Community Risk Programme | Events
Regional Meetings on Disaster Risk Management in the Pacific
21 - 25 July, 2008
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14 Regional Disaster Managers Meeting, 21 - 22 July 2008
The 14th Regional Disaster Managers Meeting will be hosted by the Government of Fiji in cooperation with the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC). Commencing from this year the meeting will be held on an annual basis.
These meetings are convened to allow discussion and consultation between the heads of the National Disaster Management Offices on disaster risk management related issues in the Pacific. In view of adoption by Pacific Leaders in 2005 of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action 2005 – 2015: Building the Resilience of National and Communities to Disasters the meeting offers an opportunity to discuss practical solutions and tools to support the mainstreaming of disaster risk management within Pacific countries.
The theme of this years meeting is Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management in Pacific Island Countries: Addressing National Challenges to Enhance Mainstreaming
The specific objectives of the meeting are:
1. Increase the understanding of mainstreaming initiatives and share experience from across the Pacific and Asia regions;
2. Improve the understanding of mainstreaming strategies and tools; and
3. Improve the understanding of accountability and reporting requirements in relation to international and regional instruments for disaster risk management.
The meeting will involve a range of presentations and will also include group discussions amongst participants.
3rd Annual Meeting of the Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network, 22 - 23 July 2008
The 3rd Annual Meeting of the Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network will be held from 22nd - 23rd July. The Partnership Network was established in February 2006 in response to a call by Pacific Leaders for those regional and international organisations that had a stake in disaster risk management capacity building in the Pacific to work co-operatively and collaboratively in the interests of reducing the risks faced by Pacific countries to disasters. The Partnership Network is coordinated by SOPAC.
The theme of the meeting is A Call for Action: Strengthening the Partnership Network.
The objectives of the meeting are:
1. Review the status of current and planned Partnership activities in the Pacific;
2. Endorse the Partnership as the ‘Pacific Platform” for Disaster Risk Reduction; and
3. Examine opportunities for improved strategic alliances and engagement at regional and national level within Pacific countries.
The meeting will comprise of a series of presentations by partners on their current and pipeline activities in the Pacific and the issues they face in addressing these. This will be followed by selected presentations by Pacific countries in relation to their DRM experiences and issues in dealing with regional and international organisations. The meeting will also examine approaches to strengthen collaboration within the Partnership.
Members of the Partnership Network will be invited to sit in attendance during the inaugural meeting of Chief Executives on 24th and 25th July.
Inaugural Pacific Regional Disaster Risk Management Meeting for Pacific CEOs of Finance/Planning and Disaster Management, 24 - 25 July, 2008
Typically, the effort to address disaster risk management has been spearheaded at national level within Pacific countries by the National Disaster Management Offices. In light however of the need to ensure an improved effort to address disaster risk reduction, the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) working with other partner organisations have advocated quite extensively for the involvement of the upper echelon within the various Public Service jurisdictions in the Pacific in terms of ensuring that risk considerations are given a greater prominence in planning and budgeting systems within Government and at each level within the national economy. In this regard a special meeting has been organised to bring together, for the first time in the Pacific, the Chief Executives/Permanent Secretaries of those Ministries responsible for Disaster Management, with Chief Executives/Permanent Secretaries responsible for Finance and Planning.
The meeting will be hosted by the Government of Fiji in cooperation with the Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission
The theme of the meeting is: “Disaster Risk Management to Protect our Future: An Investment for Sustainable Development in Pacific Island Countries”
The purpose of the meeting is to enhance the involvement and participation of key chief executives in Pacific governments in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, as a cornerstone requirement and imperative for supporting sustainable national development.
The specific objectives of the meeting, in respect of the target group are:
1. Create an understanding of the disaster risk management (DRM) support structure in the Pacific;
2. Develop greater understanding for the global and regional commitments towards DRM;
3. Highlight the linkages between disasters and development to demonstrate the importance of mainstreaming DRM into planning and budgeting;
4. Provide an opportunity for exchange on issues related to DRM; and
5. Discuss immediate, urgent implementation of the Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action 2005 – 2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters.
The meeting will comprise of a series of panel discussions, separate presentations and a field visit.
General Information
Presentations
Opportunities exist for presentations during the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Pacific DRM Partnership Network (at which NDMO Directors will be present) and in this regard SOPAC wishes to invite expressions of interest from those agencies and organisations that intend to do so. The expressions of interest must reach the SOPAC contact points on or before 4.00pm Friday 20th June 2008 (Fiji time).
There will be time limitations on these presentations depending on the overall number of agencies that express an interest to make presentations.
SOPAC will be in touch with the selected presenters prior to the meeting for copies of presentations.
Displays
Agencies that may want to provide visual displays/posters at the meeting should also contact SOPAC using the contacts below.
Registration Form
A registration form for the meeting can be downloaded in PDF form from the SOPAC contacts and should be returned SOPAC no later than June 30th 2008.
A final confirmation and registration of participants and presenters will commence on Sunday 20th July 2008 at the Westin Denarau Resort & Spa, Nadi, Fiji between 5.00pm – 8.00pm.
Meeting Documents
Those wishing to present substantive issues under the various agenda items are requested to outline these in a brief document and provide these to SOPAC in electronic format using the standard Microsoft applications. These will be provided to participants at the meetings and will also be available in due course on the SOPAC website.
SOPAC will only have limited copies of these documents available in hard copy version.
SOPAC will only have limited copies of papers available in hard copy for the meetings.
Flight Details
There are international flights that fly in to Nadi out of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, USA, Hawaii and most of our Pacific neighbouring countries on a daily basis.
Accommodation
Accommodation must be pre-booked at the Westin Denarau Resort & Spa and SOPAC will assist in securing accommodation if required for non Pacific country participants at the meetings.
All Pacific country representatives will be accommodated at the Westin Denarau Resort & Spa
Travel Information
- Entry to Fiji requires a passport.
- The Currency is Fiji Dollars
- English, Fijian and Hindustani are the major languages with English as the official language
- Visas are required for all nationalities
- No special vaccinations are required.
Venue
The venue for the Meeting is:
Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa
Denarau Island
Nadi
Fiji
Phone: (679) 675 0000
Fax: (679) 675 0259
Email: fiji.denarau@westin.com
Website: www.westinfiji.com
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Meetings and General Information
SOPAC Contacts
1. Ms. Asenaca Rokamanalagi
Programme Assistant
SOPAC Community Risk Programme
Phone: +679 338 1377, Ext 252
Email: asenaca@sopac.org
2. Mrs. Laisa Baoa
SOPAC Travel & Conference Officer
Phone: +679 338 1377, Ext 210
Email: laisa@sopac.org
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For all inquiries including programme, registration, logistics, presentations please send your queries to:
1. Ms. Asenaca Rokamanalagi
Programme Assistant
SOPAC Community Risk Programme
Phone: +679 338 1377, Ext 252
Email:
asenaca@sopac.org
2. Mrs. Laisa Baoa
SOPAC Travel & Conference Officer
Phone: +679 338 1377, Ext 210
Email:
laisa@sopac.org
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