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Event: 21st High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters
Date: Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Madrid, Spain (hybrid event)
Main Participants
Han Soon-soo (HELP Chair, former Prime Minister of Korea), Basuki Hadimuriono (HELP Vice Chair, Minister of Public Works and National Housing, Indonesia), Mark Herbers (HELP Vice Chair, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Netherlands), Teodoro Estrella Monreal (Director General, Ministry of Environmental Transition and Population Affairs, Spain ), Danilo Türk (former President of Slovenia, President of the Club of Madrid), Yves Leterme (former Prime Minister of Belgium), Carlos Alvarado (former President of Costa Rica), Yasushi Furukawa (Parliamentary Secretary for Land, Infrastructure and Transport), Seiichi Onodera (JICA Director) (online) and others
Background and Objectives
The High-level Panel on Water and Disaster (commonly known as HELP) was established in 2007 based on the recommendations of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board (UNSGAB) on water and sanitation. The HELP is a joint initiative of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board (UNSGAB). The HELP is composed of policy makers and experts on water-related disasters from various countries, and is chaired by former South Korean Prime Minister Han Soon-soo (JICA President Tanaka is a member of the HELP). JICA has continuously provided policy advice to the Asia-Pacific Water Summit, the World Water Forum, and the High-Level Panel on Water through the organization of the UN Special Session on Water and Disasters, among others.
At this year’s HELP, co-sponsored by the Club of Madrid, composed of the Spanish government and former heads of state, a discussion was held on how to promote the “mainstreaming of water and disaster preparedness” in their countries.
Contents
Mr. Seiichi Onodera, Director of JICA, speaking on behalf of JICA, pointed out that while many countries are experiencing rapid economic development, the risk of disasters is increasing due to the effects of climate change and other factors, and that the economic damage caused by disasters has been rising in recent years, including $223 billion in damage to the economy in 2022. He pointed out that the role of governments and their ongoing efforts to reduce disaster risks, which could hinder sustainable economic growth, are becoming increasingly important.
In this situation, referring to the point stipulated in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction that “disaster reduction measures are implemented under the primary responsibility of each country,” he stressed the importance of governments taking responsibility in order to promote “mainstreaming into water and disaster management.
He also mentioned JICA’s Global Agenda for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, which is in line with the principles of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction. JICA aims to build resilient national foundations for the protection of human life and economic development, especially through 1) investment in disaster reduction in advance and 2) if a disaster should occur, efforts to prevent another disaster through Build JICA is working to prevent disasters from occurring again through 1) investment in disaster reduction in advance and 2) build better reconstruction (Build Back Better) in the event that a disaster does occur.
Specific examples of proactive disaster reduction investments include the Indonesian government’s initiative to reduce flood disaster risk in Jakarta and JICA’s support for the development of the Puluit Drainage Pumping Station, as well as landslide and forest fire prevention projects in the Balkan region (North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, etc.), focusing on mountain control and erosion control, The presentation included examples of disaster risk reduction measures in the Indus River Basin, taking into account the impact of climate change in light of the 2022 floods in Pakistan, and coastal disaster management in collaboration with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in the Maldives.
As an example of Build Back Better, he mentioned that the company has started to support the affected municipalities in developing reconstruction plans, earthquake-proofing buildings, and creating guidelines and training materials for disaster waste management in response to the February 2023 earthquake that hit southeastern Turkey.
Finally, he emphasized that Japan has experienced all types of disasters many times and has taken steady disaster countermeasures over the years, and that based on Japan’s experience, JICA will continue to develop projects that contribute to building a resilient nation through disaster risk reduction.
© Source JICA