Main theme: Mainstreaming DRM in growth, development and poverty reduction strategies for building resilience: the what and the how of DRM; what's been done and how can it be scaled up.

The World Bank and Japan have been working together for a long time to promote disaster risk management in development planning, learning from Japanese experience and knowledge. In the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we jointly compiled lessons and experience to share with the rest of the world. We also convened world leaders in the Sendai Dialogue where we launched the 'Sendai Report' on mainstreaming DRM. Building on this partnership, Japan and the World Bank are now launching the global "Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management " and the DRM Hub at the World Bank Tokyo Office as part of this program. To mark the launching of this unique program, we are holding a special symposium to build global consensus for the development imperative of DRM.

Having Representatives from the Philippines and India, and prominent figures from the academics, business, and civil society, the discussions will dwell upon the lessons from Japan, demand for DRM mainstreaming assistance in developing countries, and the positioning of DRM in the post-2015 development frameworks, including the successor frameworks to the MDGs and Hyogo Framework for Action, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the climate agreement.

Recent adverse natural events in Japan, the Philippines, India, etc. bear testimony to the fact that human and economic damages from disasters are growing in frequency and intensity; and to the fact that no country is immune to disaster risk. The international development community is stepping up efforts of support developing countries in mainstreaming DRM in their development planning and investments. As Japan commemorates the third anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, this symposium is to take stock of what it takes to strengthen resilience at sub national, national and regional levels, and demonstrate the role of knowledge and capacity in integrating DRM in development processes.

*Notes

• Pre-registration is mandatory.
• Please bring your I.D. (issued by a public institution with your name, address and photo, e.g. driver’s license or a passport) for identity verification at the reception.You may not be able to enter the seminar without your I.D. 

Program:

Introduction

Mr. Yasusuke Tsukagoshi, Special Representative, Japan, World Bank

Opening Speech

Mr. Jiro Aichi, Senior Vice Minister of Finance / Senior Vice Minister for Reconstruction
Ms. Zoubida Allaoua, Acting Vice President, Sustainable Development Network, World Bank

Keynote Speech

Hon. Cesar Purisima, Secretary, Department of Finance, Government of the Philippines
Hon. Shashidhar Reddy, Vice-Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India
Dr. Yoshiaki Kawata, Research Center for Social Safety Science, Trustee, Director, Professor, Kansai University

Panel Discussion

Mr. Shinichiro Akiba, Corporate Senior Vice President, President and CEO, Community Solutions Company, Toshiba Corporation
Dr. Yoshiaki Kawata, Research Center for Social Safety Science, Trustee, Director, Professor
Ms. Keiko Kiyama, Secretary General, JEN
Ms. Bernice van Bronkhorst, Sector Manager for the Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Unit , South Asia region, World Bank
Mr. Christoph Pusch, Practice Leader, Africa Disaster Risk Management, World Bank
Moderated by Francis Ghesquiere, Manager, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR)

Q & A’s

Closing Remarks

Mr. Akihiko Tanaka, President, JICA