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Name of Funding Organization/Sponsor: Partnership for Urban Risk Reduction:·United Cities and Local Governments (UGLG), Earthquake and Megacities Initiative (EMI), Metropolis, CityNet, and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

Country and Location: Global

Start Date: April 2008

Completion Date: April 2009

Project Summary:

The Partnership for Urban Risk Reduction (PURR), an ad hoc coalition composed of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative (EMI), Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), Metropolis and CITYNET, wasset up to develop and promote risk reduction policy., In xxxx, PURR launched “Local Action for Disaster Risk Reduction”, a project to raise awareness, build competency and support local action for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

Aggravated and costly risks

More than 230 million people suffer from natural disasters every year. The costs generated by the natural disasters are also increasing. The total amount of funds used for reconstruction after hurricane Katrina rose to 200 billion dollars, while the Kobe earthquake recovery efforts amounted to about 160 billion dollars. In developing countries, the annual cost of disasters represents a major part of GDP.

Moreover, the consequences of these natural catastrophes are aggravated by global warming, population density in hazardous areas, and the rise of poverty or the destruction of the environment. Unfortunately, the risk of disaster remains both one of the most threatening and also one of the least understood.

Decentralization as a prevention tool

Cities and local authorities can take action to reduce or even prevent the lethal consequences of natural disasters by adopting sound disaster risk management policies and practices. Local-level action is an effective way to help communities to protect themselves against disaster risks by building a culture of prevention and by reducing their vulnerability through mitigation measures and risk avoidance. Local authorities can build their own competency to effectively respond to disasters when they strike, while at the same time protecting their populations, assets and investments.

The Local Action for Disaster Risk Reduction was aimed at engaging cities and local communities to start the long-term process towards reducing the level of risk caused by natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods and destructive storms.

Goals of the Project

1. Launch global awareness campaigns about disaster risk and local action for disaster risk reduction.
2. Build capacity at the local level to foresee and manage risks by transferring technical know-how to local actors and decision-makers.
3. Develop a global framework for local authorities and their partners to build and promote a sustainable strategy for disaster risk reduction within the broader international context.

Project Key Accomplishments

Project Contribution to Urban DRR

• Provide an international platform for local-level capacity building and training through experience exchange
• Increase awareness on urban risk reduction at the global level by mobilizing local actors

EMI Personnel Involved:

• Dr. Bijan Khazai, EMI
• Atty. Violeta S. Seva, EMI

Related Reports and Documents

1. Project Brochure (English, Spanish, French)
2. Quito Declaration