GPDRR briefing 28/04/2009 Minutes (Draft)

(DRAFT) Minutes

Subject:    UNISDR Briefing on the 2nd Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP/DRR) – Briefing #2
Date:        Tuesday, 28 April  2009, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Venue:      UNICEF, Fiji Development Bank Building, Suva

Participants:
Naheed Haque (UN RC), Ameen Benjamin (UNDP), Justin Locke (UNDP), Fiasili Vaeau (UNDP), Joeli Cawaki (Fiji NDMO), Peter Muller (UNOCHA), Tu Tangi (AusAID), Mosese Sikivou (SOPAC), Steven Iddings (WHO), Stephanie Zoll (UNDP Pacific Centre), Moortaza Jiwanji (UNDP Pacific Centre), Makeleta Koloi (NZAID), Roshni Chand (FSPI), Losalini Tuwere (Habitat for Humanity Fiji), Michael Kuzawinski (UNESCAP), Will Parks (UNICEF), Angelika Planitz (UNISDR, chair and minutes).

This was the second briefing session for partners to review the status of the Pacific's preparations for the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction. After a brief overview presentation by UNISDR on the latest developments and a general round of questions and answers, the following issues were discussed:
 
(1) The Special Event on the Pacific:

• The draft concept note for the Special Event was tabled. Participants were informed that the draft concept note had been submitted to UNISDR Geneva and that the event was approved.
• Participants were supportive of the suggested format, i.e. title, scope, themes, presentations, and duration.  
• UNICEF proposed that the overview presentation on ‘progress, challenges and trends’ (coordinated by SOPAC) places disaster risk issues in the Pacific into the wider context of vulnerability, such as the impacts of the global economic crisis, climate change, water and food security, and urban issues. A useful reference was the recent UN Report on Asia-Pacific. This suggestion was supported by partners.
• The UNDP Pacific Centre expressed an interest in contributing to the presentations on ‘climate change’(coordinated by UNISDR); and ‘community resilience’ (coordinated by IFRC);
• UNDP Samoa introduced a new initiative, i.e. the Community Centred Sustainable Development Programme and requested IFRC which is coordinating the ‘community resilience’ presentation to reflect some of the lessons and findings of the recent fact finding missions undertaken in preparation of this programme.
• UNICEF expressed an interest in contributing to the presentation on ‘recovery’ (coordinated by UNDP and OCHA).
• There was general agreement on the case study countries proposed under each theme. Partners emphasized that the country specific lessons and recommendations needed to be complemented by a regional perspective so that strong policy recommendations from the Pacific region can feed into the outcome document of the Global Platform.
• UNICEF noticed that the agenda needed to incorporate also a ‘closing’ to summarize the key issues identified.
• The list of invitees to attend the event was shared and additional organizations were suggested. Invitations will be sent out once the final list of registered GP participants is available.
• Partners were requested to coordinate amongst themselves and assist representatives from case study countries prepare draft presentations by the end of May.
• UNISDR will share an updated concept note and list of invitees reflecting the inputs from partners (see attached).

(2)  The Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Market Place:

• The draft concept note for the DRR Market Place was discussed and partners were invited to share their ideas on what they would like to show case at the market place.
• SOPAC which is coordinating the inputs and programme of the DRR Market Place for the Pacific offered to provide one staff member for the duration of the GP to look after the market place on behalf of the region. SOPAC will also demonstrate the Pacific Disaster Net.
• UNDP Samoa informed the meeting that it would like to contribute a poster on the CCSDP and show the movie “a grim reality: climate change in the Pacific islands;
• All partners were invited to share with SOPAC/UNISDR a detailed list of products, materials and reports they would like to exhibit at the DRR Market Place, so that the display can be managed and organized accordingly.
• It was noted that all partners will be responsible for arranging transport and delivery of their materials to Geneva.

(3) The Pacific Delegation at the Global Platform:

• UNISDR briefed the meeting on the current status of registrations of government, civil society and regional representatives from the Pacific and asked which partners are yet planning to attend the GP.
• Partners were reminded to register before the official close of the registration deadline on 30 April.
• The suggestion to travel as one well-coordinated Regional Delegation, headed by SOPAC and assisted by UNISDR was again strongly supported by all partners.
• The proposed ‘schedule of roles’ was shared with the meeting as a tool to keep all members of the delegation well informed and coordinated. It was well received and SOPAC/UNISDR were requested to further develop the ‘schedule of roles’ in consultation with the members of the delegation in accordance with their interests and the programme of the GP.
• UNISDR will share an updated list of registered members of the Pacific Delegation (see attached).

(4) Next Meeting:

• Partners will reconvene at the Pacific Platform for DRM to continue discussions on the region’s preparations for the GP.