NARBO

Side Event of the United Nation Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters / March 2013

 

Objective

Prior to the UN Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters will be organized as Secretary-General’s special event on March 6th, 2013, technical discussion on key topics on water and disasters will be conducted as Side Event of the Special Thematic Session on March 5th, 2013. The Side Event is expected to facilitate common understanding and shared vision on key topics on water and disasters, leading to enhanced awareness and deepened discussion in the Special Thematic Session. The following topics will be addressed in each of segments of the Side Event

 

●	From relief to preparedness – enhancing leadership, governance and coordination system for effective mitigation of mega-water-disasters (1.5 hours)
●	Addressing Water and Disasters in the context of Post-MDG and Post-Hyogo Process (1.5 hours)
●	Integrated Water Resources and Flood Management in the context of International Water Resources Management and Water Cooperation (1.5 hours)

Chair of Side Event is expected to share output of the discussion in the Special Thematic Session next day.

 

 

Organizer

Friends of Side Event of UN Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters (HLEP/UNSGAB, UN-ISDR, WMO, UNESCO, International Flood Initiative, ICHARM, US Army Corps of Engineers, Japan Water Agency, NARBO, GWP, WWC, World Bank/GFDRR and others

 

Speakers and participants

Around 100 high level experts, national/international experts, civil society and private sector representatives from 30 countries joined and intensive discussions were made.

 

Brief Summary

Side events consisted of 3 sessions such as i ; ‘From relief to preparedness’ –lessons learnt of hurricane Sandy by US Army Corps of Engineers, ii ; Addressing Water and Disasters in the context of Post-MDG and Post-Hyogo Process by ICHARM and iii ; Integrated Water Resources and Flood Management in the context of International Water Resources Management and Water Cooperation by NARBO.

 

Through intensive discussions, we agreed following matters as common understanding to be addressed.

 

	Water-related disasters have strong linkage with economic growth and poverty issues.
	To achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) under the increasing of serious hydrological events and population we need to prepare for water-related disasters immediately.
	Issues on water-related disasters need to be addressed at not only for national and local level but also internationally, because water-related disasters influence beyond the boarder in the current globally close economy and society.

Panelists stressed that the necessity of recognition of risks and enhancement of communication by capacity development and sharing information through education and training especially in local level. In addition, necessity of wholistic approach to cope with complicated issues on water and disaster. Wholistic approach should includes and introduce with the recognition of preparedness to disaster and best mix of structural and non-structural measures and needs the combination of effective relief from disaster and strategic recovery plan.

As recommendations to the Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters, following points were summarized and reported to the Special Thematic Session.

 

	Regular dialogue process about water-related disaster should be established by the United Nations
	Visible and measurable target of disaster risk reduction with international consensus should be prepared The United Nations and other regional organizations have a highly important role on it.
	International and regional cooperation to enhance knowledge and experience of disaster risk management and offer the coordination mechanism of disaster relief operation need to be enhanced. The United Nations and other regional organizations have a highly important role on it.
	Continuous effort to implement the action program proposed by High-Level Expert Panel on Water and Disasters is needed.

NARBO’s Session

　　 Dr. Keizrul Bin Abdullah, Chairperson of NARBO chaired the session, and 8 panelists introduced their views 　　 by focusing on IWRM and water-related disaster List of the panelist is as follows.

 

●	Mr. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, Head of Presidential Work Unit , Indonesia
●	HE Mr. Sirodjidin Aslov, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United Nations
●	Dr. Ania Grobicki, Executive Secretary of Global Water Partnership
●	Mr. Steven L. Stockton, Director of Civil Works, USACE
●	Mr. Kenyu Komura, President of Japan Water Agency
●	Mr. Sami Areikat, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations
●	Mr. Sering Jallow, Director, Water & Sanitation Department and African Water Facility, African Development Bank
●	Mr. Woochong Um, Deputy Director General, Regional and Sustainable Development Department, Asian Development Bank

As a result of the discussion, Dr. Abdullah summarized the session as follows, and participants agreed on it.

 

	There are issues on too much water, too little water and too dirty water in the world.
	Coordination among different level of government organizations dealing water is necessary.
	Transition from top down approach to bottom up approach is needed to introduce participatory method about water governance.
	Cooperation and development tools are needed.
	Investment to water is necessary.
	Role of infrastructure to minimize the negative impact and affect of extreme event is needed. In addition, best mix of combination of structural and non-structural methods is also needed.

Summary of the side event was distributed at the Special Thematic Session on 6 March, and speakers of the special session quoted the discussion at the side event. In this way, discussion of the side event contributed to the discussion at the special session and achieved the expected results. Through the side event, NARBO introduced the issues on water as a representative of Asia and contributed to the discussion on issues on water and disasters. Further more, value of NARBO has been added by organizing the side event with other international organizations in the United Nations.