“As we have learned again and again, no country or city -- rich or poor -- is immune.  But alongside the
dangers from disaster rests the dangerous myth that acts of nature are just that -- unavoidable or
inevitable. By our actions, we can either compound disasters or diminish them.
 
The difference is in preparedness. The difference is in us, in you.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 10 May 2011

 

Human security is concerned with reducing and, when possible, removing the insecurities facing
individuals and communities. In recent years, different parts of the world have experienced an increased
impact of natural disasters ? from earthquakes in Haiti (2010), to the compounded catastrophe of
earthquake and tsunami in Japan (2011). These catastrophes have taken lives, properties, and
destroyed livelihoods, eventually taking away the gains of development.

In this context, stronger disaster management is a way to enhance human security. Through improved
disaster management, communities can build resilience to natural disasters that have been persistently
threatening human safety and security. According to the UNESCAP in 2011, Asia is the world’s most
vulnerable to natural disasters, with its people four times more likely to be affected by nature’s wrath
than those in Africa and 25 times more likely than those in Europe or North America.

Building resilience towards natural hazards, the topic of this workshop, is only one of the wide-ranging
issues of human safety and security, but it is a topic that needs to be tackled with in an urgent manner
in view of the emerging issues related to climate change. It is notable in this sense that UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) launched the 2010-2011 World Disaster Reduction
Campaign, “Making Cities Resilient”.

Cities in the Asia-Pacific region can substantially improve the situation by focusing and sharing
experiences on risk identification to reduce vulnerability, regional cooperation towards building resilience, promoting public awareness and developing proper manuals for disaster relief.

Workshop Date
September 7(Wed) ? September 9(Fri) 2011
 
Workshop Location
Seogwipo City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Republic of Korea

Targeted Audience
High-level Officials, Local Government Representatives and Technical Officers, Non-Governmental
Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Academic Institutions, and other Local Actors within the Asia-Pacific Region

Content:
The workshop is composed of the following:
?            - Introduction to the concept of Human Security & Environmental Security in the Asia-Pacific
                  region
?            - Introduction of risk identification methods to reduce vulnerability
?            - Overview on regional cooperation towards building resilience to natural hazards
?            - Integrating disaster relief and resilience in territorial planning and development strategies
?            - Good practices and key case studies in promoting public awareness to build resilience at the
                  local level
?            - Contextualizing and improving disaster relief manuals to fit local realities


Learning Objectives:
? - To increase awareness on human security and environmental security in the region
? - To identify key challenges in disaster mitigation and to recognize good practices to
                    reduce vulnerability and build resilience to natural hazards at the local level
? - To develop action plans for local implementation and follow-up of lessons learned (via city-
                    to-city cooperation, awareness raising activities, inter-governmental coordination, and   
                    other practical measures for implementation)


Structure & Methodology:
The workshop is structured based on the following four pillars:
? - Presentations and Discussions
? - Sharing of Good Practices
? - UNITAR CITYSHARE Methodology
? - Case Studies from Selected NGOs, UN, and Local Government Participants

UNITAR’s CityShare Methodology will be applied during this workshop to manage knowledge exchange
and transfer of lessons learned in a participatory manner.
The CityShare methodology aims at optimizing peer learning between local officials. It consists of various processes of self-assessment, distillation and transmission of experiences and good practices. It is also
composed of several tools which provide a common framework for the evaluation of experiences made
by the participating cities and offer a common language for the exchange and assimilation of the
experiences, as well as a roadmap for action and progress.


Key Links and Background Readings:

http://www.undg.org/index.cfm?P=1093
http://www.cifaljeju.org/bbs/board.php?bo_table=RelevantPublications


Note:
* To be considered for participation, please complete and submit the Application Form(Attached) and
  your CV via email (ljechloe@gmail.com) no later than 29 July 2011.
* Sponsorship is available for those who are from Least Developed Countries and other developing
  countries for 50-75% of total air-fare, accommodation during workshop period, and local
  transportation.
* It is strongly advised to apply sooner in order to be sponsored. Priorities will be given to those who
  meet the selection criteria of the organiser, based on their CVs and application forms.
* There is no registration fee.
* If you require any further information, please contact Ms. Ji Eun, LEE. Programme Officer at UNITAR
  CIFAL Jeju at ljechloe@gmail.com; Tel: +82 64 735 6582
[이 게시물은 Cifal Jeju님에 의해 2011-10-07 11:50:24 Future에서 이동 됨]