RCC meetings

Summary: The RCC was endorsed by 17 countries as a mechanism for dialogue, exchange, and as a means for developing practical cooperative programs at regional and sub-regional levels. ADPC established its role as facilitator and convener, as well as the regional focal point and technical resource for the RCC.

Outcome: The meeting called for a more effective water resource management system and ADPC to circulate the model of disaster management legislation among all countries. Recommendations were provided on the common country experiences in capacity building, training and public support for disaster management and mitigation.

Summary: The second meeting provided an opportunity to build upon discussions from the first meeting on identifying the priority areas for capacity building for national disaster management systems and the priority areas for the regional initiatives for disaster management.

Outcome: A key outcome includes the development of the Statement on “Future Directions for Regional Cooperation and the RCC”, which encouraged RCC member countries to take on a Total Disaster Risk Management Strategy. This approach looks into incorporating a multi-hazard disaster risk management and reduction approach, including prevention, mitigation and preparedness as well as response and recovery.

Summary: In line with the theme of the meeting, member countries discussed trends and advances in drought preparedness and management and identified key target groups for capacity building. Member countries also highlighted priority action areas for capacity building of national disaster management systems and ways to support regional and sub-regional cooperative.

Outcome: The meeting facilitated discussions on the initial outline of a Primer on Urban Disaster Mitigation, a daily use how-to guide in volumes based on hazard type. The guide would draw on good practices and lessons learned in the Urban Disaster Mitigation (UDM) initiatives of AUDMP and other programs of ADPC as well as other institutions dealing with different aspects of UDM in the region.

Summary: In line with the theme, member countries highlighted the needs for city governments to raise awareness of problems and seek involvement of multiple stakeholders, in order to strengthen urban risk reduction.

Outcome: The fourth RCC meeting led discussions in preparation for the Second World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) and member countries recommended priority areas to be addressed, including mainstreaming disaster risk management as an integral part of the development process.RCC4 also initiated the Mainstreaming DRR into Development (MDRD) program to ensure prioritization of DRR into national sectoral planning.

Summary: The meeting allowed for follow up of the MDRD program initiated in the meeting prior. Upon identifying priority areas on mainstreaming DRR in selected sectors, 23 projects were identified by 11 countries.

Outcome: Following implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), RCC member countries adopted the Hanoi RCC5 Statement, which called for mainstreaming as a key priority for action in accordance with the HFA.

“Recognizing the responsibility of the RCC as a mechanism, offers to serve as a useful forum and reporting mechanism through which the progress of the implementation of the HFA can be monitored by ISDR, and advocates that the 10-year HFA framework should be broken down into 2-year milestones of accomplishments to facilitate a workable implement of the HFA for each of the RCC Member Countries.”

Hanoi Statement, RCC5

The meeting also identified action areas for the RCC to support member countries, including: playing a greater role beyond supporting and monitoring, conducting capacity building programs for HFA implementation and providing guidance on the program in the key areas such as mainstreaming DRM into development.

Summary: In line with the theme and the previous meeting discussions, RCC member countries were encouraged to develop guidelines for mainstreaming DRR into rural housing and land use planning. Member countries further reviewed their progress in implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action and called for ADPC to provide technical assistance, advocacy and coordination to facilitate information sharing.

Outcome: The Kunming Road Map was developed to operationalize the Hanoi RCC5 Statement in three phases. The Road Map also included a plan for an RCC-MDRD program, Partnerships for Safe Development and Good Governance. The program was focused on encouraging member countries to realize the goal of mainstreaming DRR into development. Member countries reviewed their progress towards implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action. Upon which, the RCC was called to act as a monitoring mechanism and consolidating progress of individual countries and documenting sector-specific progress.

Summary: Member countries reviewed their progress in implementing the HFA in Asia and reflected on their perspective on community leadership, ahead of the 3rd Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Management.

Outcome: In line with the theme, member countries affirmed their commitment to take up national programs on Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) in all high-risk communities. CBDRR Country Papers were submitted to assess the community-led disaster risk management initiatives within the member countries. The program document on Phase 2 of the RCC-MDRD project was reviewed and endorsed. ADPC established its role in supporting member countries to mobilize their resources, with support from multiple donors, to implement the priority activities identified by the RCC.

Summary: Member countries reflected on the HFA implementation status in 2005 and the progress made up to 2007. The Manila RCC8 Statement highlighted the need to scale up community level action for DRR among member countries, in order to meet the first priority in the HFA.

Outcome: Member countries assessed a working paper on “Implementing National Programs on CBDRR in High-Risk Communities,” based on the CBDRR country papers submitted in the previous RCC meeting. The session provided insight to the support partners and donors could provide in implementing national CBDRR programs.

Summary: The 9th RCC meeting set an objective to review the countries’ progress towards meeting objectives of the HFA in Asia. Lack of capacity and limited resources were identified as key challenges in making progress in implementing HFA among the RCC member countries.

Outcome: Findings of the Independent Progress Report (IPR) of the RCC-MDRD program were presented. The program showed positive impacts on the member countries and discussions looked into expanding the RCC program into other important sectors, including: agriculture and environment. The ADPC Strategy 2020 overview was presented to identify the future work plan of ADPC. Member countries provided inputs to ensure the strategy meets their needs.

Summary:Member countries participated in group discussions to address key questions related to identifying the linkages between the post-2015 DRR Framework and development agenda, which led to the development of a Regional Action Plan for DRR 2013 – 15.ADPC took on the role of studying the impact of RCC and present its findings to RCC member countries.

Outcome:In a discussion on accelerating the HFA over its last two years. A number of key options highlighted include: strengthening of livelihoods through promotion of employment and measures to increase agricultural productivity, promoting water and food security and marketing initiatives and improved ecosystem management.Upon reflecting on some of the key challenges in implementing the HFA, it was identified that local government authorities in the development sector did not have a mandate for DRR-related activities, which limited the overall effectiveness of capacity building and awareness raising initiatives. Decentralization of DRR and development responsibilities, to strengthen integrated planning and action at the local level, was identified as a potential way forward.

Development Partners

The 10th RCC Meeting was organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Government of Mongolia, and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), with support from the Government of Australia through AusAID.  

Summary: Member countries discussed preparation for the post-2015 development agenda. They also identified a need to use risk information to transform development policies, planning and institutions in striving for mainstreaming DRR.

Outcome: During discussions regarding CCA and DRR concerns to be considered in future development agendas, participants recognized the need for climate-smart DRR in institutional mechanisms. Member countries further recognized the importance of DRR as a fundamental element to enhance sustainability and resilience. The meeting concluded with endorsement of the Nay Pyi Taw Statement, which provided recommendation towards ensuring mainstreaming DRR into development is an integral component of post-2015 development agenda or frameworks.

The Statement further highlighted the need to ensure mainstreaming is taken up as a whole-of-government responsibility, across all levels, and new partnerships between government, civil society and private sector is built for effective mainstreaming.

Development Partners

The 11th RCC Meeting was co-hosted by the Relief and Resettlement Department, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), with support from the German Government through GIZ.

Summary: Meeting participants discussed the implementation of actions outlined in the SFDRR and agreed the RCC would continue to provide technical solutions in the implementation and support in knowledge exchange.

Outcome: Member countries adopted the Thimphu Statement which highlights ways member countries can transform the RCC mechanism to support meaningful implementation of the SFDRR, including: building knowledge of government officials and stakeholders, mainstreaming DRR into development, developing CBDRM strategies, undertaking DRR assessment and collection of DRR data. ADPC in its capacity as the Secretariat would continue to perform the role of technical advisor and develop the capacity of member countries.

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Development Partners

The 12th RCC Meeting was co-hosted by the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs (MoHCA) and the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Bhutan; and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) with support from the German Government through GIZ.

Summary: Member countries discussed opportunities and challenges of operationalizing the global frameworks to strive towards resilient development. They further identified their needs and program activities, aligned with the SFDRR priority areas.

Outcome: Member countries discussed the importance of maintaining the RCC mechanism as a regional platform for the development and sharing of good practices. They further discussed ways to bring synergies among other regional initiatives to strengthen and build capacities in disaster management and climate change adaptation at the regional level. Discussions fed into the AMCDRR to strengthen member countries’ understanding of the post-2015 agenda and implementation of DRM.

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Development Partners

The 13th RCC Meeting was supported by the National Disaster Management Agency, Pakistan, the Government of Pakistan, Oxfam, The Asia Foundation and the Global Initiative on Disaster Risk Management (GIDRM).

Summary: The 14th RCC meeting understood coherence as jointly strengthening resilience through processes such as mainstreaming, harmonization, localization and alignment. As a follow-up to the commitments made at the AMCDRR, member countries explored practical approaches and options for coherent implementation of key global frameworks.

Outcome: In recognition of the value of enhancing coherence to support in the implementation of key global frameworks, the member countries adopted the Kathmandu Statement. The Statement highlights the member countries commitments to support various stakeholders in coherent planning and implementation of activities under different global frameworks and the RCC’s role in supporting the priorities of the countries work under different programs and projects.

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Development Partners

The 14th RCC Meeting was supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Germany Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

Summary: The 15th annual meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand, in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation (DDPM) of Thailand. The overarching theme of the 15th RCC meeting is “Enhancing Regional Cooperation and Coherence for Resilient and Inclusive Societies”.This is supplemented by four (4) sub-themes:

• Sub-theme 1: Coherence and inclusion: Enhancing the implementation of coherence between the global frameworks through inclusive resilience
• Sub-theme 2: Building resilience through inclusive and rights-based approaches
• Sub-theme 3: Understanding and using data for resilience
• Sub-theme 4: Defining resilience in fragile contexts

 

In line with the context of the theme and sub-themes, the following were the objectives of the 15th RCC meeting:

• Discuss and identify milestones and critical priorities on the progress of the RCC member countries in reporting target E of by 2020, and ensuring coherence for resilient, integrated and inclusive societies in Asia and the Pacific;
• Facilitate, share and present good practices and practical integration on building resilience through inclusive and human rights-based approaches in RCC member countries;
• Share milestones, needs, and challenges of the RCC member countries on the Sendai Framework Monitoring (SFM), and identify innovative approaches in utilizing data for efficient and effective disaster and climate resilience measures;
• And, discuss experiences and strategies towards building resilience in fragile contents. The 15th RCC meeting builds on the momentum established from the Islamabad Statement (13th RCC, 2016) and the Kathmandu Statement (14th RCC, 2018) coherence, including the Asia Regional Plan (2016), the Ulaanbaatar Declaration (2018), and most recently from the Global Platform on DRR (2019).

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Summary:  The 16th RCC meeting will be held virtually in collaboration with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS). MOIS establishes, supervises, and adjusts policies related to safety and disaster management such as emergency countermeasure, civil defense, and disaster prevention in the country.

The overarching theme of the 16th RCC meeting is “Financing Resilient Development in Asia and the Pacific”. The meeting comprises thematic and plenary sessions:

• Thematic Session 1: Enabling Environment for Financing Resilient Development
• Thematic Session 2: Financing for Resilient Development and Growth
• Plenary Session 1: Innovation in Resilient Development Practices
• Plenary Session 2:  Inclusion in Localization of Resilient Development Practices
• Plenary Session 3: Regional Cooperation for Resilient Development, Deliberate on regional cooperation for resilient development by RCC Member Countries

Expected Outcomes: 16th RCC Statement, Activities identified to outline an RCC Annual Work Plan, and Technical Meeting Report on Financing Resilient Development in Asia and the Pacific

Supported by:
Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)

Summary:The 17th RCC Meeting will be held in Metro Manila, Philippines and co-hosted by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD). OCD is the implementing arm of the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The Overarching Theme of the 17th RCC meeting is “Sustainable Resilience Through Inclusive Governance, Finance, and Local Action”

This is supplemented by three (3) sub-themes:

• Achieving the 2030 Goals and Targets through Coherence and Regional Cooperation
• Strengthening the implementation of climate and disaster risk reduction through inclusive approaches
• Advancing public and private investments and financing for building resilience

In line with the context of the theme and sub-themes, the following are the objectives of the 17th RCC meeting:

• Utilize the 17th RCC meeting as a solutions-oriented platform to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework, Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals through inclusive governance, finance, regional cooperation, and local action
• Establish key action points to enable the RCC to support member countries in implementing the 2030 Global Frameworks
• Deliberate and share good scalable practices on public and private financing for resilience building
• Identify inclusive solutions to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Global Frameworks

Expected Outputs: RCC Meeting Report, 17th RCC Manila Statement, Fundamental needs and actions required by RCC member countries to advance the implementation of the 2030 global frameworks