Forging Partnerships for Urban Risk Reduction
There is strong evidence that the frequency and severity of disasters are increasing globally. At the same time urban risks have been neglected leading to spiraling increase in exposure of people and property to hazards that can strike them without warning.
The theme session on urban risk held during the World Conference on Disaster Reduction in January 2005 in Kobe, resulted in the conclusion that more global attention should be given to urban risk. International consultations then started for the proposal of a Partnership on Urban Risk eduction (PURR). These consultations led to an organizational meeting which was held on April 12 – 13, 2007 in Kobe, Japan. This meeting gathered key stakeholders including: the ISDR Secretariat, the UNDP, the UN-Habitat, the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan, city representatives (Quito, Manila, Mumbai, Kobe, Montreal, Tehran, and Makati, Hyogo Prefecture), local authorities associations (Metropolis, UCLG, CityNet and ICLEI), and specialized organizations, EMI, ADRC, UNCRD, IRP and Kobe University. The objective of PURR is to take the social dimensions of risk looking at cities where most of the population lives; mapping an agenda for engagement with different size of urban settings.
The main concerns of the forum regarding disaster risk reduction are to work to reduce risk in cities, particularly in slums and informal settlements; finding out how risk is generated, what capacity there is and how to build this in cities, especially in rapidly expanding cities where there is scope to be proactive. Global Survey
A global survey led by ICLEI is being conducted to provide initial visibility to the Partnership of Urban Risk Reduction and contribute to seek the input of city mayors, local government policy makers, and other key stakeholders for the work plan of the PURR.
The global survey among local authorities and other key stakeholders, aims at: - Taking stock of current local government activities in DRR;
- Seeking specific input on the priorities of the GF and its agenda; and
- Raising awareness on the GF and its activities.
This will be an effective way of reaching out to the members of all the partners on the PURR, while at the same time generating feedback on current perspectives and activities toward Disaster Risk Reduction in general and on the mandate and further development of the PURR in particular. The survey will thus help to build a base of knowledge around current city activities, to establish a baseline against which to measure future programme impacts, and to develop the institutional and strategic profile of the PURR.
Please help us with reaching the objectives of PURR by filling out the electronic global survey
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Monday, 24 November 2008 03:25 |
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A “Declaration on Local Action for Disaster Reduction” is expected to be adopted by the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) World Council, which will hold a series of meetings from November 27 to 28 in Istanbul, Turkey. The draft declaration was prepared and presented by the Partnership for Urban Risk Reduction (PURR), an ad-hoc coalition composed of UCLG, Metropolis, Citynet, ICLEI and EMI, at the UCLG Executive Bureau meeting on July 10-11 in Quito, Ecuador. The UCLG World Council is composed of 324 representatives of local governments including city mayors and presidents of the national league of city and municipal mayors from across the world. UCLG aims to support international cooperation between cities and their associations, and facilitates programs, networks and partnerships in building the capacities of local governments. For more information related to the declaration, please visit EMI’s PURR webpage. |
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Tuesday, 14 October 2008 10:19 |
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As a partner in the Partnership for Urban Risk Reduction (PURR) Project, EMI is offering a 2-day training program on disaster risk management for local professionals, managers and policy makers in Sydney, Australia on October 21-22, 2008. Dr. Bijan Kazai is the overall lead of the training program. He will be joined by EMI’s General Secretary Atty. Violeta Seva who will talk about legal and institutional structures and local actors in DRM. |
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PURR - Partnership for Urban Risk Reduction
