooperation, maritime security and the efficiency of shipping. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations with 168 member States and three associate members.

Name: International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.unisdr.org


ISDR is the focal point in the United Nations System for promoting the coordination of disaster reduction activities in the socio-economic, humanitarian and development fields and supporting policy integration. It serves as an international information clearing house on disaster reduction, by developing awareness campaigns and producing articles, journals and other publications and promotional materials related to disaster reduction. The mandate of ISDR Asia & Pacific includes awareness-raising activities in disaster risk reduction, advocacy through policy formulation, and the dissemination of guidelines to assist in the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. ISDR operates PreventionWeb.org, an information portal on disaster risk reduction, to facilitate the work of professionals involved in disaster risk reduction and to promote an understanding of the subject by non-specialists. This portal aims to provide institutions with a common platform where they can connect, exchange experiences and share information on disaster risk reduction. ISDR also leads the Asian Partnership on Disaster Reduction, a group that promotes disaster risk reduction matters in the Asia-Pacific region, which includes the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, the Asian Disaster Reduction Center, ESCAP, the UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok, the OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and 30 other entities, including national and regional organizations, NGOs and donor agencies.

Name: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.itu.int


ITU assists in mobilizing the technical, financial and human resources needed to enable the growth and sustained development of telecommunications and information networks, and to facilitate universal access so that people everywhere can participate in, and benefit from, the emerging information society and global economy. ITU conducts work in areas related to disaster management such as: emergency telecommunications and alerting systems for disaster relief.

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Name: United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) – The Hyogo

Office

Coverage: Global

URL: www.uncrd.or.jp

Location: Japan

The Hyogo Office of UNCRD undertakes research and information dissemination activities to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action, adopted at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2005. UNCRD conducts research and training in local and regional development targeting developing and transitional economies. The Centre’s programmes are focused on socially and environmentally sustainable development. Research themes cover human security, environment, and disaster management.

Name: United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.unccd.int

Location: Germany

UNCCD is an international convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. Its secretariat provides assistance to affected developing countries and conducts activities in coordination with the secretariats of other international bodies and conventions, like those of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Name: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.undp.org

Location: United States

UNDP works with Governments, local communities and international partners to help them prepare for and respond to disasters, as well as to bridge the gap between emergency relief and long-term development. In addition to providing technical support and coordination and supporting Government planning and management of natural disaster risks, the Programme encourages communities and local officials to work together to prevent natural hazards from becoming natural disasters. UNDP is the global development network of the United Nations, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is present in 166 countries.

Name: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

(ESCAP)

Coverage: Asia and the Pacific

URL: www.unescap.org

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Location: Thailand

ESCAP is the regional development arm of the United Nations in the Asia-Pacific region, with 62 members and associate members. It assists the coordination of or serves as secretariat for various disaster risk reduction activities, such as the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, the Regional Cooperative Mechanism for Disaster Management for South-South Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region and the Tsunami Regional Trust Fund. ESCAP has had a major role in the establishment of the Typhoon Committee and the Panel on Tropical Cyclones, and co-organized the Third Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

Name: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.unesco.org

Location: France

UNESCO is a United Nations agency that has been involved in disaster reduction for the past 45 years, with studies on earthquakes and oceanography dating back to the 1960s. It has since expanded into many areas as it pursues multidisciplinary actions to study natural hazards and mitigate their effects. UNESCO coordinates various networks, such as the Reducing Earthquake Losses in the South Asian Region programme and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). IOC, through the Global Ocean Observing System, helps improve operational oceanography, weather and climate forecasts and monitoring, and supports the ongoing observing needs of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. IOC also established the International Tsunami Information Centre in 1965 to maintain and develop relationships with scientific research and academic organizations, civil defence agencies, and the general public, with a view to mitigating the hazards associated with tsunamis by improving tsunami preparedness for all Pacific countries. IOC has also coordinated the Pacific Tsunami Warning System for the Pacific Ocean since 1968; after the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, IOC received the mandate to assist all UNESCO member States of the Indian Ocean rim with establishing their own tsunami early warning system. To provide immediate interim coverage for tsunami warnings in all other oceans, advisory systems have been established under IOC coordination, in cooperation with PTWC and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Name: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.unep.org

Location: Kenya

UNEP has five priority areas of work: environmental assessment and early warning, development of policy instruments, enhanced coordination with environmental conventions, technology transfer, and support to Africa. Among various activities, it provides support for: (a) developing strategies and technologies to manage disaster waste and debris; (b) strengthening the capacity of environmental authorities to support national and regional multi-hazard warning systems in tsunami-affected countries; and (c) adapting environmental assessment instruments to include disaster risk components.

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Name: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.fao.org

Location: Italy

As the United Nations specialized agency for the food and agriculture sectors, FAO assists member countries in integrating disaster risk reduction measures in agriculture and food sector policies and practices and well as in protecting and restoring agriculture-based livelihoods in the aftermath of a disaster, and in view of future impacts to be expected from climate change. FAO is also a source of knowledge and information. It assists countries in modernizing and improving agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensuring good nutrition for all. To this end, FAO established the Global Information and Early Warning System, which is a source of information on food production and food security for every country in the world. The system is a worldwide network which includes 115 Governments, 61 NGOs and numerous trade, research and media organizations. FAO was established in 1945.

Name: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)-Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT)

Coverage: Global

URL: http://unosat.web.cern.ch


UNITAR-UNOSAT is a programme delivering satellite solutions to relief and development organizations within and outside the United Nations system to help make a difference in the life of communities that have been exposed to poverty, hazards and risk, or affected by humanitarian and other crises.

UNOSAT is implemented in cooperation with the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

Name: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Coverage: Global

URL: http://ochaonline.un.org


The mission of OCHA is to: (a) mobilize and coordinate humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; (b) advocate for the rights of people in need; (c) promote preparedness and prevention; and (d) facilitate sustainable solutions. OCHA provides online sharing of information through websites such as: (a) ReliefWeb.int, which provides the global humanitarian community with information on emergencies on natural disasters on a 24-hour basis; (b) IRINnews.org, which offers reporting of humanitarian crises in sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia; and (c) HumanitarianInfo.org, which is a gateway to humanitarian information centres and other field-based sources which provide accurate information and data for relief workers and decision makers.

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Name: United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)-United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.unoosa.org

Location: Austria

UNOOSA is the United Nations office responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. Through the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, UNOOSA maintains a 24-hour hotline as the United Nations focal point for satellite imagery requests during disasters and manages UN-SPIDER. It also conducts international workshops, training courses and pilot projects on topics such as remote sensing, satellite navigation, satellite meteorology, tele-education and basic space sciences for the benefit of developing nations. The mission of UN-SPIDER programme is to ensure that all countries and international and regional organizations have access to and develop the capacity to use all types of space-based information to support the full disaster management cycle, including the risk reduction phase. It aims to be a gateway to space information for disaster management support, by serving as a bridge to connect the disaster management and space communities and by acting as a facilitator of capacity-building and institutional strengthening. UN-SPIDER is being implemented as an open network of providers of space-based solutions to support disaster management activities.

Name: World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Coverage: Global

URL: www.wmo.int


WMO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, focuses on the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the oceans, the climate it produces and the resulting distribution of water resources. Established in 1950, WMO coordinates a network of observing systems of the world’s national meteorological and hydrological services, from 14 satellites, hundreds of ocean buoys, thousands of aircraft and ships and nearly 10,000 land-based stations. It has a membership of 188 States and areas.

The WMO Information System (WIS) is the pillar of the organization’s strategy for managing weather, water and climate information. It provides an integrated approach to meet the requirements for routine collection and automated dissemination of observed data and products, as well as data discovery, access and retrieval services for all weather, climate, water and related data produced by centres and member countries in the framework of any WMO programme.

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