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Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative
Part 2

Summary of First Round of Consultations
DRAFT: November 12, 1997

Contents

• Summary
• Action Items
• Key Interests from each Organization
  • UNDP/ERD
  • ICSU
  • UNESCO
  • Metropolis
• Unresolved Issues
  • Organizational Structure of EMI
  • Funding
  • Status of EMI
• Attachment 1: Meeting Schedule
  • November 4, 1997 - UNDP, New York
  • November 6, 1997 - ICSU, Paris
  • November 7, 1997 - UNESCO, Paris
  • November 8, 1997 - METROPOLIS, Paris
  • November 8, 1997 - UNESCO, Paris
• ATTACHMENT 2: Brief Description of Each Organization
  • UNDP/Emergency Response Division
  • International Council of Scientific Union (ICSU)
  • UNESCO
    • MOST Division
  • Metropolis

The voluntary secretariat of EMI completed its first round of consultation in early November, 1997, with trips to New York City and Paris. Organizations visited were:

• UNDP - New York; Emergency Response Division (ERD)
• ICSU - Paris
• UNESCO - Paris; Earth Sciences Division
• UNESCO - Paris; Management of Social Transformation (MOST) Division
• METROPOLIS - Paris

The goals included:

• Explaining objectives and mission of EMI
• Seeking sponsorship and endorsement from ICSU and UNESCO
• Exploring possibilities for funding
• Understanding the level of interest and defining nature of relationships with each of the organizations

Summary

The concept of EMI was well received by all four organizations. In particular, UNESCO and ICSU mentioned that this was a timely initiative.

• UNDP/ERD supports the mission of EMI and would like to define common projects. UNDP/ERD is willing to partially fund commonly agreed upon projects
• ICSU's Executive Director suggested that EMI, subject to peer review, could be sponsored by ICSU. He compared its possible scope to the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). A proposal and request for endorsement will be formally submitted to ICSU before the end of 1997
• UNESCO agreed to serve as one of the umbrella organizations. EMI will be structured as a joint initiative of the Earth Sciences Division, MOST Division and perhaps the Natural Hazards Division. A proposal will be submitted to UNESCO before the end of 1997
• Metropolis agreed to work jointly with EMI to raise awareness and promote natural hazard mitigation

Key Interests from each Organization

UNDP/ERD

• Use technical and scientific resources of EMI to build local capacity (i.e. twin cities, regional centers)
• Benefit from EMIÕs scientific and technical knowledge to develop, structure and undertake projects. UNDP/ERD is taking over mitigation activities of DHA. This will significantly increase UNDP/ERDÕs responsibility over the UN disaster mitigation programs
• Participate in EMI advocacy and awareness programs

ICSU

• Launch a much needed multidisciplinary program hinged around the earth sciences.
• Sponsor a program concentrated towards practical applications, such as megacities

UNESCO

• Reinforce the earth sciences program with a new initiative that fits the mission and current strategies of UNESCO
• Provide an opportunity for the MOST Division to structure a program targeted towards large cities

Metropolis

• Join forces with EMI to raise awareness and promote hazard mitigation

Unresolved Issues

Organizational Structure of EMI

• Viability of voluntary Secretariat
• Type and nature of organizational structure
• Prioritization of activities

Funding

• Funding for Secretariat
• Funding for operational budget to supplement ILP and WSSI funds
• Medium-term funding for activities

Status of EMI

• Legal and administrative status has not been defined
• Integration of natural hazards other than earthquakes is not clear

Attachment 1: Meeting Schedule

November 4, 1997 - UNDP, New York

• UNDP: John Rogge, Program Manager, Capacity Development Unit ERD
• EMI: Fouad Bendimerad, Secretariat

November 6, 1997 - ICSU, Paris

• ICSU: Jean-Francois Stuyd-Taillandier, Executive Director
• EMI: Alan Green, Friedemann Wenzel, Fouad Bendimerad

November 7, 1997 - UNESCO, Paris

• UNESCO: Wolfgang Eder, Director Earth Sciences Division, Soren Malling, Program Specialist, Vladislav Babuska, IGCP Secretary, R. Missotten, Program Specialist
• EMI: Alan Green, Friedemann Wenzel, Fouad Bendimerad

November 8, 1997 - METROPOLIS, Paris

• Metropolis: Alain Le Saux, Scientific Director
• EMI: Alan Green, Friedemann Wenzel, Fouad Bendimerad

November 8, 1997 - UNESCO, Paris

• Wolfgang Eder, Director Earth Sciences Division, Genevieve Domenach-Chich, Chief of Humanitarian Habitat Unit
• EMI: Alan Green, Friedemann Wenzel, M. Fouad Bendimerad

ATTACHMENT 2: Brief Description of Each Organization

UNDP/Emergency Response Division

UNDP is an organization of the United Nations; it is governed by a 36 member Executive Board representing both developed and developing countries. The UNDP helps people in 174 different countries and territories to help themselves, focusing on poverty elimination, environmental regeneration, job creation, and the advancement of women. In this capacity, the UNDP assists the promotion of sound governance and market development, and supports the rebuilding of society in the aftermath of natural and human caused disasters. While administering its programs, the UNDP draws on the expertise of developing countries and non-governmental organizations and the specialized agencies of the UN system and research institutes in every field.

The Emergency Response Division (ERD) was instituted to provide support to the United Nations National Coordinators in their role to respond to emergency situations due to natural catastrophes or to civil crises. ERD staff possesses significant experience in rapid field interventions in case of a crisis.

International Council of Scientific Union (ICSU)

ICSU is a non-governmental organization founded in 1931 to promote international scientific activity in the different branches of science and their applications for the benefit of humanity. ICSU seeks to break the barriers of specialization by initiating and coordinating major international interdisciplinary programs and by creating interdisciplinary bodies which undertake various research programs. Bodies set up within the organization address common concerns to all scientists, such as capacity building in science, environment and development, and free conduct of science. The council acts as a focus for the exchange of ideas and information and the development of standards. Its membership includes 95 multidisciplinary bodies, 25 international single discipline scientific unions and 28 scientific associations.

UNESCO

For over 50 years, UNESCO has taken the lead in promoting interdisciplinary scientific work among intergovernmental scientific programs and in promoting transdisciplinary activities between its programs in the sciences, education, culture and communications. UNESCO focuses mainly on developing human resources through training and education and providing and adequate institutional framework and material support to enable acquired skills to be fully utilized

Earth Science Division: UNESCOÕs Division of Earth Sciences undertakes several programs aimed at promoting the wise use of the Earth as a human habitat and as a source of natural resources. UNESCO provides assistance in investigating the causes and consequences of natural disasters and recommends ways of mitigating future threats based on scientific and technical measures as well as through education and information programs focusing on communities at risk.

MOST Division

In 1994, UNESCO launched the Management of Social Transformation Programme with the aim of mobilizing the social sciences community worldwide to focus their efforts on issues of economic development, globalization of markets, rapid population growth, the widening gaps between the rich and poor, population migrations, and accelerated progress in new technologies. MOST is carried out in cooperation with relevant scientific institutions around the world and other international organizations both within and outside the United Nations Organization. The program also provides training in developing countries and serves as an information clearinghouse for researchers and policy makers

Metropolis

The main objectives of Metropolis is to foster international cooperation and exchanges between political authorities, administrators and public and private agencies of major metropolitan areas for the purpose of promoting and disseminating knowledge in areas which contribute to the management, planning and development of major cities. Metropolis has over 60 member cities (with populations over 1 million or are capital cities) from around the world. Formed in 1985, Metropolis has enabled its leadership to compare experiences and urban strategies, encourage social and technical innovations, implement cooperative programs and establish new avenues for citizen participation.

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Last modified: October 30, 2007
Maintained by: Alice Walker abw@bgs.ac.uk at the British Geological Survey