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NOTICE:
The International Emergency Management Society's Transportation Saftey and Security Workshop Janurary 28-29th 2003
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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and
Risk Management
Crisis and Emergency Management
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NOTICE: The ICDRM's monthly emergency managment forum, held at the GWU |
| December
2002
Volume 3 - Number 3 |
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Links:
Current events
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THE PROVENTION CONSORTIUM
By Erdem Ergin
The World Bank has a long history in helping developing countries after a disaster strikes. In fact, it is the largest of the international developing agencies and has financed some 200 disaster related projects in the last two decades. Over time, the Bank has come to understand that risk reduction is a feature of sustainable economic and social development; disaster vulnerability goes with poverty and development. Furthermore, reducing disaster vulnerability in developing countries may become the most critical challenge in this century. To reverse this trend of building vulnerabilities for then reacting to disasters, the World Bank has created in July 1998, the Disaster Management Facility. And one year later, the first meeting on Natural and Technological Catastrophes served to the creation of the Provention Consortium. The Consortium is a global coalition of governments, international organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations aimed at reducing disaster impacts in developing countries. Its main objectives are: o To promote a culture of safety through education and training among leaders and citizens of developing countries o To support public policy that can reduce the risk of natural and technological disasters within developing countries o To support pilot projects and to disseminate information about "best practices" o To develop governments' ability to minimize disasters and to respond effectively when they occur o To forge links between public and private sectors, the scientific community and policy makers, donors and victims so that all stake holders work together to strengthen the economy, reduce pain and suffering and promote the common good. To talk briefly about the ongoing activities, the Consortium focus can be divided in four categories. The ongoing projects may either focus on one category or match several. 1. Risk Identification: Assessing Hazards, Vulnerability and the Impacts of Disasters For effective strategy to manage disaster risk, an identification of the hazards and the vulnerabilities must be done. This help to decide on where to invest and how to design sustainable projects withstanding the impacts of potential disaster events. Furthermore, a complete understanding of the full economic, financial, and social impacts of disasters on a country help to demonstrate the importance of including risk reduction measures in any development strategy. 2. Risk Reduction: Avoiding Hazards and Reducing Vulnerability The risk of disaster can be reduced by reducing either the hazards or the vulnerability (or both). In addition to addressing the need for scientific and technical knowledge, projects also consider how to overcome the socioeconomic, institutional and political barriers to the adoption of effective risk reduction strategies and measures in developing countries. Awareness and knowledge dissemination activities are also supported as they play an important role in risk reduction. 3. Risk Sharing/Transfer: Protecting Investments and Sharing the Costs The Consortium supports efforts that protect development investments and advance disaster risk awareness. In addition to such mechanisms as insurance, the Consortium is also interested in developing tools to assist the very poor to more effectively manage disaster risk. 4. Knowledge Sharing: Disseminating Information and Building Capacity To increase access to information and to connect and leverage resources for reducing vulnerabilities, this category of activity focuses on sharing knowledge on disaster risk management, awareness raising, and training. For more information about Provention, visit http://www.proventionconsortium.org |