Outline of
the International Centre on
Water Hazard and Risk Management
under the auspices of UNESCO
Hosted by
Public Works Research Institute (PWRI)
Tsukuba, Japan
Yoshiyuki Imamura
Water hazards as a major challenge
200
The number of water related
disasters is still increasing.
Number of Events by types
Flood
150
100
Windstorm
50
Drought
Fatalities: 166.000
Affected people: 1.500M (95% in
Asia)
Economic loss: US$374,5B
(1992-2001)
There are acute needs for R&D and capacity building.
0
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
年
2001
Reduction of water hazards is vital for poverty alleviation.
Immediate actions at scientific/academic fields are needed.
Background
2000
2002
2003
2nd WWF (The Hague)
 “Managing Risk”
as major challenge area.
WSSD (Johannesburg)
 Necessity to develop programs for
mitigating the effects of extreme water-related events
3rd WWF (Kyoto, Shiga & Osaka)
 Water hazards as one of the 37 main themes
- Awareness on importance of water hazards
and risk management was raised.
- Needs to develop technologies and capacity
building were recognized.
Objectives of the Centre
On water hazards and risk management…
 Generate and provide scientific and technical
information to the world
 Promote research involving international
institutions and networks
 Undertake effective capacity-building activities
 Enhance cooperation in order to advance
knowledge
Public Works Research Institute
(PWRI)
• History
•
•
•
•
1922: Established
1979: Relocated to Tsukuba
2001: Re-organized
Staff : 220 (including 150 researchers)
Land area: about 560,000m2
Number of project themes: around 200
Budget (FY 2003):
6 billion JPY (55 mil. US$)
PWRI @ Tsukuba
Tokyo
Framework of the Centre
 Proposed to be established within PWRI as a global
centre under auspices of UNESCO (Category 2)
in autumn 2005
 Mission theme:
Water hazard and risk management
 Activities:
Research, Training, and Information networking
 Partnership with UNESCO-IHP Networks,
UNESCO-IHE & other global/regional institutes, UN
agencies and other key organizations of the world
Pillar Activities of the Centre
Research
Results/ Outcomes
Participation
Training
& Capacity
building
Data/
Information
Curriculum
Network
Information
networking
Knowledge
Research Activities
Conducting scientific and academic research;
- Hydraulic / hydrological prediction, observation,
modeling and analysis
- Climate change assessment study and adaptation
technologies
- Contribution to WWAP, International Flood Initiative
(UNESCO/WMO) etc.
- Studies in the Mekong River, Chao Phraya River,
Yangtze River, Euphrates River, Ganges River, Aral
Sea Basins, and Vietnam Groundwater…
Many other projects will be coming
Training Activities
PWRI’s long experiences through conducting JICA
training courses for over 35 years, including:
- river and dam engineering
- landslide engineering
Pacific 8/6
Middle East
47/8
Latin America
28/12
Europe 2/2
Africa 41/13
Total Number of
Trainees/Countries
355/62
in FY2002
Asia
229/21
Training
Programmes will be
enlarged
Information Networking
Information networking will be synergized
with research and training activities in order
to enhance integration and coordination:
Through the information network, such as IHP,
UNESCO/WMO International Flood Initiative and
WWAP.
 Research output will be widely disseminated
 Feedbacks from countries and regions will be given to
research projects
 Trainees will develop domestic links in their own
countries/ regions
 Local needs for training items will be informed
Preparatory activities
October 2003
 32nd UNESCO General Conference
 Announcement of intention to establish the
Centre by the representative of Government of
Japan
October 2003
 RSC in Southeast Asia & Pacific
and in Latin America & Caribbean
 Resolutions strongly supporting the
establishment of the Centre
Preparatory activities (continue)
January 2004
 International technical workshop at PWRI
 Experts from Asia, Africa, East & West
Europe, and North & South America
 Summary Report on directions of the Centre
 International Symposium in Tokyo
April 2004
 Preparatory secretariat was established in PWRI
 Proposal of the new Center was welcomed at
UNESCO IHP Bureau and the Centre was endorsed
as the global facility responsible for the
International Flood Initiative.
Expected Role
 Follow-up WWF2 and WWF3 Ministerial Declarations,
WSSD Plan of Implementation
 Develop UNESCO’s Principal Priority: Water resources and
ecosystem
 Respond to IHP bureau recommendation, IHP-RSC
resolutions
 Contribute to UNESCO/WMO International Flood Initiative,
WWAP, IHP-GWES…
 Contribute to International Decade for Action, “Water for
Life” (2005-2015),
UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction (2005),
Two year cycle follow-up of WSSD (Water (2004-5),
Climate change (2006-7), Drought (2008-09), Disaster
management (2014-15) )
Outline of the Centre
(at initial stage)
 Staff
- 10 international and 10 Japanese professionals
- Support from PWRI and other relevant
institutes/ organizations (e.g., NILIM)
 Administrative support from PWRI
 Budget
- Operational budget: financed by PWRI
- Project budget: to be financed by various sources
from inside & outside of Japan
A blueprint of the Center building
The Center building would be completed in autumn 2005
adjacent to the PWRI HQs, Tsukuba.
From now ・・・
• We are going to submit the proposal for
consideration at the forthcoming session of
UNESCO IHP Council (Sept., 2004) and
Executive Board (autumn, 2004)
• And to obtain the accreditation of the new
Center at the UNESCO General Assembly
(autumn, 2005)
• Preparatory exercises has already started
with partners