Shared concerns related to the UN approach and processes for post-disaster recovery at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in January 2005, have resulted in the formulation of a joint initiative tentatively named "International Recovery Platform (IRP)" by the UN System and partners, with the encouragement and support of the Government of Japan, Hyogo Prefectural Government, Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) and other countries. 　Consequently, the IRP is going to be established on 11 May 2005 in Kobe in order to support a more coordinated UN system approach and methodologies so that the recovery process helps transform disasters into opportunities for sustainable development. 　On this occasion, the Symposium aims to provide an opportunity to present the current situation of the recovery process in the countries recently affected by natural disasters, to identify means of incorporating the gaps and challenges in promoting efficient and effective recovery, and to further enhance the efforts of IRP.

			Date/Time:		Thursday, 12 May 2005, 14:00〜17:00（Registration: 13:15-)
			Venue:		Conference Hall, Hyogo House (5-min walk from JR/Hanshin Motomachi St.)
			Organized by:		Cabinet Office of Japan, Hyogo Prefectural Government, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA, UNDP, UN/ISDR, UN/OCHA, ILO, World Bank, ADRC)
			Keynote Speech:		Dr. Allan Lavell Secretary General, Latin American Social Science Faculty
			Report:		Stakeholders from the countries which experienced major disasters, such as Indonesia, Maldives and Malaysia
			Panel Discussion:		Panellists:
					-　Mr. Toshizo Ido, Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
					-　Mr. Fumio Takeda, Deputy Director-General for Disaster Management 　　 Cabinet Office, Japan
					-　Mr. Ian O'Donnell, Senior Officer, ProVention, World Bank
					-　Dr. Johan Schaar, Special Representative for the Tsunami Operation, IFRC
					Facilitator:
					-　Ms. Helena Molin Valdes, Deputy Director of UN/ISDR
					※Japanese-English simultaneous interpretation will be provided.
			Admission:		Free
			How to register:		Please send an email with your name, occupation, address, tel and fax to irpseminar@adrc.asia.（No later than 9 May 2005)
					N.B. Once you send in this form, you are automatically registered for the Symposium. No further acknowledgement will be sent to you unless the seats are full or there is a substantial change in the program. Please be advised that the parking lot at Hyogo House is not available for general public use.
			Secretariat:		Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) Hitomiraikan 5F 1-5-2 Wakinohamakaigan-dori, Chuo-ku Kobe 651-0073 JAPAN Fax：078-262-5546／E-mail：irpseminar@adrc.asia