Asia Foundation’s Kim DeRidder Opens in RCC-13 Meeting on Disaster Management in Pakistan

October 21, 2016 — On October 17-19, The Asia Foundation’s Director of Environment Programs Kim DeRidder joined H.E. Minister Ashan Iqbal, Minister of Planning National Reforms and Development and Major General Asghar Nawaz, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan, in opening the 13th meeting of the Regional Consultative Committee (RCC-13) on Disaster Management. Held in Islamabad for the first time since its inception in 2000, the meeting brought together senior government representatives responsible for disaster management from among 26 member countries, and international observers from non-member organizations in the region. The event was organized in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan (NDMA), and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), with The Asia Foundation, Oxfam, and Global Initiative Disaster Risk Management serving as co-sponsors.

The theme of the RCC-13 meeting, “Operationalizing Global Frameworks for Risk-Resilient Development in Asia,” sought to clarify the similarities and differences between the major international frameworks guiding global action in disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change, and humanitarian efforts, an to identify the role of DRR organizations to facilitate this process. Frameworks covered included Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the outputs from the recent World Humanitarian Summit. The meeting also covered the upcoming Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction taking place in New Delhi in November.

In addition to providing opening remarks, DeRidder explored the opportunities for operational integration between the different sectors of government responsible for managing framework responsibilities in each country, as well as the essential role of governance as program entry points for all frameworks. DeRidder also moderated the conference’s panel discussion on the Heart of Asia (HOA) and the ongoing efforts to build capacity in Afghanistan and foster cooperation among neighboring countries by advancing disaster risk reduction on Confident Building Measures (CBM) for this growing regional initiative. Prior to the close of the conference, DeRidder joined the executive body in drafting the “Islamabad Statement” which served as the RCC’s statement of conference conclusions and call to action for DRR activities in the region.

The Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management is a body currently made up of 26 countries. Established in 2000, the Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management promotes peer advocacy and the exchange of experiences in disaster risk reduction. Its Secretariat, ADPC, initiated the committee to bring countries in the Asian region together to achieve common goals in DRR, explore ways to transform policies into practice, and promote regional cooperation.

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Informed by six decades of experience and deep local expertise, our work across the region addresses five overarching goals—strengthen governance, empower women, expand economic opportunity, increase environmental resilience, and promote regional cooperation.

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