In 2008 the United Nations Development Programme provided technical support to more than 40 UNDP offices in disaster-prone countries including Armenia, Belize, China, Ecuador, Jordan, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
In such countries, UNDP has established working relationships with relevant government counterparts and has dedicated staff to anchor disaster risk reduction activities. Some illustrative UNDP programmes, by country, include:
Dominican Republic
UNDP is helping the Dominican government to strengthen its risk reduction efforts, focusing primarily on tropical storms. For example, it is supporting the establishment of a monitoring system to track international cooperation aid for emergency response and recovery. In addition, UNDP and partners are working with the Director of the National Civil Defense to establish three provincial and 15 municipal disaster prevention, mitigation and response committees to oversee all risk management work in their areas.
Indonesia
In 2008 UNDP supported the development of Indonesia’s Disaster Management Law, which made disaster risk reduction one of nine national development priorities and substantially increased relevant funding from USD 17 million for pre-disaster mitigation in 2007 to USD 150 million in 2008. UNDP also helped create the Disaster Management Agency and supported production of guidelines for local disaster management agencies. In addition UNDP assisted local governments in enforcing measures that require disaster risk reduction decision-making bodies to include women as members. At the community level, UNDP aided in the development of early warning systems and the roll-out of risk assessments that enhance effective planning and recovery efforts. With a focus on the disaster affected areas of Aceh and Yogjakarta, UNDP supported efforts that ensure reconstruction is executed in a way that reduces risk. For example, the Early Recovery Assistance Programme for Yogjakarta and Central Java provided tradesmen, homeowners and village solidarity groups with ready access to technical advice on earthquake resistant design and reconstruction. UNDP also helped establish local technical expertise on risk reduction in 17 sub-districts to serve 51 disaster-prone villages.
Madagascar
Madagascar is one of the most disaster-vulnerable countries in Africa. A single cyclone in 2008 caused an estimated USD 333 million in damage. (The impact was equivalent to about four percent of the nation’s total GDP.) UNDP has strengthened the operations of the National Bureau for Disaster Risk Management Bureau through measures such as training and the creation of a manual of standard operating procedures; helped design disaster risk management plans in nine regions; facilitated the creation of disaster risk management committees in high-risk communities and regions to better prepare populations for the next natural hazard; set up an early warning system and improved radio communication network across the country that effectively serves all levels of society (communal to national); and strengthened the national emergency operation centre.
Pakistan
For the past four years, UNDP has assisted the Government of Pakistan in the preparation of the National Disaster Risk Management Framework and the establishment of the National Disaster Management Authority. Thirteen of the 19 UN entities in the country, including UNDP, have developed a joint programme to address the nation’s disaster risk management needs. Developed in 2008 and with an estimated budget of USD 66 million, the two-year programme assists the government in strengthening systems for disaster risk management to reduce the impact of disasters and thus contribute to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals. It focuses on areas such as strengthening institutions, early warning systems and community level risk reduction – all through a variety of initiatives including training, technical support and mobile response teams, and outreach and advocacy.
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