Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
16-19 June, 2009
Special event on
Financing Disaster Risk Reduction
Organized by
ProVention Consortium
Focal Point: Margaret
Arnold
Tel. +41 22 730 4499
Context and scope
Government disaster risk financing strategies need to ensure that public expenditure
levels on risk reduction are sufficient relative to the levels and nature of risk faced, the
expected economic and social returns to risk reduction and the reasonable
responsibilities and obligations of government; and that there are adequate financial
arrangements to manage the residual risk in the form of post-disaster relief and
recovery expenditure.
Natural hazards pose indirect threats both to planned activities and levels of public
funding available for recurrent and capital spending in future years. They can also
result in considerable loss of existing investment and related economic activity if
sufficient risk reduction measures are not in place. The threats to human life and well-
being due to inefficiencies related to poorly designed financing measures and missed
development opportunities are considerable.
In reality, although many hazard-prone developing countries undertake some planning
for disasters, none has a comprehensive disaster risk financing strategy. Instead,
arrangements focus primarily around limited regular budgetary allocations for
humanitarian relief and preparedness and, in a few cases, some use of risk transfer
tools. Additional resources are obtained on an ad hoc basis in the aftermath of
disasters, primarily via budgetary reallocations and international community grants
and loans. Meanwhile, rational decisions around the appropriate balance and nature of
risk reduction and post-disaster expenditure are rarely made. Risk reduction is often
viewed as a somewhat separate activity, focused primarily around project-based, often
piecemeal, investments in structural mitigation by relevant line agencies or (less
frequently) through local government.
Expected results and links to the GP09 outcomes
This session will provide a snap shot of the historical evolution of disaster risk
financing practices in developing countries and the strengths and weaknesses in the
current system. It then poses a series of questions on potential ways forward, some of
them deliberately provocative, aimed at moving towards the development of a more
integrated, comprehensive approach, centred on risk reduction.
Inputs will be sought to frame a bigger research initiative that would provide useful
inputs to the mid-term review of the Hyogo Framework for Action.
The session also complements the High Level Panel on disaster risk financing to take
place during the Global Platform. It provides an opportunity to delve into more depth
with some of the issues raised, and develop recommendations to take forward from the
Global Platform.
List of Partners involved
ProVention, World Bank, others to be confirmed
Format of the discussions and tentative list of speakers / panelists (if available)
The session will kick off with a presentation of a consultation brief prepared by
ProVention and partners on the state of disaster risk financing in developing countries.
A number of questions will be layed out, to which a few discussants will provide
initial responses and then the dialogue will be broadened to engage the wider
audience.
Identified speakers will include Ian Christoplos and Charlotte Benson, independent
consultants and renowned experts on disaster risk management issues. Discussants are
to be confirmed.
Names of: Chair, Moderator and Rapporteur (if available)
To be confirmed
Equipment required (to be covered by Organizers)
Powerpoint projector, laptop, microphones
Expected number of participants (for room allocation)
60-70
Supporting document and expected printed material to be brought bz the organizer(s) to
the event (optional)
Consultation brief on disaster risk financing
Preferred date and time –
Ideally the same day as the High Level Panel on risk financing, however, it must be
coordinated to avoid other special events with ProVention involvement.