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 important time
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 for sustainabledevelopment. 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, andwhen the synergies between development, humanitarian, and other actors involved in the response
phases are properly channeled. A successful recovery effort, then, is predicated on having advanceagreements and mechanisms in place so that the recovery process is effectively conceived andmanaged, and is initiated in a timely manner. This includes such measures as appropriate
assessment methodologies, pre-established resource mobilization mechanisms, surge capacity tosupport 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 theUN system, ADRC, and other partners, with the encouragement and support of Japan as well asother 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 Disaster Recovery.
Representatives from the ADRC, UNDP, UN-HABITAT, ILO, and other concerned UN agencies
expressed their respective agency commitments and support for the proposed international
platform for recovery. The meeting resulted in a recommendation for the establishment of theInternational Recovery Platform (IRP).
In four months after the WCDR, the International Seminar on Post Disaster Recovery, insupport of IRP, was held at Hyogo House on 11-13 May 2005. IRP was officially established inKobe.

6-2. The Governance Structure of IRP
IRP currently consists of 17 governments, UN agencies, and international organizations
including ADRC (as of March2014).* 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 the Terms of Reference, IRP at Kobe functions as IRP secretariat and is60

6. The International Recovery Platform (IRP): History and Current Activities
responsible for convening IRP Steering Committee meetings and disseminating information on
IRP activities and outcomes.
* IRP members: Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), Hyogo Prefectural Government,International Labour Organization (ILO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Cabinet
Office of Japan, Swiss Agency for Development and Coordination (SDC), United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), International Federationof Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), United Nations Secretariat of theInternational Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), the World Bank, World HealthOrganization (WHO), Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Centre forRegional Development (UNCRD), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS),
Coordination Center for the Prevention of the natural Disasters in Central America(CEPREDENAC)

6-3. IRP Activities in FY 2015
6-3-1. “IRP’s International Recovery Forum 2016”“IRP’s International Recovery Forum 2016～”Sending the Message of Build Back Better”,
jointly organized with ADRC, was held in Kobe,
Hyogo, Japan on 26 January 2016, with over 180
participants,

includinggovernment

officials,

practitioners, experts, policymakers, and students
from 37 countries. Mr. Stefan Kohler ofUNOPS opened the Forum, and it was followed
by a welcome message delivered by Mr. Kaoru
Saito, on behalf of Mr. Toshinori Ogata, Deputy
Director-Generalfor

DisasterManagementFig. 6-3-1 “IRP’s International Recovery
Forum 2016”

Office of the Cabinet Office of Japan. Like the previous forums, Governor Mr. Toshizo Ido ofHyogo Prefecture addressed the participants regarding the creative reconstruction and theimportance of implementing both soft and hard measures in DRR. In between the discussions, twodignitaries delivered special presentations, namely Mr. Tatsushi Nishioka of the Ministry ofForeign Affairs Japan who delivered a message on “World Tsunami Awareness Day” and Mr.
Neil McFalane of the UNISDR who made a presentation regarding the outcome of the Third UN
World Conference on DRR and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030
focusing on Priority Four’s Build Back Better in Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction. In
his presentation, he shared expectations to IRP which will play an important role in advising on
the progress and challenges in the implementation of the “Build Back Better” priority of theSendai Framework, along with the New IRP Strategy Framework. Mr. Kaoru Saito of the Cabinet
Office of Japan closed the Forum.

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