11-12 November, 2014 (San Salvador, El Salvador)
ADRC/IRP, in collaboration Central America's Center for Disaster Prevention (CEPREDENAC), had organized an Intergovernmental Dialogue on Recovery Processes, 11-12 November 2014 at Hilton Princess Hotel in San Salvador, El Salvador. The event was also strongly supported by UNISDR and UNDP. The main objective of the dialogue was to facilitate knowledge exchange so that government organizations and cities can improve their programs based on the sharing of experiences. The discussions dwelt on: How have recovery processes been institutionalized at the country and local levels? What institutional and policy arrangements were commonly adopted? What types of tools were adopted for assessment and framework development? Do governments secure necessary financial, administrative, and political resources for recovery? Are there mechanisms in place to monitor recovery processes? Answers to these questions inform the recommendations for next steps such as galvanizing national efforts on recovery and institutionalizing recovery processes.
Over 40 government officials and heads of development organizations participated in the dialogue. Among those represented included Paraguay, Honduras, Japan, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama. The cities of Santa Tecla, Bogota, and Curundu were also represented. Moreover, the World Bank, the Swiss Development Council (SDC), and the Global Education and Training Institute (GETI) of UNISDR had representations. Participants to the dialogue were high-level with El Salvador Vice President Sr. Oscar Ortiz inaugurating the event.
ADRC/IRP shared available tools and guidance on recovery as well as global case studies on recovery processes. The sharing adds value to the ongoing initiatives in Central America by offering wide array of options concerning strategies and actions for 'build back better'. In particular, Mr. Shingo Kochi, senior recovery expert at IRP, shared Japan's experience by highlighting the advances, needs, and requirements for a more effective recovery process.
Several recommended next steps were outlined at the dialogue. These include efforts to further (i) disseminate best practices and lessons on recovery and reconstruction processes implemented in recent years; (ii) share the results of the dialogue processes to other regions and countries; (iii) inform the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction on recovery and reconstruction issues that should be taken into account.
Some specific actions were also mentioned such as the following: (i) recovery frameworks/plans may be prepared, discussed, and approved before the disaster happens; (ii) recovery process shall incorporate DRR and integrated into development; and (iii) evaluation and monitoring mechanisms of recovery projects to be implemented. It was also observed that there is so much recovery experience in Central America that should be documented, analyzed, and shared to other regions and countries.
(2014/11/25 14:40)