INTERNATIONAL RECOVERY PLATFORM

6. International Recovery Platform
As a pioneering member of the International Recovery Platform (IRP), ADRC supports
IRP activities, including co-hosting the IRP Secretariat in Kobe, Japan.

6.1. Overview
IRP was established following the Second UN World Conference on Disaster Reductionin Kobe, Hyogo, Japan in 2005 to support the implementation of the Hyogo Framework forAction (HFA) by addressing the gaps and constraints experienced in the context of postdisaster recovery. After a decade of functioning as an international source of knowledge ongood recovery practice, IRP refocused its role as an "international mechanism for sharing
experience and lessons associated with build-back-better".
IRP is not an operational body. So, it does not directly implement project activities.
Instead, it functions as a platform for interested partners to periodically meet to exchange
lessons and ideas that will promote recovery best practice and learnings as well as capacity
building. Its activities are governed by a Steering Committee and supported by a small
Secretariat based in Kobe Japan and hosted by the Japanese Government, the Hyogo
Prefectural Government, ADRC, and UNDRR.
Section 6

IRP works towards supporting greater advancements in the field of resilient recovery andbuild-back-better by:

bringing together a broad range of senior policy makers and practitioners to exchange
experiences and facilitate discussion on resilient recovery challenges and build-backbetter opportunities at the annual International Recovery Forum

advocating for closer cooperation with development partners, regional intergovernmentalorganizations, regional organizations, and regional platforms for disaster risk reduction inpromoting and building capacity for achieving effective build-back-better outcomes

sharing of information through its inter-active website

IRP is governed by the Steering Committee, where membership is decided byconsensus. Steering Committee members contribute towards the approved activities of IRP,
by means of commitment of funds or in-kind contributions. The Steering Committee
members can request the Chair for technical experts or specialist to attend meetings on anad-hoc basis to provide specialist inputs as and when deemed necessary. The members ofIRP Steering Committee are: ADB, ADRC, Cabinet Office Japan, CEPREDENAC, Hyogo
Prefectural Government Japan, ILO, MOFA-Italy, SDC-Switzerland, the World Bank, UN-56

INTERNATIONAL RECOVERY PLATFORM

Environment, UNCRD, UNDP, UNESCO, UN-Habitat, UNDRR, UNOPS, and WHO (Figure6.1. Logos of IRP SC members)

Figure 6.1. Logos of IRP SC Members

6.2. Activities
In 2020 and early 2021, IRP/ADRC implemented a range of activities to advance its goals
in the fields of resilient recovery and build-back-better.
6.2.1. International Recovery Forum 2021
Annually, in January, IRP organizes the International Recovery Forum (Forum) toexchange experiences and facilitate discussion on challenges to resilient recovery, andopportunities for building back better. The online Forum was held in a hybrid modality on 22
Cases and Lessons for Recovery from Natural Hazards and COVID-19”. Attended by 340
participants from 49 countries, the Forum featured keynote presentations and panel
discussions on early lessons learned in recovery, and opportunities to build back better,greener, more equitable and resilient from COVID-19 and compound disasters.
As a global health crisis, COVID-19 has undoubtedly impacted many aspects of societyand the economy. The unprecedented socioeconomic impacts that it has caused haveundermined development progress and threatened the achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals. Simultaneously, countries are confronted by the challenges of managing

compound risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and natural hazards. In view of this, the Forumorganized two panel discussions that aim to achieve two objectives:
The first objective is to examine priorities and opportunities to build back better, greener,
and more resilient from COVID-19 and compound disasters. Panelists discussed strategies
for building back better, greener, and more resilient from the COVID-19 pandemic and naturalhazards. Discussions included consideration for institutional, financial, and implementation
support for launching a green and resilient recovery while balancing immediate recovery

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Section 6January 2021, on the theme, “Building Back Better from Compound Disasters: Practical