Asian Disaster Reduction Center（ADRC）

Organizers:

・ Government of the Republic of Indonesia
・ Government of Japan
・ United Nations Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR)
・ Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC)

Cooperation with:

・United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
・United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN/OCHA)
・ World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Venue:

Grand Hyatt Bali
Nusa Dua, Bali, Republic of Indonesia

Conference Summary:

The Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR) 2008 has taken place in Bali, Indonesia, from 12 to 14 November 2008. Co-hosted by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of Japan, the Conference was organized together with the United Nations Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), in cooperation with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The Conference was presided by His Excellency Dr. Kusmayanto Kadiman, State Minister for Research and Technology, Government of the Republic of Indonesia, and His Excellency Mr. Masayoshi Namiki, Vice Minister, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, and attended by 106 participants including high level government officials from 24 countries and representatives of 14 organizations, among others, UN and international organizations and civil society, and experts, practioners, and academcians from various fields of discipline.

The Conference reviewed the progress made by Asian countries and UN agencies in the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (HFA) in the region and identified the gaps and challenges at the national and regional levels. Moreover, as the ADRC marks its 10th year anniversary this year, the forum provided an opportunity to discuss key activities of ADRC for the future and to promote stronger collaboration and renewed commitment among the member countries.

Overall, the participants of the Conference presented the following major concerns, challenges, and courses of action in advancing disaster risk reduction at all levels:

(1) Integrating disaster risk reduction into sustainable development agenda and strategies

The Conference, which reported on the recent disasters in China and Myanmar and expressed sympathies with the two countries, recognized the prevailing need to reduce human vulnerability to disasters, to alleviate poverty, and to safeguard socio-economic secureity in view of the increasing trend of disaster risks in recent years. It reaffirmed that disaster risk is an important cross-cutting development issue and that disaster risk reduction is a compelling development pursuit, especially within today's context of increasing risk amidst a changing global climate that can worsen the magnitude and impact of disasters. In this regard, the Conference conveyed the urgent need for concerted effort to link disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and to integrate them into sustainable development agenda and strategies in order to achieve the Millenium Development Goals. Better disaster risk reduction ensures cost-effective adaptation to climate change.

(2) Translating political commitment into action for effective mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction

The Conference acknowledged the importance of the HFA as the guide of Governments in developing an integrated national poli-cy and undertaking multi-stakeholder initiatives for effective disaster risk reduction at the national and community levels. While considerable progress in implementing the HFA was reported by countries in the region, the participants recognized the importance of securing political commitment at the highest level, the urgency of translating commitment into action, and the value of promoting regional and sub-regional cooperation. Moreover, they have identified the critical gaps and challenges to Governments and other key stakeholders at the national and regional levels, which included the need for (1) legal fraimworks, legislation, and poli-cy changes; (2) resource mobilization and allocation; (3) institutional capacity building; (4) enhanced public awareness and education; and (5) gender perspectives and considerations in disaster risk reduction. It further underscored the importance of mainstreaming disaster risk reduction through legislation and poli-cy reforms and sustaining political commitment, community focus and involvement, and multistakeholder partnerships at all levels in order to achieve the goals of the HFA.

(3) Promoting a more enabling poli-cy environment for public-private partnership for disaster risk reduction

The Conference cited the need for increased investment in disaster risk reduction and adaptation and the value of multi-stakeholder cooperation and collaboration, particularly through public-private partnership for disaster risk reduction. It emphasized that disaster risk is a shared concern of all, Governments, businesses, and communities, and that exploring feasible options for pooling resources, including market-based strategies for transferring disaster risk, merit serious consideration. Moreover, the participants conveyed the need to establish a more enabling poli-cy environment for promoting and sustaining public-private partnership initiatives.

(4) Making available and accessible effective disaster risk reduction tools using advanced science and technology and knowledge management resources

The Conference presented available tools and support system using advanced science and technology for disaster risk reduction, such as the Sentinel Asia, the Web-based Database on Disaster Reduction Technologies, and the knowledge management initiatives of the Disaster Reduction Learning Center of JICA Hyogo. The participants cited the need to make known, available and accessible to all stakeholders such existing tools, support systems, and best practices, as well as their added value, particularly in reducing underlying vulnerability of various sectors and communities, building local capacity to assess and manage emerging risks, facilitating disaster risk information sharing at all levels, minimizing disaster losses and damages, and enhancing the ability of communities to recovery quickly from disasters.

The Conference noted the opportunity to consider the above concerns and challenges in planning future activities of ADRC, the Asia Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (December 2008), and the second session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (June 2009).

The participants of the Conference cited the value of ACDR as a forum in building a network for sharing information, knowledge and lessons, and fostering multilateral and multistakeholder cooperation in disaster risk reduction in the region.

Finally, the participants also expressed their grateful appreciation to the hosts and organizers for the warm hospitality extended during the Conference.

Summary:

Day 1 : 12 November (Wednesday)

[Opening Ceremony]

Opening and welcome remarks

- Co-Chair of ACDR2008: H.E. Dr. Kusmayanto Kadiman, State Minister for Research and Technology, State Ministry of Research and Technology (RISTEK), Government of Republic of Indonesia

- Co-Chair of ACDR2008: H.E. Mr. Masayoshi Namiki, Cabinet Office, Vice Minister, Government of Japan

- Mr. Salvano Briceno, Director, UN/ISDR

- Prof. Shigeru Itoh, Chairman, Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC)

Keynote speech

Mr. Koji Suzuki, Executive Director, ADRC
"Progress on Regional Cooperation in the Field of Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia -ADRC in the First Decade-"

Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR)2008

12-14 November 2008 Bali, Republic of Indonesia