6. International Recovery Platform (IRP): History and Current Activities

6. International Recovery Platform (IRP):
History and Current Activities
6-1. The Establishment of IRP
While the capacity of the UN system for disaster response and humanitarian assistance arewidely recognized, there is currently a vacuum in terms of the UN's capacity and system-widemechanisms for post-disaster recovery efforts, particularly those with a risk reduction focus.
Experience increasingly affirms that the post-disaster recovery phase provides a critical
opportunity to shift the focus from saving lives to restoring livelihoods, and is an importanttime for introducing measures to reduce future disaster risk. Effective recovery can help close
the gap between relief and development, and can transform disasters into opportunities forsustainable development. This occurs when efforts are made to support local and national
recovery processes at an early stage, when risk reduction considerations are factored into all
recovery activities, and when the synergies between development, humanitarian, and otheractors involved in the response phases are properly channeled. A successful recovery effort,
then, is predicated on having advance agreements and mechanisms in place so that therecovery process is effectively conceived and managed, and is initiated in a timely manner.
This includes such measures as appropriate assessment methodologies, pre-establishedresource mobilization mechanisms, surge capacity to support UN Country Teams, and standing
coordination mechanisms.
Shared concerns related to the UN approach and processes for post-disaster recovery haveresulted in the formulation of a joint initiative, the International Recovery Platform (IRP), by
the UN system, ADRC, and other partners, with the encouragement and support of Japan aswell as other donors and key program countries. This initiative was discussed at the 2005 UN
World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) during session 4.9 on Post DisasterRecovery. Representatives from the ADRC, UNDP, UN-HABITAT, ILO, and other concerned
UN agencies expressed their respective agency commitments and support for the proposedinternational platform for recovery. The meeting resulted in a recommendation for theestablishment of the IRP.
In four months after the WCDR, the International Seminar on Post Disaster Recovery, in
support of IRP, was held at Hyogo House on 11-13 May 2005. IRP was officially establishedin Kobe, Japan.

6-2. The Governance Structure of IRP
IRP consists of 17 governments, UN agencies, and international organizations including
ADRC (as of March 31 2020).* IRP focuses on the following three priority activities forrecovery: (a) Knowledge Management and Advocacy, (b) Training and Capacity Building and(c) Enhancing Recovery Operations.
As described in IRP Strategic Framework 2015-2020, IRP Secretariat is located in Kobe and57
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responsible for convening IRP Steering Committee meetings and disseminating information onIRP activities and knowledge products.
* IRP members: Asian Development Bank (ADB), ADRC, Cabinet Office of Japan, Centrode Coordinación para la Prevención de los Desastres Naturales en América
Central (CEPREDENAC), Hyogo Prefectural Government, InternationalLabour Organization (ILO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Swiss
Agency for Development and Coordination (SDC), the World Bank, United
Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), United Nations
Development

Programme(UNDP),United

Nations

Environment

Programme (UNEP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) ,United Nations Human Settlements Programme(UN-HABITAT), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction(UNDRR), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), WorldHealth Organization (WHO).

6-3. IRP Activities in FY 20196-3-1. International Recovery Forum 2020Introduction
International Recovery Forum 2020 ~Building Back Better through Resilient Infrastructure~
was held on 28th January, at Hotel Okura Kobe. 172 participants from 24 countries and 23
organizations attended the forum.
The International Recovery Forum 2020 drew upon the insights and experiences ofgovernments, private sector, and international organizations to discuss common and emerging
challenges and solutions for infrastructure recovery. The Forum featured distinguished keynote
speakers and two panel discussions. The first panel focused on preparedness for infrastructure
recovery, and harnessing the opportunity to invest in resilient infrastructure before disasterstrikes. The second panel explored past and ongoing recovery initiatives to build resilient
infrastructure to withstand future disasters.
Opening Remarks
Mr. Jared MERCADANTE, Chair, IRP Steering Committee and Disaster Risk Management
Specialist, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GRDRR) at the World Bank
opened the forum, followed by Welcome Remarks from Mr. KANAZAWA Kazuo, Vice
Governor, Hyogo Prefectural Government and Mr. MURATE Satoshi, Assistant Vice-Minister
for Disaster Management, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan.
Keynote Session
The main substantive sessions opened with a keynote session featuring two presentations.

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