Scaling Up Early Warning to

Scaling Up Early Warning to
Save Lives and Build Resilience in Asia-Pacific
ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness
14th Advisory Council Meeting
21 August 2014
Disasters Continue to Devastate the Region
Costing thousands of lives and billions of dollars in damage…..
In 2013 alone:
• Typhoon Haiyan – the Philippines:
Over 6,000 people killed, 16 million affected.
• Cyclone Phailin - India:
13 million people affected.
• Cyclone Mahasen – Bangladesh:
1.5 million people affected.
Despite Progress in Building Resilience,
Critical Gaps Remain in Early Warning
Additional investments are urgently required...
Critical gaps include:
• Reaching the most vulnerable people and remote communities with timely
warnings.
• Educating communities and local authorities on the changing and more
intensive hazards, including those related to climate change.
• Testing and updating Standard Operating Procedures and contingency plans.
Evacuation exercises are a high priority.
• Ensuring adequate monitoring and warning services in countries with high risk
and low domestic capacity.
=> Need to scale up and share initial initiatives, good practices and innovations.
Genesis of the Trust Fund
From initial focus on tsunamis to multi-hazard, costal resilience…
Background/History:
Purpose:
2004: Indian Ocean Tsunami.
• Providing financial support to
strengthen early warning.
2005: Thailand founding contribution
of US$ 10 million.
2010: Scope expanded from tsunami
to include disaster and climate
preparedness for multiple coastal
hazards.
2013: New strategy approved for
Phase 2 of the Trust Fund.
• Focusing primarily on coastal
hazards in Indian Ocean and
Southeast Asian countries.
• Covering e.g. typhoons,
cyclones, storm surges, coastal
zone flooding and tsunamis.
ESCAP Trust Fund – Phase 1
US$ 13 million invested in 23 projects…
Cutting-edge regional solutions:
• The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System established
(2011). Projected to save on average 1,000 lives annually
over the next 100 years.
Innovation:
• New, cost-effective warning products and services
created and delivered through RIMES, especially useful
for countries with limited domestic capacity.
Critical gaps filled:
• Installed seismic and sea-level stations in Myanmar, the
Philippines and Viet Nam, sharing data with national,
regional and global networks.
ESCAP Trust Fund – Phase 1
19 Indian Ocean and Southeast Asian countries benefitted directly…
Fostering collaboration:
• Annual Monsoon Forums established and supported in Bangladesh, India,
the Maldives, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Seasonal forecasts are shared and
follow-up actions agreed at each Forum.
New knowledge and awareness:
• Iran and Pakistan supported in documenting the 1945 Makran Tsunami and
raising awareness among communities at risk.
Strengthened response capacities:
• Standard Operating Procedures for tsunami warning and response
developed and strengthened in Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines,
Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam.
ESCAP Trust Fund – Phase 1
Breakdown of funding by recipient organization…
ESCAP Trust Fund - Phase 2
Investing in a safer tomorrow…
Strategy for 2013-2016:
• Responds to calls for additional support from
member States.
• New strategy has three pillars:
1. regional mechanisms
2. specific country needs
3. civil society innovations and business sector
initiatives
• Germany/GIZ provided new contribution of
$675,000 for Phase 2.
• But: additional contributions required to meet the
critical needs in early warning in the region.
A Unique, Coordinated Funding Mechanism
Leveraging ESCAP’s role and comparative advantages…
• Needs driven. The Trust Fund addresses unmet needs and gaps, and
supports innovative, potentially high impact initiatives.
• Targeted. Clear focus on strengthening early warning for coastal hazards.
• Partnership based. UN partners and member States contribute to the
Trust Fund’s strategy.
• Quality controlled. Project proposals are peer reviewed by experts in the
Trust Fund’s Inter-Agency Task Force.
• Strategically positioned. Builds on ESCAP’s key role in convening regional
cooperation and facilitating knowledge sharing and advocacy.
Effective Management with Member States
Oversight and Active Involvement
Inter-Agency Task Force:
reviews proposals and provides
technical advice.
Advisory Council:
makes final decisions on funding and
sets strategic direction.
ESCAP Grants Committee:
oversees financial procedures and
ensures compliance with UN rules and
regulations.
ESCAP Secretariat:
provides day-to-day management.
Generous Support to the Trust Fund
Provided by Several Member States
Donor Contributions:
Thailand:
$ 10 million
Sweden:
$ 2.9 million
Germany/GIZ:
$ 682,000
Turkey:
$ 200,000
Japan:
$ 50,000
Philippines:
$ 20,000
Bangladesh:
$ 10,000
Nepal:
$ 2,000
Total: $ 13,864,000
(all figures in US$, as of August 2014)
Now is the Time to Scale up Support and
Partner with the ESCAP Trust Fund
What your country can do:
• Contribute financially
• Take part in the governance
• Propose projects
• Engage in technical cooperation