The 1st Consultative Meeting of IRDR National & Regional Committees (IRDR NCs and RCs) concluded last 12 November at UKCDS, The Wellcome Trust in London, UK. The meeting discussed how membership in IRDR NCs and RCs can bring access to global network of research projects and ways on building and strengthening the network relationships.
Day one (11 November) of the meeting covered an overview of the IRDR Programme given by Executive Director Rudiger Klein, presentation from UK CDS and sharing of the current works of IRDR NCs and RCs.
Kevin Ronan of IRDR Australia (Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC) shared their core research programs from 2013 to 2021. Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC focuses on research to build disaster resilience in Australia with about 50 partner research organizations. Download the presentation.
Matthew Godsoe of IRDR Canada shared Canada’s platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and their Science and Technology (S&T) Working Group. Canada’s platform for DRR was launched in 26 October 2010 as a collaborative national body with more than 500 members. The S&T Working Group is now entering its fifth year, and will be undertaking an exercise to re-envision its role in light of 3rd World Conference on DRR. Areas of particular interest to the S&T Working Group includes the existing IRDR Risk Interpretation and Action (RIA) Working Group since Canada is increasingly looking to close the gap between knowledge and behavioural change in DRR. Download the presentation.
Professor Dr. Yong Xue of IRDR China shared progress of IRDR CHINA Projects and the role of IRDR-China in the national system of disaster governance. IRDR China plans to increase members from related sectors and extend its network in China. Download the presentation.
Nicolás Segura of IRDR Colombia (Unidad Nacional de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres, UNGRD) provided an overview of the national plan for disaster risk management in Colombia. Some of their initiatives include complimentary programs with specific emphasis on natural disasters in the different countries. Download the presentation.
David Johnston of IRDR New Zealand (Natural Hazards Research Platform) shared the platform’s goal of providing science advice in the national interest with emphasis on a partnering approach between members. Download the presentation. Download the presentation.
Kenichi Tsukahara of IRDR Japan (Science Council of Japan) shared their governance and institutional affiliation, relationship to government and to the ISDR National Platforms, overview of their research, education, outreach and engagement projects and elements of the IRDR Science Plan that they are interested in for collaborations. Download the presentation.
Prof John Rees of UK CDS shared the work themes of their organization and examples of their Disaster Research Group’s activities such as Hyogo Framework for Action, DRR Research Roadmap, Disaster Resilience Workshop Series and Guidelines for integrating science into development and humanitarian practice. Download the presentation.
The session also covered policy context on IRDR / DRR Science at the regional level, IRDR’s integration with the Co-Sponsors’ Programmes (ICSU, UNISDR, ISSC) and IRDR at the global level towards the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Day two (12 November) of the meeting covered preparations for the post-2015 environment, planning on how to engage with stakeholders, policy interfaces on strengthening science through interactions with governments at all levels, the role of NCs and RCs in DRR research and capacity building and plans towards collaborative initiatives. The meeting also discussed ways to expand the network of NC/RCs and proposals for concrete next steps to enhance better intra-programme collaboration.
Through the National and Regional Committees, IRDR is linking evidence to practice through the implementation of sciences by providing access to a prioritized global network of research projects. Few countries are able to fund all the research they need, however through a global network of research projects, member countries can contribute to the global research network with their prioritized work, and in exchange have access to the collective work of others. IRDR National Committees provide mentorship opportunities for establishing national IRDR committees including support with stakeholder identification.
