CONCEPT NOTE

Foto: UNISDR

IntroducTION The Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the Americas is the main venue that brings together key actors in DRR from throughout North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. It is a multi-stakeholder forum that reflects the commitments and concerns of Governments (national, sub national and local), regional intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), international organizations (IOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations, scientific and academic institutions, the private sector, donors and the media.

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It provides an opportunity to exchange information and knowledge, while facilitating processes for planning, progress monitoring, collective strategic decision-making and action in order to enhance the implementation of DRR and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA); all the while linking to international and national efforts including those that contribute the integration of the processes of climate change adaptation (CCA) in the context of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In addition to defining trends and priority areas for moving forward in the region, the outcomes from Regional Platform sessions also serve as input into the upcoming session of the Global Platform for DRR.

The third session of the Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas will be held in Santiago, Chile from 26-28 November 2012. This session is being co-organized by the Regional Office of UNISDR for the Americas (UNISDR Americas), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Government of Chile as host country. As with the previous session, the structure and contents of this third session are determined by an Advisory Council comprised of regional intergovernmental organizations from the Americas – CAPRADE, CDEMA, CEPREDENAC, REHU and OAS; key ISDR partners from the region - World Bank, IDB, UNDP, OCHA, PAHO; as well as Chile as host country, the Government of Mexico as previous host country to the 2011 session held in Nayarit, and UNISDR Americas.

Results of Previous RP Sessions

RP2009

The first session of the Regional Platform for DRR in the Americas, organized by UNISDR Americas and the OAS, was held from 17-19 March of 2009 in Panama City, Panama.  It looked to bridge the gap between the Global and National Platforms, with the purpose of establishing a formal multi-stakeholder mechanism at the hemispheric level.  It centered upon defining responsibilities and priorities for moving forward with a hemispheric DRR agenda in coming years, based on the main tendencies, challenges, areas of progress and opportunities in the region.  The outcomes of this 2009 session involved the consolidation and institutionalization of the Regional Platform of the Americas, strengthening of partnerships, fostering understanding of the HFA reporting mechanism, promoting opportunities for cooperation, and dissemination of information surrounding DRR in the Americas.

RP2011

With the support of the Advisory Council, this second session of the RP was held in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico from March 15-17, 2011.  Its outcomes were captured in the Communiqué of Nayarit which highlighted the need to prioritize DRR at the highest level of action as well as the development of a hemispheric agenda for furthering DRR.  The main thematic areas of focus of RP11 involved: DRR and Climate Change Adaptation, Measurable increases in investments in disaster risk reduction, Disaster-resilient cities, schools and hospitals, Institutional strengthening of DRR, HFA Mid-Term Review, and Messages to the Global Platform 2011. 

It served to reaffirm the commitment to the guiding principles of DRR and climate change adaptation (CCA), while providing a set of recommendations to the Global Platform.  The RP11 witnessed a significant increase in terms of both the number and level of representation as compared with the 2009 session, thus reflecting growing interest surrounding DRR from throughout the region. 

Main Areas of Focus for RP2012

Adhering to the advice of the Advisory Council and building upon previous sessions of the RP and the Global Platform (GP), on the Communiqué of Nayarit as the outcome document of the RP11, as well as on the priorities of the upcoming 2013 session of the GP; the RP12 will look to address the following issues:

Main Areas of Focus for RP2012 Adhering to the advice of the Advisory Council and building upon previous sessions of the RP and the Global Platform (GP), on the Communiqué of Nayarit as the outcome document of the RP11, as well as on the priorities of the upcoming 2013 session of the GP; the RP12 will look to address the following issues:

● Advances and challenges at the local, national, sub/regional levels as expressed through HFA progress monitoring and statements to RP12;
● Promote a consultation process for a post-2015 as the way for moving forward beyond the HFA;
● Advancing towards the definition of guidelines for the preparation of regional and/or sub regional Plans of Action; ● Support the development of Disaster Resilient Cities and local implementation of DRR;
● Identify and analyze the main processes of development of public policies for DRR at the national, sub regional and hemispheric levels;
● Promote the discussion and gather regional advances on public investment and economics of DRR;
● Promote the discussion of the role of the private sector not only in emergency and response but also its role and advances in DRR;
● The role of community participation, civil society, community-based organizations and volunteers in DRR.
● Promote a high-level segment which would contribute to raising the level of political commitment with the results of the RP 2012 and the GP 013.
● Consolidate a message for the GP 013, which should focus on providing elements and criteria based on multiple experiences and good practices in the region, taking into consideration the various mechanisms (policies, strategies, plans) of regional, sub regional, national and local levels currently underway in the Americas, for the implementation of the HFA, as well as inputs from in the process of global discussion of the Post HFA 2015 mechanism. Expected Outcomes of RP12
● Identification of the recent mechanisms (policies, strategies, plans and programmes) to strengthen DRR at the regional, sub-national, national and local level leading to the implementation of the HFA, presenting diverse experiences and good practices available in the region.
● A stronger and more sustainable ISDR movement throughout the Americas that leads to increased responsibility for reinforcing resilience to disasters;
● A roadmap with guidelines for the development of Sub/regional action plans;
● Consolidation of a dynamic and trend-setting forum for decision-makers, partners, experts and practitioners to announce initiatives, launch products, share information, promote campaigns, and provide evidence around DRR;
● Directions and new alliances for the development and use of new tools and methodologies aimed at understanding and applying the economics and investment in DRR;
● A forum to discuss progress and consult over mechanisms and instruments post-HFA;
● A compendium of good practices for DRR
● Provide a summary of regional inputs to the Global Platform

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