Events

Virtual Study Tour:  Prepare Better, Build Back Better: Towards a More Resilient Algeria 

May 18-27, 2021

Virtual

MULTIMEDIA

Pedestrians cross the street in a busy traffic intersection in Algeria.

The Government of Algeria, in collaboration with the World Bank, organized a virtual study tour aiming to bring together Algerian stakeholders with Disaster Risk Management (DRM) experts from around the world.

This series of virtual knowledge-exchange events focused on successful DRM case studies from countries that share Algeria’s disaster risk profile around issues such as earthquakes, floods, and forest fires. As such, the discussions provided Algerian delegates with an opportunity to discuss DRM prioritization and international best practices in disaster preparedness, reduction and response.

Webinar 1
Webinar 2
Webinar 3
Webinar 4
Speakers
Presentations

MULTIMEDIA

VIDEO May 18, 2021

Preventing and reducing the seismic risk: Good practices from Japan, Turkey and Nepal

Earthquakes and other natural hazards continue to cause enormous human and material damage every year around the world. In Algeria, the average annual loss associated with earthquakes is estimated at around US$991 million. While it is impossible to prevent an earthquake from occurring, it is nonetheless possible to prepare more for it and "build back better" by learning from past experiences.

This first webinar in the series "Prepare Better, Build Back Better: Towards a more resilient Algeria" addresses the importance of a comprehensive and multisectoral approach to disaster risk management that requires the integration of different levels of government and close collaboration with communities, civil society, local communities, and other stakeholders, in order to increase resilience to disasters. It will examine good practices and lessons learned for the management of major risks, specifically earthquakes, in three countries: Japan, Turkey and Nepal.

Agenda:

	Moderator \| Emmanuel Cuvillier, Resident representative in Algeria, World Bank
01:30 – 2:00	Participants registration
02:00 – 02:20	Opening remarks Jesko Hentschel, Director for the Maghreb and Malta, World Bank
02:20 – 02:50	Overview of the draft national strategy for the prevention and management of major risks in Algeria Abdelhamid Afra, National Delegate for Major Risks, Ministry of Interior, Algeria
02:50 – 03:20	Earthquake Risk Preparedness in Japan: From Prevention to Resilience Mikio Ishiwatari, Senior Advisor, Japan International Cooperation Agency; Visiting Professor, The University of Tokyo
03:20 – 03:50	Presentation of the Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project Kazım Gökhan ELGİN, Director of the Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness
03:50 – 04:20	Earthquakes in Nepal: Lessons Learned and Strategies in Place Anil Pokhrel, Chief Executive at National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Authority, Government of Nepal
04:20 – 04:45	Discussions
04:45 – 05:00	Closing remarks Jaafar Friaa, Practice Manager for Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land, MENA Region, World Bank

MULTIMEDIA

Jun 20, 2021

Building resilience to floods: Good practices from France and South Asia

Algeria, France and South Asia share a common challenge: flooding. The floods in Algeria continue to take lives and cause an average annual loss of about US$178 million. Likewise, thousands of people have died in South Asia from flooding and landslides caused by the annual monsoon. In France, floods constitute the first natural risk due to the extent of the damage it causes, the number of municipalities concerned, the extent of the flood-prone areas and the populations residing in these areas.

During this second webinar, participants will dive into what works and does not work in the flood risk prevention and will discuss best practices to build resilience to floods.

Agenda:

	Moderator \| Salim Rouhana, Senior Urban Development and Resilience Specialist, World Bank
01:30 – 2:00	Participants registration
02:00 – 02:10	Opening remarks Emmanuel Cuvillier, Resident representative in Algeria, World Bank
02:10 – 02:25	Opening remarks Abdelhamid Afra, National Delegate for Major Risks, Ministry of Interior, Algeria
02:25 – 02:50	Improving Flood Resilience: Lessons Learned from South Asia TBC
02:50 – 03:20	Integrated Flood Risk Management: Learning from the French Experience Aurélien Chartier, Mixed Syndicate of Floods, Water Planning and Management (SMIAGE), France
03:20 – 03:50	Discussions
03:50 – 04:00	Closing remarks Raja Rehan Arshad, Lead Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Specialist, MENA region, World Bank

MULTIMEDIA

May 26, 2021

Towards Livable & Resilient Cities post-COVID-19

Natural disasters and climate change have a devastating impact on cities and their inhabitants. By 2030, without significant investment into making cities more resilient, climate change may push up to 77 million more urban residents into poverty. In addition, urban areas contribute up to 80% to global GDP and are the engine of global growth. However, the same factors of population density, jobs and assets that so largely determine the success of cities, also contribute to making them extremely vulnerable to the wide range of natural and manmade shocks and disturbances that increasingly affect them.

This third webinar aims to strengthen the understanding of urban resilience and present a real success story of its implementation in the city of Amman, Jordan. The event will also discuss the role of cities to plan not only to reduce risks, but also to invest in building urban resilience, in order to enable systems, services and people to cope with the multiplication of disasters they face, including pandemics, to adapt to shocks and stresses, and to recover.

Agenda:

	Moderator \| Karima Ben Bih, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, MENA region, World Bank
01:30 – 2:00	Participants registration
02:00 – 02:10	Opening remarks Ayat Soliman, Regional Director, Sustainable Development Department for the MENA region, World Bank
02:10 – 02:40	Pandemics, Cities, and Disaster Risk Management: The World Bank Experience Sameh Wahba, Global Director of Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land Global Practice, World Bank
02:40 – 03:00	Building Urban Resilience to Disasters: Lessons from Amman Nuha Qteish, Director of Planning, Municipality of Greater Amman, Jordan
03:00 – 03:50	Discussions
03:50 – 04:00	Closing remarks Jaafar Friaa, Practice Manager for Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land, MENA Region, World Bank

MULTIMEDIA

VIDEO May 27, 2021

Forest fire prevention and presentation of the findings of the diagnosis on disaster risks in Algeria

During the period 2010-2019, Algeria recorded an average of nearly 3,000 fires per year, covering an average annual burnt area of more than 30,000 ha. Several studies have shown that climate change favors forest fires. This is because the frequency and intensity of periods of heat and drought, among others, are increasing under the effect of climate change, which will increase the risk of fires. Preventing wildfire will be the focus of the discussions during this event that will take participants to a virtual study tour in Portugal and France, giving them the opportunity to share their experiences in dealing with forest fire.

To conclude this series of webinars the panelists will present the findings of the rapid diagnostic on Disaster and Climate Risk Management in Algeria. The study provides a disaster and climate risk profile and quantifies macro-economic impacts of disasters. It identifies strengths and challenges in the regulatory and institutional framework for disaster and climate risk management and assesses resilience to risk by studying key sectoral plans and strategies.

Agenda:

	Moderator \| Carole Megevand, Sector Leader for Sustainable Development for the Maghreb countries, World Bank
01:00 – 01:10	Opening remarks Carole Megevand, Sector Leader for Sustainable Development for the Maghreb countries, World Bank
01:10 – 01:30	Forest fires in Algeria: Challenges and Prevention Ilham Loucif, Director, General Directorate of Forests (DGF), Algeria
01:30 – 01:50	Wildfires in Portugal: Prevention and Public Awareness Fantina Tedim, Associate professor, University of Porto, Portugal
01:50 – 02:15	Lessons from the forest fires in Marseille, France Pascal Worytko, Marseille fire brigade battalion, France
02:15 – 02:50	Preventive actions to strengthen forest fire management Andrea Kutter, Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist, World Bank
03:00 – 03:20	Presentation of the Findings of the Diagnostic on Disaster Risks in Algeria Karima Ben Bih, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, MENA region, World Bank
03:20 – 03:40	Discussions
03:40 – 03:50	Closing remarks Abdelhamid Afra, National Delegate for Major Risks, Ministry of Interior, Algeria
03:50 – 04:00	Closing remarks Emmanuel Cuvillier, Resident representative in Algeria, World Bank

Abdelhamid Afra is the national delegate for major risks at the Ministry of the Interior in Algeria. He is Professor at the National School of Public Works in Algiers and previously Professor at the National Center for Integrated Building Studies and Research. He holds a PhD from the National School of Bridges and Roads in France.

Kazım Gökhan Elgin is the Founder Director of Istanbul Project Coordination Unit (IPCU) leading the international organizations funded Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Management Project (ISMEP) with a budget of 2.3 Billion Euro that aims to improve the city of Istanbul’s preparedness for a potential earthquake.

Anil Pokhrel is the Chief Executive at the National Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Authority, Government of Nepal. He has previously worked on multiple projects and technical assistance on disaster risk reduction, and management and climate change in multiple countries in South Asia, East Asia, Central and West Asia.

Mikio Ishiwatari is Visiting Professor at The University of Tokyo and Senior Advisor in disaster management and water resources management for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). He has also served as a government engineer at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan, as an Urban Development Specialist at the Asian Development Bank, and as a Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist at the World Bank.

Nuha Qtaish is an architect and urban planner currently holding the position of Executive Director of Planning at Greater Amman Municipality (GAM). She has previously served as Director of Zoning Department, and Director of Construction Licensing Directorate at the Free Development Zones Authority (JFDZ). She has contributed to authoring both the Amman Zoning By-law and the Amman Municipal Law.

Ilham Loucif, Director, protection of fauna and flora at the General Directorate of Forests in Algeria. She previously held the positions of researcher at the National Forest Research Institute and Deputy Director of protected areas and natural habitats. She holds a Diploma of Advanced Studies in forestry from Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Greece.

Fantina Tedim is Assistant Professor at the University of Porto. Her research focuses on disaster risk as an interaction between society and environment as well as vulnerability and resilience in a multi-hazard approach and risk communication.
Webinar 1 — Seisms
Overview of the draft national strategy for the prevention and management of major risks in Algeria (French)
Presentation of the Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness Project (English)
Earthquake Risk Preparedness in Japan: From Prevention to Resilience (English)

Webinar 2 — Floods
Integrated Flood Risk Management: Learning from the French Experience (French)

Webinar 3 — Urban Resilience
Building Urban Resilience to Disasters: Lessons from Amman (English)
Pandemics, Cities, and Disaster Risk Management: The World Bank Experience (French)

Webinar 4 — Fires
Lessons from the forest fires in Marseille, France (French)
Preventive actions to strengthen forest fire management (English)
Wildfires in Portugal: Prevention and Public Awareness (English)
Forest fires in Algeria: Challenges and Prevention (French)