As part of the current review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action and to assist the regional preparations for the second World Conference on Disaster Reduction a Pacific Islands Regional Stakeholder Workshop will be hosted by the South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), to assist with the development of a Pacific Regional Strategic Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction to be taken to the World Pacific Conference in Kobe, Japan in January 2005.

The second World Conference on Disaster Reduction is a milestone event, which is designed to:

• Increase the international pro.le of disaster risk reduction
• Promote the integration of disaster risk reduction into development planning and practices and;
• Strengthen local and national capacities to address the causes of disasters that continue to devastate and impede the development of many countries

The SOPAC regional workshop will address the following thematic areas:

1. Governance: Institutional and policy frameworks for risk reduction
2. Knowledge Management: Building a culture of resilient communities
3. Risk Identification: Emerging risks
4. Lessons Learnt: Good practices
5. Preparedness for Effective Response

The regional workshop will be held over three days and will include a report on the outcomes of the initial review of the Yokohama Strategy and Plan of Action, selected presentations and facilitated group discussions.

The expected outcome of the workshop is an agreed framework for a Pacific Regional Strategic Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction