Launch of the NDCC-WBI Online Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework Course

Remarks delivered by Ms. Idah Z. Pswarayi-Riddihough, Lead Natural Resources Management Specialist (on behalf of World Bank Philippines Country Director Mr. Joachim von Amsberg) at the launch of the NDCC-WBI Online Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Framework Course (February 7, 2005, Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), Diliman, Quezon City)

I’m very happy to be here and take part in launching the Comprehensive Natural Disaster Risk Management online course.  I understand this is the first of its kind in the Philippines and it’s also the first time for the World Bank to run this course at the country level through the initiative of local country partners themselves.

We don’t have to look far to see the importance of managing the risk of natural disasters.  The recent typhoons and the Asian tsunami are unfortunate but glaring reminders of how much still needs to be done and how little knowledge and preparedness there is to respond to the risks of natural disasters.

More so in disaster-prone countries like the Philippines, natural disasters are a development issue, and not simply an issue of humanitarian assistance.  Disasters directly impact the social and economic infrastructure of society.  For developing countries, disasters hit the poor hardest.

During the last decade, more than one billion people were affected by natural disasters and assets worth approximately US$730 billion were destroyed. Moreover, the losses from natural disasters are increasing. And in less developed countries, natural disasters tend to have a disproportionate impact, causing much greater losses (in terms of GDP) than in developed ones.

As the largest provider of reconstruction and development assistance, the Bank Group bears a responsibility to promote a more pro-active development approach to reducing the disaster risk.

The World Bank has been actively involved in post- disaster recovery and reconstruction projects in all regions. For instance, between 1980 and 2003, the Bank approved more than 576 projects with natural disaster-related components and loaned US$40 billion for reconstruction and mitigation. In addition to loans targeting recovery and reconstruction, the Bank has reassigned a significant number of loans committed to regular development projects for the timely funding of urgent reconstruction needs.

In the more recent Asian tsuanmi, the Bank, along with other international organizations, has been working on initial damage and needs assessments of the affected countries, as part of the first phase of the reconstruction process. The World Bank expects to eventually provide $660 million to help Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives in the first phase of support for the reconstruction process - with the emphasis initially on "quick action" solutions to put money in the pockets of those left without an income.

Recognizing the important role of disaster mitigation and risk management in the reduction of losses from natural disasters and sustainable development, the Bank is shifting its traditional focus on assistance for post-disaster reconstruction toward assistance for building a culture of prevention. This new approach necessitates research, the development of new policy and lending instruments, exchange of knowledge, the creation of communities of practice and awareness raising for governments, civil society, and local communities.

The increased demand for both disaster assistance and mitigation capacity building calls for a structured, comprehensive and global risk management framework, one that can be used by regional and national authorities and by partner institutions.

The World Bank Institute Natural Disaster Risk Management Program was developed to address the above needs. The program comprises a series of web-based courses, which aim at (i) awareness raising and (ii) advancing the participants’ analytical skills and professional knowledge in the specific area of disaster risk management.

With the WBI’s course content, NDCC’s stewardship and coordination, and ASTI-DOST’s network infrastructure, we are bringing this course to the Philippines in a way that multiplies and maximizes its value and impact on the ground.

We are therefore proud of the partnership forged between World Bank, National Disaster Coordinating Council, Advanced Science and Technology Institute-Department of Science and Technology, and three universities with Knowledge for Development Centers: Silliman University in the Visayas, Notre Dame University in Mindanao, and Saint Paul University Philippines in Luzon.  This demonstrates the opportunity and value for development partners to collaborate and complement each other’s comparative strengths and make a real and immediate impact on people’s lives.

Unknown to many, World Bank is a not just a lending institution; the World Bank is increasingly a Knowledge Bank.  We offer our vast global knowledge resources and experience to governments and other development partners to enrich and inform policymaking and dialogue to ensure maximum development impact. In many cases, the knowledge we share are just as important as any money we lend. I think this course is a perfect example of how the knowledge we share and our knowledge broker role may actually be—in the long run—more important than the financial aid we can provide. 

World Bank is also making humble but exciting efforts to leverage ICT, particularly for distance learning. Through partners like the Asian Institute of Management in Makati with whom we established a dedicated distance learning facility, we are able to offer local participants a link to experts and practitioners around the world through courses, seminars, and policy dialogues.   Likewise, local experts are able to broadcast and share with other countries.

Ironically enough, our technological interconnection with the outside world is better than our local interconnection.  That’s why we see a lot of value and potential in partnering with agencies like ASTI-DOST, through the Philippine Research, Education, and Government Information Network (PREGINET), to be able to promote knowledge sharing locally and develop networks of practitioners and experts such as those in the KDCs today.  We hope to continue expanding linkages and programs between PREGINET and our own Global Distance Learning Network and KDC program in the Philippines.

One final innovation in this program is that in this pilot course, we will introduce and use Philippine experience and cases in the learning content which would be used to further customize the course and the other related course modules for even more relevance.

Finally, let me take this opportunity to thank our partners again, and welcome the participants to this course in the various sites connected today – in Manila, Dumaguete, Tuguegarao, and Cotabato. I hope the this Natural Disaster Risk Management distance learning course will give you a broader understanding of disaster risk management practices and help government and communities enhance their effectiveness.

Related:
NDCC website (for course information)