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

4Living with Risk: A global review of disaster reduction initiatives184A comprehensive Inter-American Strategy waslaunched in 1999 to reduce the education sector'svulnerability to hazards by initiative of theUnit for Sustainable Development and Environmentof the Organization of AmericanStates (USDE/OAS), working with PAHOand ISDR. Known as EDUPLANhemisferico,the program seeks to engage public andprivate institutions, national and internationalagencies, NGOs and private individuals toencourage member states to adopt the ActionPlan for Reducing the Vulnerability of theEducation Sector to Disasters through a varietyof international forums. With a TechnicalSecretariat for General Coordination located atPeru's National University at Trujillo, EDU-PLAN works through eight technical focalpoints located in Argentina, Costa Rica,Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, andVenezuela to conduct activities at a number oflocal, national and regional locations. Work isdivided into three areas: academic improvement,citizen participation, and physical infrastructureprotection. There is a commitment toimprove the curriculum with the addition ofmore elements pertaining to risk reduction inprimary, secondary and higher education sothat individuals and groups of various professionalinterests are prepared to work togetherfor disaster reduction.In another sector in Latin America, progress inrisk management in the public health serviceswould not have been possible without buildingadditional professional capacities. Independentconsultants and local professionals have agreedthat a low-cost, culturally sensitive strategy isthe most effective way to contribute to theLÍDERES is a vulnerability reduction course in Spanishorganized by PAHO/WHO taught almost exclusively bynational specialists with international reputations with the aimof strengthening the managerial skills required by disaster riskreduction practitioners. The content of the LÍDERES courseis constantly evolving and is revised in response to the needsof its target audience, the Latin American disaster reductioncommunity.A multi-sectoral course programme sponsored byOFDA/USAID in partnership with national governmentsand NGOs has a key advantage that Latin American andCaribbean agencies can hire professionals from neighbouringcountries and benefit from their knowledge about local contextsand cultures, in addition to their local language abilities.reduction of risk. All ministries of health inLatin America and the Caribbean now employat least one official who is in charge of disasters.In many countries there is an entiredepartment or agency devoted to the subject.In Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, new waterand sewage concessions demand that participatingprivate sector companies meet disasterreduction criteria in the construction, operation,and maintenance of water and sanitationsystems. Vulnerability studies have been carriedout in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador,Peru, and Venezuela to examine water supplyand sewage systems. This has led to anincreased availability of current technical informationand a growing demand for training indisaster reduction in this field.LA RED has developed a methodology fortraining of local authorities in risk management.It has elaborated training modules andsupport material, with important conceptualcontributions in the area of vulnerability reductionand risk management. This methodologyis currently being applied in many countries inthe region and adapted to local conditions.AfricaAs current risk reduction efforts in SouthAfrica require a considerable amount of intersectoralcollaboration, a Training and CapacityBuilding Working Group has been establishedwithin the national Inter-departmental DisasterManagement Committee to form one bodythat can monitor disaster management trainingand research throughout the country. Theworking group is compiling a comprehensiveframework for all types of formal and non-formaldisaster management training and othercapacity building programs. It is also in theprocess of establishing a body to set standardsfor disaster management training consistentwith the accreditation requirements of theNational Qualifications Framework and theSouth African Qualifications Authority.Schools for community outreach play a vitalrole in the community. A proper educationthrough the schools not only teaches the childrenbut also reaches deep into the communitythrough the parents and teachers. It isobserved from past experience that the basicproblems related to disaster mitigation and