CDM Conference 2013:
Report on Key Outcomes
Andria Grosvenor
Alliance and Cooperation Services Manager
Office of Executive Director, CDEMA
What Were the Objectives?





To launch the Caribbean Strategy on
Comprehensive Disaster Management 2014-2024.
To review and enhance the CDM Strategy
Implementation Plan
To share experiences on resilient development
through sound investment by the public and
private sectors
To examine the benefits of investment in CDM
To facilitate dialogue on opportunities for
investing in CDM
… And Expected Results






Improved stakeholder awareness of the CDM
Strategy 2014-2024;
Action Plan for Implementing CDM Strategy;
Recommended actions for strengthened investment in
CDM;
Exchanges on CDM related research, tools, products,
information and education materials;
Compendium of papers on experiences in investment
for disaster resilience – social and economic;
Greater awareness of the benefits and potential
opportunities for investment in CDM;
… Delivered Through










Partner Consultation Sessions
Commissioned research papers built around the
conference theme
Opening Ceremony
Plenary Sessions & Panel Discussions
Conference Exhibition
Lunch Time “Talk de Talk”
Youth Session
Conference Tour
Film Festival
CDM Stakeholder Parliament
Result 1: Improved Stakeholder
Awareness CDM Strategy
Stakeholder Awareness of CDM
Strategy
CDM Parliament was convened December 2-6, 2013
and CDM Strategy shared on December 3rd
 Representation over the period was 258 delegates

◦ 36 Countries – Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, North
America, Pacific
◦ Disaster management practitioners, educators,
researchers, development partners, community and nongovernmental actors
◦ 51 youth
Several persons joined the Conference online
through the live streaming of sessions.
 Continued sharing to enhance awareness.

Safer, more resilient and sustainable CDEMA Participating States through Comprehensive Disaster Management
Outcome 1: Strengthened
institutional arrangements
for Comprehensive Disaster
Management
implementation at national
and regional levels
Outcome 2: Increased and
Outcome 3: Improved
sustained knowledge
management and learning for effectiveness of CDM at
Comprehensive Disaster
sectoral levels
Management
Outcome 4: Strengthened and
sustained capacity for a
culture of safety and
community resilience in
Participating States
1.1. CDEMA CU and NDO
strengthened/restructured for
effective support of the
implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of CDM in
Participating States
2.1. Regional Disaster Risk
Management Network for
informed decision-making at all
levels improved
3.1. Disaster Risk Management
program at the sectoral level
improved
4.1. Standards for safe
communities developed, agreed
and applied
1.2. CDM is integrated into
national policies, strategies and
legislation by Participating States
2.2. Infrastructure for fact-based
policy and decision making
established/strengthened
3.2. Hazard information
integrated into sectoral
development planning and
programming
4.2. Community-Based Disaster
Management capacity built/
strengthened for vulnerable
groups
1.3. Partners programming aligned to
national/country and regional CDM
programming and priorities in the
Caribbean Region
2.3. Incorporation of local/
community and sectoral based
knowledge into risk assessment
improved
3.3. Disaster and climate risk
proofing of development
programming and investment
decision-making at the sectoral level
strengthened
4.3. Community Early Warning
Systems, integrated, improved
and expanded
1.4. Effective and efficient
coordination for preparedness,
response and recovery at the
national and regional levels
2.4. Educational and training
materials for CDM standardized,
improved and applied in the
region
4.4. Community –Based Disaster
Management capacity built/
strengthened to address gender and
vulnerable group needs.
1.5. Resources for CDM reflect the
level of need of CDEMA Participating
States and CDEMA CU
Gender
Mainstreaming
Climate Change
ICT
Environmental
Sustainability
Result 2: Action Plan for
Implementing CDM Strategy
Action Plan for Implementing CDM
Strategy
 Validated/Updated
Objectives
Statements for the 4 CDM Strategy
Outcomes
 Report
shared by Session Facilitators
Action Plan for Implementing CDM
Strategy

Identified Key Results for Emerging
Sectors (a) Finance and Economic
Development and (b) Physical and
Environmental Planning:
◦ Scientific data to inform the planning process;
◦ Spatial plans taking into account biological,
physical and social elements;
◦ Baseline information for what needs to be
addressed to improve resilience in the
financial system.
How Were the Cross Cutting
Themes Treated In the CDM
Implementation Plan and
Conference Discussions?
GENDER
There is general consensus that gender
considerations is a critical requirement
for resilience building and as such,
financing of gender mainstreaming in DRR
is a good invest.
 The Implementation Plan of the CDM
Strategy 2012-2024 therefore calls
attention to the need for gender analysis
of and mainstreaming into all relevant
actions.

CLIMATE CHANGE
• An agreement has been reached that the impact
of climate change is clear in the region as
evidenced by more intense flooding from heavy
rainfalls, landslide, stronger hurricane, intensified
dry periods etc:
• CDM Strategy 2007-2012 and HFA 2005 -2015
assessment/review has identified climate change
as an important emerging issue for resilience
building.
• It has been determined therefore that
investment in climate smart infrastructure is
vital to resilience building.
CLIMATE CHANGE
• Specifically investment to making critical and
economic infrastructure is ongoing and must
be intensified in:
Hospitals and small health facilities
Road networks
Housing stock; especially those of the poor
National Disaster Offices or Situation Rooms for
national leadership in times of disasters
 Drainage systems




CLIMATE CHANGE
The deliberation and analysis of gaps indicate that investment
in regional and national capacities for measuring the impact
of all disasters and distinguishing the effects of climate
change is important.
 The ability to measure the impact of climate change is the
basis on which

◦ case building for increased investment in disaster risk reduction
etc. Can be made
◦ for strengthening the region’s representation and negotiations
for funding etc. at international fora
◦ engender the conversion of the DM and CC technical
communities in the region as the evidence will show there is
little to no separation re hazard exposure and the impact on the
ground
ICT
Concurrent Session 5C: ICT Tools for
Resilience
 Recommended that there be greater
focus on GIS applications development in
the Caribbean region.
 Investment in telecommunication/mobile
phone technology medium is critical for
response and early warning notification. In
an effort to ensure it reaches all classes of
society including: the poor, middle class and
wealthy.
ICT
SESSION 2 PLENARY: “CDM Strategy
Implementation Plan 2014-2024
 Investment in scientific assessments is required to
inform the spatial planning process.
DEWETRA
 Impact forecasting tools can greatly enhance
decision making and requires investment, financial
and human capital for data fusion and research.
 Continuous investment in data sharing and
maintenance of DEWETRA platform is required
to ensure that its usefulness is maximized.
Environment
Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) II
consultation
 Evidence of the incorporation of HVA into
environmental impact assessments and land use
planning is important.
Caribbean Health Disaster Risk Reduction
Committee (HSSC)
 Noted that the SMART Hospitals Initiative was
designed to establish an integrated approach to
building and retrofitting of health care facilities to
ensure that they are environmentally friendly and
disaster resilient.
Result 3&6: Recommended
Actions and Opportunities for
Investment in CDM
Economic Investment for Resilience
Appoint a CDM Champion, who will accompany
Ministers to CDM Meetings and be in charge of
implementing national commitments.
 The Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning
and Social Development to prepare DRM Plan of
Actions, which is supported by the national
budget.
 Ministries to be the main drivers for CDM
methodologies and tools.
 Need to transition from DRR planning to
mainstreaming into policy, legislation and
financing.

Public-Private Investment for
Resilience

Effective public-private partnership can play
an important role in post-disaster response
and recovery.
◦ Draws on a range of cultures, knowledge and skill
sets from both private and public sectors.

Strong communication between public and
private sector actors is key to facilitating
effective public-private partnership.
◦ Access to information and expertise from private and
public sectors.

Business Recovery planning is vital
Social Investment for Resilience
We must invest in…

Knowledge management

Livelihoods

Safety net programmes

Community based disaster management
Social Investment for Resilience
We need…
 A longer term perspective;
 Integrated
and Inter-disciplinary
approaches;
 To
seek and address the root causes
and not merely the symptoms.
Youth Investment for Resilience

Youth are a vital part of the civil society
mechanism that can be leveraged to
support community risk reduction.

Identifying a CDM Youth Champion is a
viable mechanism for promoting a culture
of safety.
Result 4: Exchanges on CDMrelated Research Tools,
Products, Information and
Education Materials
CDM EXHIBITION

11 companies participated in the 8th CDM
Exhibition showcasing DRR products and tools.
Of these:
 6 companies showcased products largely aimed at
reducing vulnerability to weather and climate
hazards and enhancing resilience to disasters.

4 companies showcased products geared at
leveraging ICTs for more efficient and effective data
gathering, communication, information management
and support for emergency operations.

1 company shared information on its activities in the
area of sustainable environmental management.
The Film Festival and “Talk de Talk”

Four films on:
◦
◦
◦
◦

Climate Change
Slope Stabilisation Techniques
Mitigation Works
Model for Disaster Management Operations
Talk de Talk:
◦ Community Resilience Tools
◦ Warning Systems
◦ Climate Change/DRR Tools
Conference Sessions

Decision Making Tools

Remote Sensing Tools

ICTs for Disaster Risk Management Tools
Result 5: Compendium of
Papers on Experiences in
Investment in Disaster
Resilience
Publication

Five (5) Commissioned Papers - to be Updated
◦ Examining 21st Century Economic Losses From
Hazard Events In The Caribbean – The Rationale For
Resilient Investment And Recovery
◦ Public-Private Partnerships: A Catalyst for Resilient
Investment.
◦ Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change
Adaptation: Revisiting and Reshaping the Investment
Focus
◦ Building The Business Case For Resilient
Construction
◦ Social Investment for Disaster Resilience: A
Development Imperative
Publication

Several other papers shared:
◦ Effective Financing and Insurance for
Resilience
◦ Constructing and Deconstructing Resilience
◦ ICT Tools for Resilience
SO WHAT ABOUT THE WAY
FORWARD?
Way Forward

Presentations Online

Conference Evaluation Online

Conference Report

Strengthening the CDM Implementation Plan

Publication of Compendium of Papers

Uptake of Conference Recommendations

Stakeholder Parliament Meetings