Inter-Agency Working Group Minutes DRR and CCA Sub-group ...

Inter-Agency Working GroupMinutes DRR and CCA Sub-group MeetingDate: 15 th February 2011Time: 10:00 amVenue: IFRC Offices.PRESENT:• Gerry McCarthy People First• Wynn Flaten; World Vision• Chris Mandra;WFP• Helene Lafferty;UNOCHA• Emmanuelle Olesambu; FAO• Judy Waruhiu:IFRC• Edward Turvill; UNISDR• Ciacciarelli Palmira ;• Moses Mungoni; GRC• Yodit Abdisa; UNICEF• Hannah Muiruri; IAWG• Fredrick Ochieng; FH KenyaAPOLOGIES:• Helene Bushell; Oxfam• Matt Croucher ; Save the Children UK• Murray Burt; Tearfund• Oyundi Nehondo; Consultant• Maurice Onyango; Christian AidINTRODUCTIONThe meeting began at 10.15 am it was chaired by Judy Waruhiu who welcomed themembers and gave them a chance for introductions she also passed the apologies ofthe chair Helen Bushell. The members present agreed on the items laid down for theagenda for this meeting’s discussions.AGENDA1. Final sign off on TOR, Work plan and DRR manager SOW2. Feedback from the Mapping Task Force3. Presentation and discussion on Concept note4. Fund raising way forward5. La Nina6. AOBMin 1/02/2011: Final sign off on TOR, Work plan and DRR manager SOWThe groups TOR, work plan and DRR manager’s SOW were presented to the membersby Helene Laferty. She informed the members that all the comments on the documentssent to her had been incorporated in the final document as was agreed during the lastmeeting. The region coverage of the group had been changed to reflect all the regionswhere members are having activities without restrictions. The group is looking at makingthis coverage definition consistent with the overall IAWG.

The members agreed that these are working documents that will be reviewed from timeto time by the members to suit the group needs.Action UndertakenThe members present signed off these documents.Min 2/02/2011: Feedback from the Mapping Task ForceThe group was informed that the mapping taskforce held their third meeting on the 14 thFebruary 2011. During this meeting the group agreed to use the FAO Disaster riskreduction website for data collection during the mapping process. The group willhowever keep the excel questionnaires for people that will not have web access in thefield and the data in these questionnaires will then be incorporated into the website.Those members with web access will be shown how to register their programs directlyon the website.The mapping time line was presented by Helene to the members. It was agreed that thelaunching of the mapping exercise be done on 15 th March 2011 to coincide with the nextDRR & CCA meeting. It was agreed that the launch of the exercise should be promotedwidely by inviting participation from donors, IGAD and other stake holders.Discussions• A brief history of the FAO website was given to the members by Emmanuellewho explained that this project was initially set up as a forum for agencies toshare project information, maps and other resources. The website has adatabase for partners and it is currently including a wide range of projects andnot just those that are funded by ECHO. Members felt the use of this website willbe useful to the group because this is a platform that has already been tested,does not require more funds to set up and most members are familiar with it.• Helene showed the members how to use the website to input data into thewebsite. Once all the changes have been made on the website to enable itseffective use this will be presented to the members.• Members felt there is need to ensure that the communities, country offices andfield staff are involved in this exercise so that they can feel ownership for it. Thiscan be ensured by telling them the benefits they stand to gain from it.Min 3/02/2011: Presentation and discussion on Concept noteThis document was produced as agreed during the last meeting by Helen, Helene andGerry. They explained to the members that this document will basically be used by thegroup members to present to donors they meet on behalf of the group. It will make iteasier for members to explain the activities the group is doing and the funds needed tomeet the cost of activities.During the next meeting a small budget will be presented to the group showing the costsof the projects. Members felt that the costs for the project budgets should not be veryprohibitive for donors. It was also agreed that the group should identify activities that donot need funds to accomplish and start on them before the group gets the funds.Comments

Members felt there is need to strengthen the linkages with other DRRstakeholders in the region and introduce the idea of evidence based advocacy.Explain how DRR and CCA are integrated into existing programs and how thegroup is assisting partners in achieving the African Union and HFA.ActionsIt was agreed that the concept paper will be sent out to the members for comments andsuggestions which will be received by COB Friday February 25 th . A new version of theconcept note will then be shared and discussion during the next meeting.Min 5/02/2011: Fund raising way forwardThe members were informed that the group’s advocacy strategy has been finalized andwill be circulated to the members for comments in the following week. This advocacystrategy was described as being more superior compared to the earlier one. Commentson the advocacy strategy will be sent to Helen Bushell who is in touch with theconsultant.The members were also informed that the ECHO proposal hand in date has beenchanged to 21 st February and the feed back on the proposal is expected on the firstweek of April.Min 6/02/2011: La Nina updatesMembers were informed that the FAO DRR webpage is being updated regularly withcurrent information on La Nina. It was reported that the current La Nina effects maycontinue through to June at the moment both the best case and most likely scenariosare not good according to updates from Fewsnet.Helene volunteered to follow-up on La Nina news and information from various sites anddistribute it to the members. The members felt there is need to look into DRR responseand actions being taken by the group in regard to La Nina and even consider developingkey messages on this issue that can be used by communities. It was felt that the groupshould be a key forum for coming up with practical points that can be used in thecommunities.Action• Gerry agreed to put his suggestions on the group’s part in producing keymessages into a paragraph for the members to discuss during the next meeting.• If the situation on La Nina gets worse, members will call an adhoc meeting todiscuss it before the next meeting.• Emmanuelle agreed to provide good practice guides in a paragraph and presentto the members during the next meeting.Min 7/02/2011: AOB1. Members were informed that the global platform for DRR will be held from the 8 thto 13 th May in Geneva. The invitations for this forum will be sent from Genevaand not the Nairobi UNISDR office.

2. African Union will have a DRR expert meeting at the end of March before theGlobal Platform. Invitations are yet to be sent.3. FAO Somalia reported that they are in the process of finalizing their 5 yearstrategy which when complete will be shared with this group.4. A task force to handle the information and training part of the group’s activitieswas formed to look at training tools and information display. The volunteers forthis group are:• Gerry McCarthy People First• Chris Mandra;WFP• Helene Lafferty;UNOCHA• Emmanuelle Olesambu; FAO• Edward Turvill; UNISDRHelene agreed to follow up with the group and discuss a date for this group’smeeting.5. Members were informed that the WFP policy department on DRR will be meetingin the coming week. This meeting will be looking at increasing knowledge baseon DRR.6. There have currently only been 2 nominations for the chair position. It wasagreed that members will discuss this issue during the next meeting andmembers were encouraged to think of potential candidates.Next meetingThe next meeting was scheduled for 22 nd March 2011 at 10.00 am at IFRC offices.