PACIFIC: REPORT AND REGIONAL BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE
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 Part I: Draft Concepts of "A Pacific Region Blueprint for Change"

Preamble: The Pacific region has existing operational and strategic arrangements in place now, but all can be enhanced through better communication, coordination, and collaboration. The region has effective mechanisms to coordinate disaster reduction at the local, national, regional and international levels.  The region takes an all-hazards approach which includes natural, technological and human induced disasters. An important feature of the regional approach is an established network of collaborating partners and stakeholders. The common goal of this approach is to improve community resilience and public safety, including mitigation and recovery strategies and measures.

 Pacific Regional Leadership Team:

      ·        Tri-Chair: Atu Kaloumaira, Fiji
·        Secretariat: Maliu Takai, Tonga
·        Tri-Chair: Jack Rynn, Australia
·        Tri-Chair: David Templeton, Australia
·        Arthur Chium, Hawaii
·        Secretariat: Michael Blackford, Hawaii
·        Suzanne Frew,  USA (California)
·        Secretariat: Susan Olson-Allan, USA (Kentucky)

 I.     INTRA-REGIONAL ACTIVITIES--2002-2007  

 A.     Activity: Building Community Sustainability in the Pacific

Purpose: To strengthen regional disaster reduction programming capacities and to be an advocate for and assist in the incorporation of risk management practices in the context of the national planning process of Pacific Island Countries

Objectives:

      ·     To establish an effective disaster/risk management coordination center at SOPAC
·     To establish a sustainable capacity to design, implement, evaluate, and ,manage national disaster/risk
       reduction programs
·     To enhance national programming through the implementation of CHARM
·     To integrate national risk management practices within national development planning

 Stakeholder Countries:

      ·        Cook Islands
·        Federated States of Micronesia
·        Fiji
·        Kimbati
·        Marshall Islands
·        Nanru
·        Niiue
·        Palau
·        Samoa
·        Solomon Islands
·        Tokelau
·        Tonga
·        Tavalu
·        Vanuatu

 How we are going to do it:

      ·     Establish a regional disaster management coordination center within SOPAC
·     Enhance disaster and risk management skills through the provision of a range of professional
      development programs
·     Development and implement a comprehensive risk management program
·     Advocate the adoption of risk management policies and practices by national governments
·     Develop strategic partnerships and  alliances

 Who is going to do it:

      ·        Project Coordinator
·        Risk Reduction Program Manager
·        Professional Development Program Manager
·        OFDA support staff
·        NDMO's
·        Regional and international partners

 What will success look like:

      ·        SOPAC's DMU is recognized and accepted as the regional disaster and risk management center for
         the Pacific
·        A sustainable regional capacity to design, implement, evaluate, and ,manage national disaster/risk
         reduction programs has been achieved
·        National programming activities have been enhanced through the adoption of CHARM
·        Risk management practices are being integrated within national development  ;programmes

 Next Steps:

      ·        DMU staff will visit all 15 stakeholder countries to improve communication and coordination
·        CHRM workshops are planned for: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kimbati, Marshall Islands, Palau,
         Samoa, Tokelau, Tavalu, Tonga, Vanuatu
·        Regional workshop on improving urban  community safety is planned
·        Development of USP elective on risk management
·        County support programmes to be implemented in: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kimbati, Marshall Islands,
          Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tavalu, Vanuatu
·        Implement regional advocacy strategy
·        Establish mechanisms for support of national training

 Timing:
      ·        During  2000-2001, manage the transition and set the new directions
      ·        During 2001-2002, be an  advocate for change, building effective partnerships and implementing
               new capacity building programs

 Potential investors/donors (traditional and non-traditional):
      ·        ADB. Turner Foundation, Oil Industry, Tobacco Industry, , Packard Foundation, UNESCO, WMO, IOC,
               Munich Re, Swiss Re,
      ·        Potential investors/donors to be enlisted by personal contact

II.     INTER-REGIONAL ACTIVITIES--2002-2007
A.         Collaborative Activities to Build an Alliance for Disaster Reduction

Purpose: To strengthen regional disaster reduction programming capacities for the benefit  of Pacific  Island Countries and other regions and to support the development of environmental vulnerability indices. 

 Who will do it:
·     The consortium  of ADPC (Dr. Subit), EMA, (Mr. David Templeman). ADRC (Mr. Ogaway), and SOPAC(Mr. Alan Mearns) will have primary responsibility.

 Potential investors/donors (traditional and non-traditional):
·     World bank, United Nations organizations, AUSAID, USAID, UKDFID,, European Union, Japan, France,  China,  NZODA, IT Communications (e.g., Vodofone, Optus, telesta), private sector (e.g. Pacific Fletcher, tourism consortia)

 Where:
·        Pacific wide locations or various locations in the world.

 When:
·        Anytime, beginning in 2001-2002

 B.         Collaborative Activities to Build an Alliance for Disaster Reduction

 Who will do it:

·        SOPAC, with ECOSOC as possible co-sponsor

 Potential investors/donors (traditional and non-traditional):

·        United Nations organizations, NZODA

 Where:

·        Small Island developing States (SIDS)

When:

·        On a continuing basis

How:

·        In cooperation with implementation of  the EVI project

C.         Collaborative Activities to Build an Alliance for Disaster Reduction

Who will do it:

·        SOPAC and DMU, with SOPAC Member countries and OFDA as possible co-sponsors

Potential investors/donors (traditional and non-traditional):

·        AUSAID, NZODA, OFDA, and European Union

Where:

·        Pacific Island Countries

When:

·        To begin in 2002

How:

·        In cooperation with departments of education and NDMO's

D.         Collaborative Activities to Build an Alliance for Disaster Reduction

Who will do it:

·        EMA, SOPAC, and DMU, with EMA, Pacific Island Countries, Crowding the Rim Initiative, and Schools-on-Line as possible co-sponsor

Potential investors/donors (traditional and non-traditional):

·        AUSAID, NZODA, OFDA, and European Union

Where:

·        Pacific Island Countries

When:

·        To begin in 2002

How:

·        In cooperation with departments of education and NDMO's

E.         Collaborative Activities to Build an Alliance for Disaster Reduction

Who will do it:

·        NDMO

Potential investors/donors (traditional and non-traditional):

·        EMA, AUSAID, NZODA, OFDA, European Union, and IRC

Where:

·        Pacific Island Countries

When:

·        To begin in 2002

How:

·        After acquisition and development of basic materials

 PART II: BACKGROUND

A.     GLOBAL BLUEPRINTS FOR CHANGE

·        We are most concerned about the hazards that pose the greatest threat to people, property, economic development, and the environment. These hazards include earthquakes, tsunamis,  wildfires, floods, and severe windstorms as well as technological and environmental hazards.

·        We agree with the Blueprint themes and most of the Blueprint topics, but are most concerned with development of Topics A.8, A.10, A.12, A.13, and A.14 (New); B.14, B.15 (New); and C.9 in support of our priorities.

·        We are most interested in adapting and implementing the new ideas contained in the Blueprinters' recommendations to improve or enhance our capability to cope with  the following priority objectives: Diversity of Region (Cultural Differences), Capacity Building, Communications, Partnerships, Practical Applications / Implementation, ]Resource Development (Donors), Community Resilience, Education and Awareness, and Political Commitment.  The correspondence of Blueprint topics and our objectives are ,apped in the table below.

 ·        The overall usefulness of the second edition of the Global Blueprints for Change for the Pacific region
will be significantly enhanced if current and new Blueprinters incorporate specific information that can be related to the needs and  priorities of the Pacific region (See the above table).

 B.    PROPOSED "INTERNATIONAL MEETING" IN 2002

 1.  We welcome the proposed congress if it is designed to help us focus on our  priorities and advance the activities named above.

1. We want to develop technical and political capacity for sustainability in the Pacific Island Countries.  We would measure the benefits in terms of the changes that such a meeting stimulated.
2. Our priorities are identified above.
3. The key organizations and key people are identified above.  Some of the donors  need to be enlisted personally. 
4. The third week of April 2002 is the best time.

 C.    REGIONAL FORUMS, ONGOING PROJECTS, AND  CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE

1.  For cost effectiveness,  no regional forum would be considered until after the proposed  congress.

2.  For cost effectiveness, without new funds, new projects would likely be most effective after a congress.

3.  We propose the concept of  “Regional Alliance Disaster Reduction Centres”    (RADRC), as an alternative.  They would focus initially on a clearing-house function to enhance dissemination of information.  The criteria for evaluating performance can be established on the basis of other worldwide centers.