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, Asi- - a Pacific, Euro Asia, Europe, Latin Ameri

ca, Middle East and West Asia, North America

United Cities and Local Government (UCLG)

AIMS:• Improve local governance and promot

e local government innovation, gender equity and capacity building.

• Influence world opinion: to advocate local governments’ agenda b efore th

e UN and the international community• Provide venue to s hare experiences

and establish alliances with local gove rnment officials, both elected and prof

essional, throughout the world.

United Cities and Local Government (UCLG)

• Full Membership: individual cities and local governments, national & Local Government Associations; international l

ocal 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?