6 . I nter na ti ona l R ec ov er y P l a tf or m ( I R P ) : H i stor y a nd Cu r r ent A c ti v i ti es

6 . I nternational Recovery P latform (I RP ):Foreword
History and Current Activ ities
In 2018, Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC)

6 -1. T he Establishment of I RP

celebrated its 20th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone,
W hileConference
the capacityonofDisasterthe U NReduction
system for(ACDR)
disaster2018
response
the Asianwas and humanitarian assistance arewidely recognized, there is currently a vacuum in terms of the U N' s capacity and system-wide
heldon Awaji Island in Hyogo, Japan, from 30 October to 1
mechanisms for post-disaster recovery efforts, particularly those with a risk reduction focus.
November 2018. It brought together 118 participants, including
Experience increasingly affirms that the post-disaster recovery phase provides a criticalrepresentatives
countries
and toone
advisory
opportunity to ofshift25themember
focus fromsaving lives
restoring
livelihoods, and is an important time

country,
as well asmeasuresother observers
partners,
to takeof recovery can help close the gap
for introducing
to reduceand
futuredisasterrisk. stock
Effective
betweenachievements
relief and development,
and cantransform
disasters
ADRC’sand strategize
futureprograms
andinto opportunities for sustainable
development. This occurs when efforts are made to support local and national recovery processes
activities.
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
In addition, ADRC and its member countries welcomed Turkey as a new member in 2018.
phases are properly channeled. A successful recovery effort, then, is predicated on having advance
Turkeyis pronevarious naturaldisasters,
arerecovery
other Asian
countries,
such asconceived
earthquakes,
agreements
andtomechanisms
in placeso thatasthe
process
is effectively
andmanaged,
and is initiatedin a timely
This includes
such measures
as appropriate
floods,and landslides.
In its recenthistory,manner.
a magnitude
7.4 earthquake
struck Izmit,
located inassessment
methodologies,
pre-establishedresource
mobilizationmechanisms,surge
capacitytonorthwestern Turkey, and devastating the local community and the region’s economy. I believe
support U N Country Teams, and standing coordination mechanisms.
that Turkey’s experiences in managing natural disasters will contribute further to creating a safer
Shared concerns related to the U N approach and processes for post-disaster recovery have
Asia with ADRC and its member countries.
resulted in the formulation of a joint initiative, the International Recovery P latform (IRP ), by theU N system, ADRC, and other partners, with the encouragement and support of Japan as well asotherand key
programactivities
countries.inThis
was discussed at the human2005 U N
W orldADRCdonors
has been
promotingthe initiative
field of information-sharing,resource
Conference community
on Disaster capacity-building,
Reduction (W CDR)
session
4.9 on inP ost
Recovery.
development,
andduringregional
cooperation
the Disaster
Asian region
since
Representatives from the ADRC, U NDP , U N-HAB ITAT, ILO, and other concerned U N agencies
its establishment and we will further contribute to these activities going forward. In 2019, we
expressed their respective agency commitments and support for the proposed international
will continue to encourage and focus attention on efforts such as GLIDE, to support our work
platform for recovery. The meeting resulted in a recommendation for the establishment of IRP .
monitoring
SendaiFrameworkand thethe International
SDGs, the Visiting
program,Recovery,
to improve
In four themonths
after
the W CDR,
SeminarResearcher
on P ost Disaster
incapacity,
andon
public-private
partnerships
improveestablishedcooperation
disaster(DRR)
supportriskof reduction
IRP , was heldat HyogoHouse
11-13 May 2005.
IRP wastoofficiallyinobe, Japan.
in K utilizing
effective technologies and affordable solutions in addressing DRR issues.

disasters
no boundaries,
I sincerely appreciate
6 As-2 natural. T heG ov haveernanceS tructureof I RPyour active cooperation acrossboundaries and borders to advance our work on DRR now and into the future.
IRP consists of 17 governments, U N agencies, and international organizations including ADRC

(as of March 31 2019).* IRP focuses on the following three priority activities for recovery: (a)March 2019
K nowledge Management and Advocacy, (b) Training and Capacity B uilding and (c) Enhancing
Masanori Hamada, Chairman
Recovery Operations.

Asian DisasterReduction
CenterAs described in IRP Strategic Framework 2015-2020, IRP Secretariat
is locatedin K obeand5151

responsible for convening IRP Steering Committee meetings and disseminating information on
IRP activities and knowledge products.
* IRP

Foreword

members: Asian Development B ank (ADB ), Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC),

In 2018, AsianDisasterReduction
Centerde Coordinació(ADRC) n para la P revenció n de losCabinet
Office ofJapan, CentroNaturales
en Amé rica thisCentral(CEP REDENAC), Hyogo P refecturalcelebrated its 20thDesastres
anniversary.
To commemorate
milestone,Government, International Labour Organization (ILO), Ministry of Foreign Affairs
the Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR) 2018 wasof Italy, Swiss Agency for Development and Coordination (SDC), the W orld B ank,
held on Awaji Island in Hyogo, Japan, from 30 October to 1
U nited Nations Centre for Regional Development (U NCRD), U nited Nations
November 2018. Development
It brought together
118 participants,P rogramme(U NDP ), U including
nited Nations Environment P rogramme

representatives of25 ),memberand one advisory(U NEP
U nited countries
Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization(U otherNESCO),U nitedcountry, as well as
observers
andNations
partners,Humanto takeSettlements
stock of P rogramme (U N-HAB ITAT),U nited Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (U NDRR), U nited Nations
ADRC’s achievements and strategize future programs andOffice for P roject Services (U NOP S), W orld Health Organization (W HO).
activities.

6 In-3 addition,. I RP ADRC
Activandities
in F countries
Y 2 0 18welcomed Turkey as a new member in 2018.
its member
Turkey is prone to various natural disasters, as are other Asian countries, such as earthquakes,

6 -3 -1. I nternational Recov ery F orum 2 0 19floods, and landslides. In its recent history, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Izmit, located innorthwestern
I n t rodu Turkey,c t i on and devastating the local community and the region’s economy. I believe
The InternationalForum2019disasters
focused willon approaches
to realize
the benefits
ofthat Turkey’s
experiencesRecovery
in managing
naturalcontribute furtherto creatinga saferbackandbetterrecovery,rehabilitation, and reconstruction, and to ensure that everyone
Asiabuilding
with ADRC
its inmember
countries.
is included, so that no one is left behind. B uilding back better has been embraced by the Sendai

Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 as one of four key priorities for action.
ADRC
hasback
beenbetter
promotingin the fieldof information-sharing,humanbenefits
resource
B uildingoffers aactivities
critical opportunity
to realize
potentially wide-ranging
indevelopment,
capacity-building,regional
cooperation
the Asianpractices,
region since
recovery, community
including reductionof future andlosses,
improvements
in instandards,andtechnologies, andstimulus
for economic
activity, andprogressin othergoing
dimensionsof development,
its establishment
we willfurther contributeto theseactivities
forward.
In 2019, wetonameafew.
Yet,criticalquestionsremainfordecision
makers,includinghowthesebenefits
will continue to encourage and focus attention on efforts such as GLIDE, to support ourwork

can be realized, how resources should be allocated, who should benefit, and how to ensure nomonitoring the Sendai Framework and the SDGs, the Visiting Researcher program, to improve
one is left behind.
disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacity, and public-private partnerships to improve cooperation
The International Recovery Forum 2019, “ A t t a i n i n g t h e B u i l d B a c k B et t er D i v i den d” ,in utilizing
effective
technologies
and affordable
solutions inthe
addressingissues.
convened
distinguishedspeakers
from governments,
private DRR
sector,academia, andinternational and civil society organizations to share their insights and experiences and toM r. J Iossincerely
ef L ei t m aappreciaten n , Chair yourof theactive
IRP Steering
Committee
on thesehave
key questions.
Asdeliberate
natural disasters
no boundaries,
cooperation
acrossand Lead DRM Specialist at the W orld B ank, opened the Forum, followed by welcome remarks
boundaries and borders to advance our work on DRR now and into the future.
from M r. T a k u K oda i ra , Deputy Director-General for Disaster Management in the Cabinet
Office of the Government of Japan, and M r. K a z u o K a n a z a wa , Vice Governor of Hyogo
Marchof2019
P refecture. The speakers affirmed the significance of hosting this Forum in the context
the24th memorial of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, as an opportunity
build on thewealth
MasanoritoHamada,
Chairmanof knowledge and experience that has accumulated in the timesince
this earthquake,
thisAsian
Disaster
ReductionandCenter5252