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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 22Cases 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 society
and 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 natural
hazards. 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INTERNATIONAL RECOVERY PLATFORM

needs and goals with priorities for longer-term resilience. Speakers reflected on lessons fromrecent and past recovery experiences that can inform priorities and opportunities to build
back better.
The second objective is to assess social and economic impacts and identify early lessons
learned for sustainable recovery from pandemics and compound disasters. Panelists delved
into cases and early lessons learned for recovery from disasters in countries most affected by
the pandemic and natural hazards. It provided insights from assessing social and economic
impacts, as well as planning and financing a sustainable recovery. It addressed key issues
for vulnerable groups, and consider measures for managing compound risks from thepandemic and natural hazards.
Speakers at the opening session included Mr. Jared MERCADANTE, Chair of the IRP
Steering Committee (World Bank), Mr. OKONOGI Hachirou Minister of State for DisasterManagement, Government of Japan, and Mr. IDO Toshizo, Governor of Hyogo Prefecture.
The keynote speakers were Mr. KAWATA Yoshiaki, Executive Director of the DisasterReduction and Human Renovation Institution (DRI) and Mr. Stéphane HALLEGATTE, Lead
Economist, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), World Bank. Ms.
Yuki MATSUOKA, Head, UNDRR Office in Japan moderated this keynote session.
Section 6Members of the first panel discussions were Ms. Maria Alejandra MUÑOZ SEMINARIO,Vice President, Government of the Republic of Ecuador; Ms. Bambi KRAUS, National Tribal
Affairs Advisor, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Government of the United Statesof America; Mr. Vijay PADMANABHAN, Director, Urban Infrastructure, Southeast Asia
Department, Asian Development Bank; and Mr. Joy ELAMON, Director General, Kerala
Institute of Local Administration. Ms. Rita MISSAL, Recovery Advisor, Disaster Risk
Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team, United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) moderated this panel. Members of the second panel discussions wereMr. Malcolm DALESA, PDNA and Recovery Strategy Coordinator, Department of Strategic

Policy, Planning and Aid Coordination, Office of the Prime Minister, Government of Vanuatu;
Mr. Ronald JACKSON, Head, Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience
Team, UNDP; Mr. Mark JOVEN, Undersecretary, Department of Finance, Government of thePhilippines; and Ms. Bernadia Irawati TJANDRADEWI, Secretary General, Asia-Pacific,
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). Ms. Paola ALBRITO, Chief of Branch,
Intergovernmental processes, Interagency Co-operation and Partnerships, United Nations
Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) moderated this panel.

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Figure 6.2. Speakers of the International Recovery Forum 2021

Finally, the Speakers at the closing session were Ms. Mami MIZUTORI, Special
Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk
MURAKAWA Soshi, Director, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, on behalf of Co-Chair ofthe IRP Steering Committee.

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Section 6Reduction, Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and Mr.

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Key Messages from the ForumRisks cannot be treated in isolation. A multisectoral, multi-dimensional, and systems approachis needed to better understand risk interactions, considering present and future risks.

Recovering countries and communities will need to consider how they can build back better,greener, more resilient and equitable.

A long-term vision for recovery should align with sustainable development, climate change,
and risk reduction agendas. Recovery strategies should prioritize programmes that can meetboth immediate recovery needs and long-term resilience objectives.

Social protections need to be expanded, strengthened, and sustained to mitigate the longerterm impacts of the crisis, and build resilience against future shocks.

Partnership is key to undertaking an integrated and transdisciplinary approach to maximize cobenefits to society.

Needs assessments underpin timely, appropriately targeted recovery programmes. Multiple
rounds of assessment will be needed to understand long-term impacts and evolving needs. Dataand information systems need to be strengthened to enable evidence informed decision-making.

Section 6

Local actions have provided innovative and effective solutions and will be key to building
resilient and sustainable cities.

6.2.2. Bosai Kokutai 2020
On 3 October 2020, IRP participated in the 5th National Convention for the Promotion ofDisaster Reduction, which was organized by the National Convention for the Promotion ofDisaster Reduction 2020 Steering Committee led by the Cabinet Office. This event has been
held since FY2016 and is now in its fifth year. The purpose of this event is to raiseawareness of disaster prevention among the people and to share knowledge andexperiences about disasters in order to enhance disaster preparedness, and to serve as anopportunity to raise awareness of disaster prevention at the individual and community levels.
This year, the event was held online in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection.

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Figure 6.3. IRP Guidance Notes Online Display

Through the online photo exhibition, IRP introduced its activities to the international
community to promote "Build Back Better" by introducing the sectoral recovery guidancenotes, leaflets outlining its activities, the IRP Herald and knowledge products related toCOVID-19, and side events at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Asian

Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

On 7 March 2021, IRP participated in the Sendai Disaster Reduction and Future Forum2021 held in Sendai City. The forum was held under the theme, "10 years after the Great
East Japan Earthquake for a better future" as an event where citizens could learn about
disaster prevention and disseminate their daily activities through sessions, booths, and hands-on events in order to connect the experiences and lessons learned from the Great East
Japan Earthquake to future disaster prevention.

Figure 6.4. IRP Booth at the Sendai Future Forum 2021

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6.2.3. Sendai Disaster Reduction and Future Forum 2021

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IRP set up its own exhibition booth and distributed leaflets outlining its activities, USB
memory sticks containing many of its publications such as guidance notes and recovery
status reports, and the IRP Herald.
6.2.4. COVID-19: Opportunities for Resilient Recovery
IRP co-organised with UNDRR Asia-Pacific and ESCAP a webinar titled ‘COVID-19:
Opportunities for Resilient Recovery’ on 7 May 2020. The webinar was aimed at highlighting
the challenges, lessons learned from past disaster recovery events, and recommendations
on how countries can start preparing for a recovery that is climate-sensitive, inclusive andcontributes to global efforts to build more resilient systems that are better placed to prevent
such crises in the future.
The COVID-19 crisis is an opportunity to consider global resilience, not just to COVID-19
but also to an uncertain future, where climate change looms large. Every aspect of societyneeds to transform, and countries must work together and learn from one another toaccelerate action. Even while this crisis is far from over, and the full extent of its impacts has
yet to be seen, countries and communities must plan for recovery now, so that when ready,they have a roadmap with processes, people, and resources in place to build back better.
The webinar came up with key recommendations to inform resilience pathway.
Section 6

Key Recommendations
1. Adopt a phased approach to recovery appropriate to the context.
2. Invest in governance and institutional coordination.
3. Strengthen and expand disaster-responsive and adaptive social protection.
4. Streamline data and information systems.
5. Be innovative in financing mechanisms
6. Fuel resilient infrastructure investments.

7. Promote sustainable consumption and nature-based solutions.
8. Ensure mental wellness and psycho-social care.
9. Promote and strengthen regional integration and solidarity.
10. Capitalize on the UN plans for social and economic recovery

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