Lessons Learnt from Local Government Mechanisms for Networking

Lessons Learnt from Local Government Mechanisms for Networking Zenaida Delica-Willison South-South Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok

Examples of Global Mechanisms

Local Authorities Confronting Disasters and Emergencies (LACDE) • International Association assisting local authorities in their fight against disasters. • Union of Local Authorities in Israel as the Secretariat. AIMS: • To increase effectiveness of Local Authorities in confronting disasters • To promote the study of disaster management and prevention • To establish a permanent repository of documents

Local Authorities Confronting Disasters and Emergencies (LACDE) LACDE organizes and coordinates international conferences, workshops, training and exhibitions on varied topics. LACDE provides awards to Safer Cities • Membership: Full and Associate • Fee-based Membership

United Cities and Local Government (UCLG) • UCLG is a world organization for local governments • It has members in 127 countries. • World Secretariat in Barcelona. World Council with 318 local government representatives and Executive Bureau of 106 members • It has 7 Regional Sections in Africa, Asia. Pacific, Euro-Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and West Asia, North America

United Cities and Local Government (UCLG) AIMS: • Improve local governance and promote local government innovation, gender equity and capacity building. • Influence world opinion: to advocate local governments’ agenda before the UN and the international community • Provide venue to share experiences and establish alliances with local government officials, both elected and professional, throughout the world.

United Cities and Local Government (UCLG) • Full Membership: individual cities and local governments, national & Local Government Associations; international local government organisations • Associate membership is open to organisations which, though not themselves local governments, are strongly concerned with or involved in local government matters • Fee Based membership –annual basis

Examples of Regional Mechanisms

Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) on Disaster Management, ADPC Established in 2000, initiated by ADPC • Members from 26 Asian Countries • Identifies disaster related needs and priorities of Asia-Pacific countries • Promotes South-South Cooperation • Develops regional action strategies for disaster reduction • Annual meetings hosted by a volunteer country • ADPC in Bangkok as secretariat •

ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) • Established in 2003. • Consists of heads of NDMOs of ASEAN • Guided by the ASEAN Regional Program on Disaster Management in implementing the regional activities • ASEAN Secretariat in Indonesia assists the ACDM in formulating policies and program. • Annual meetings.

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) • Established in 1985 by the Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka • Provides a platform for the people of South Asia to work together • Coordinate and monitor the implementation of SAARC activities • SAARC Secretariat is in Kathmandu

Example of National Mechanism

League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) • Organization of all municipalities to ventilate, articulate and crystallize issues affecting the local governments and securing solutions. • Every municipality is represented in the league by the mayor or by the vice mayor • Heart and soul of all municipalities collectively achieving effective governance, timely delivery of services and strengthened institutional capacity to improve the quality of life • Mayor’s Development Center as secretariat

Lessons learnt 1 • Members paying demonstrate certain level of commitment and ownership. • Existing networks provide opportunities for discussions and dialogues on DM and emergencies. • Provides opportunities for South-South and North-South Cooperation • Encourages good performance through giving awards.

Lessons Learnt 2 • No global initiative on local government focused on DRR • Membership fees required to become members for global mechanisms • In Asia, networks for DRR are mostly at the national government level • City/municipal networks provide voice for local officials to share experiences among themselves.

Food for thought • How can low income Local governance participate in providing solutions on disaster risk issues? • How can we bridge the gap between local/provincial/national authorities in disaster risk reduction concerns? • How to bring local DRR dimensions to global platforms? • How to tackle cross boundary DRR and CC issues?