An Overview of Disaster Management (Department of Humanitarian Affairs/United Nations Disaster Relief Office - United Nations Development Programme , 1992, 136 p.): PART FOUR: DISASTER MITIGATION: Chapter 14. UN assistance to disaster mitigation: Disaster mitigation as a development theme

An Overview of Disaster Management (Department of Humanitarian Affairs/United Nations Disaster Relief Office - United Nations Development Programme , 1992, 136 p.)

PART FOUR: DISASTER MITIGATION

Chapter 14. UN assistance to disaster mitigation

		(introduction...)
		Disaster mitigation as a development theme
		Appraising disaster mitigation needs, policies, and capacity
		Sources of information: needs for technical expertise
		Project identification and formulation
		Disaster risk appraisal of all projects in hazardous areas
		Disaster risk reduction planning checklist

Disaster mitigation as a development theme

Hazards are a part of the natural and human-made environment. Exposure to hazards and the risks of disastrous consequences must be considered in all development planning. They must certainly be considered by UNDP at an early stage of program and project formulation and design.

An awareness of the relationship between disasters and development must be maintained in the UNDP country program and project cycles. The needs and options for mitigation must be specifically addressed in:

· The continuing dialogue between UNDP, other UN agencies, the Government, and aid donors.
· The country program cycle: in the preparation of the UNDP Advisory Note and the Administrator’s Note, and in the country program document, review and evaluation processes.
· The project cycle: in project identification, design and formulation, approval (PAC/A.C), implementation (PPER, TPR), and evaluation.

It is essential that government bodies responsible for development priorities and planning be fully aware of the impact of natural and man-made hazards on societies and economies. This itself may require certain institution-building initiatives during both the preparation and the implementation of the country program.

The UN-DMT should review the priorities and possibilities for international assistance, especially in cases where technical assistance is anticipated in different sectors and different UN organizations or agencies and expected to be involved or provide financing.

The context for disaster mitigation efforts lies within the policy for UNDP and UNDRO as set forth in the following panel.

Panel 2A/1 Disaster-related policy goals of UNDP and UNDRO.

From UNDP/UNDRO Disaster Management Manual.

Panel 2A/1
Disaster-related policy goals of UNDP and UNDRO.

With the aim of ensuring that developing countries are fully aware of disaster risks and take advantage of the most effective techniques (or disaster mitigation, UNDP and UNDRO seek to:

· Strengthen the ability of societies to avoid, or protect themselves, their property and means of livelihood, against the risks associated with natural and human-made hazards.
· Encourage the integration of disaster risk reduction and preparedness measures in planning and budgetary processes related to development in all sectors.
· Build on local understanding and experience of disaster threats and coping mechanisms.
· Facilitate exchanges between disaster-prone countries of experience, knowledge and skills related to disaster management.

· Ensure that programmes and projects funded by UNDP contribute to lessening of risks, are not themselves subject to major risks and do not exacerbate the potential adverse effects of hazards.

Q. At what point in the UNDP country programming and project cycle can a program officer address mitigation opportunities?

A. ____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________