A global review of disaster reduction initiatives - Welcome to the ...

3Living with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction initiativesrisks within realistic time and resourceframeworks.- Identifying what activities or projects arealready being implemented or proposed,both at the country level and by regionalorganizations.- Identifying programming gaps.- Identifying possible options for altereddevelopment priorities in light of impactscenarios.- Determining lead responsibilities andagencies for managing the implementationof the risk reduction strategy.• Training: As a new concept, the developmentof CHARM will require time andthe collaborative effort of all major stakeholdersfor it to be fully implemented. Incountrytraining capacities need to be developedand strengthened to drive this process.• Strengthening Information TechnologyCapabilities: A critical success factor willbe to ensure that national disaster managementoffices throughout the region areequipped with human and technicalcapacities to manage multi-disciplinaryinformation resources. This will requireappropriate technological tools and computer-basedinformation and communicationsystems.Comprehensive Hazard And Risk Management (CHARM)Six underlying strategic principles to underpin the implementation of CHARM:• Ensure ownership by the national countries.• Ensure linkages with National Strategic Plans.• Ensure linkages and harmonizing with existing systems.• Ensure appropriate communication and consultation with communities, stakeholders, donors and developmentpartners.• Establish the principle that risk reduction is vital to national development and that CHARM is a powerfultool in the reduction of risk.• Ensure CHARM is promoted as a public safety tool, a risk reduction change driver, as cost-effective andas part of an agreed regional programme with donor support.Immediate challenges to CHARM include:• Reaching agreement on the processes and means to guide a uniform approach among all participatingcountries.• Establishing a regional implementation framework.• Identifying training strategies and other essential implementation supports.• Marketing CHARM effectively, with a view towards sustainability.• Advocating for and gaining high level support for its adoption as a national initiative.136