Session: Taking preparedness seriously” – Revisiting the gaps and challenges in linking early warning and timely response between community and government levels

1. International Disaster and Risk Conference, Davos, 26-30
August 2012
Session
“Taking preparedness seriously” – Revisiting the gaps and
challenges in linking early warning and timely response
between community and government levels
GIZ et. al, Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Introduction Statement
Thomas Piesch – Head of Division “Transitional Aid, etc”,
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ)
Ladies and gentlemen,
As a signatory of the Hyogo Framework for Action,
Germany is committed to achieve the frameworks
primary goal, that is Quote: “The substantial
reduction of disaster losses, in lives and in the
social, economic and environmental assets of
communities and countries” (unquote).

2. For a long time, the Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development and the Federal
Foreign Office had been engaged in a multitude of
international initiatives. Then, in 2003, the German
government adopted its framework for action on
Disaster Risk Management. Well, just another
policy paper, you may say.
So: What did that mean in practice for German
development cooperation? It meant that disaster
risks had to be taken into account in all
cooperation programs implemented in countries
which are rated as particularly vulnerable. In other
words: since then, German development
cooperation aims to mainstream DRM as a

3. standard task in high-risk countries. Further,
climate risks have to be systematically examined in
all affected projects, and—where necessary—DRM
is to be integrated within the framework of climate
adaptation strategies.
With its bilateral and multilateral funding of DRM
programs, German development cooperation
strives to ensure that the following four aspects are
taken into account:
the reduction of existing risks,
the limitation of disaster impacts on people,
the design of programs which themselves are
protected against natural events,
and lastly

4. that pro-active steps are taken - wherever
possible - to reduce the existing risk of
disasters.
As we know, disaster risks are caused by a
multitude of factors. Therefore, reducing these
risks requires holistic thinking. The German
government very much welcomes this year’s IDRC
slogan - quote - “Integrative Risk Management in a
Changing World - Pathways to a Resilient Society”
- unquote. We do so, because we believe that
integrated approaches are crucial for fostering
resilience.

5. One major element of DRM is Early Warning
Systems. And Germans know only too well why
one should talk about this issue in particular.
Let me hint at the periodical flooding along the
Rhine river - or at the floods of the Elbe river in
2002 and 2006. Germany experienced that well
functioning Early Warning Systems combined with
preparedness measures are essential to save lives
and to minimize losses and damages.
Also, Germany acknowledged that there are
several, decisive factors for successful risk
reduction. They have to be taken into account for
well established Early Warning Systems. Let me
mention but a few of them:

6.  technical aspects,
 legislative and organizational issues,
 cultural aspects,
 community awareness,
 and accountability.
Germany had to find out that steadily growing
urbanization, complexly combined infrastructure,
climate change and progressive globalization of
the world economy pose an increasing risk for the
German as well as for the global society. Germans
realized that they have to steadily adopt the
existing Early Warning Systems and to guarantee
well-known last mile communication.

7. Having said all that: What do you need for a well
functioning Early Warning System? A question not
easily to be answered. I suggest the following:
 Especially at local level, a sound interaction
between national and local institutional levels
and communities is a key challenge.
 Feedback mechanisms have to be in good
order. Only then warnings will reach the local
authorities and communities at-risk.
 Accurate Early Warning Systems need to be
linked with adequate communication and
timely response mechanisms.
 Communication has to be clear, precise and
understandable in order to reach local
communities or households.

8. Let me stop at this point and with these examples.
On behalf of the BMZ, I would like to thank all
participants of this session. Especially, I want to
thank the presenters and all their partners and
acknowledge their successful implementation of
Early Warning Systems, co-financed by the
German Government.
May I conclude by re-iterating Germany’s
engagement to promote DRM and reliable Early
Warning Systems within German development
cooperation and within the global development
agenda.

9. I am very much looking forward to the following
presentations and the discussion.
Thank you very much for your attention!
Thomas Piesch