Cook Islands National progress report on the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (2011-2013) - Interim Name of focal point: Charles Carlson Organization: Emergency Management Cook Islands Title/Position: Director E-mail address: [email protected] Telephone: +682 29609 Fax: +682 29602 Reporting period: 2011-2013 Report Status: Interim Last updated on: 20 September 2012 Print date: 31 October 2012 Reporting language: English An HFA Monitor update published by PreventionWeb http://www.preventionweb.net/english/countries/oceania/cok/ National Progress Report 2011-2013 1/53 National Progress Report 2011-2013 2/53 Section 1: Outcomes 2011-2013 Strategic Outcome For Goal 1 Outcome Statement: DRM remains a key priority as articulated in the new National Sustainable Development Plan (2011 - 2015) where it is now strongly linked with climate change. Goal 5 - ‘A cook islands where our people are resilient to disasters and climate change to achieve sustainable livelihoods’. Policy guidance is spread across the four objectives: i) Strong Governance Arrangements for DRM and CCA; High Quality Risk Information is Available to Inform Planning and Implementation; Effective Preparedness, Response and Recovery; and Resilience Built through Effective Disaster Risk Reduction and CCA. Following a policy decision in 2010 to harmonise DRM and CCA, the DRM NAP was reviewed and updated by a Joint DRM and CCA NAP (2011 - 2015). A process to develop a National Policy for DRM and CCA is underway. Strategic Outcome For Goal 2 Outcome Statement: The Joint National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation was published in early 2012. A dedicated Climate Change Division ('Climate Change Cook Islands') has been established in the Office of the Prime Minister, and is resourced through a combination of government funding (staff) and donor funds (programmes). EMCI and CCCI are now engaging in joint programming. A National Platform for CC and DRM has been established. Discussions relating to the establishment of sustainable funding mechanisms for DRM and CC continue and a draft policy for the establishment of a DRM and CCA Trust Fund has been prepared. The Cook Islands government has been successful in securing significant project-linked funding for DRM and CC. A national contingency fund - Disaster Emergency Trust Fund - has been established with an initial NZD200,000 allocation from government. Capacity building initiatives are on-going and DRM Committees now exist at the village-level in Rarotonga. Disaster Coordinators have been designated on the Outer Islands and Disaster Management Focal Points have been designated in all ministries and agencies. National Progress Report 2011-2013 3/53 Strategic Outcome For Goal 3 Outcome Statement: Achievements of the intention to ‘improve planning and budgeting by strengthening linkages at the national, sectoral and agency levels and integrating climate change and disaster risk management into budgeting processes’ have been moderate. Advances in this regard include budget labelling of certain types of infrastructure projects into a new category for ‘climate change adaptation’, the advancements made with respect to the conversion to renewable energy, gender and climate change policy, and government’s agreement to institutionalize the staffing costs of the new climate change unit. The Aitutaki Cyclone Recovery Programme was successful in systematically incorporating risk reduction approaches into its design. The establishment of the Disaster Emergency Trust Fund has served to reduce delays in emergency response and tsunami signage and sirens have strengthened levels of preparedness. National Progress Report 2011-2013 4/53 Section 2: Strategic goals Strategic Goal Area 1 The more effective integration of disaster risk considerations into sustainable development policies, planning and programming at all levels, with a special emphasis on disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and vulnerability reduction. Strategic Goal Statement: Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation considerations are effectively integrated into sector plans, local government legislation and Outer Island development plans, and there is an increase in levels of compliance of ministries and agencies in developing disaster response plans. Comprehensive multi-hazard vulnerability and adaptation assessments and DRM and CCA plans are developed for all islands, with strong community, government and civil society support. The National DRM and CC Policy is completed and endorsed by Cabinet. Strategic Goal Area 2 The development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms and capacities at all levels, in particular at the community level, that can systematically contribute to building resilience to hazards. Strategic Goal Statement: Continued strengthening of Emergency Management Cook Islands (EMCI) and Climate Change Cook Islands (CCCI) through targeted government and partner support for capacity building and implementation of programmes. Improved engagement and support to community level DRM Committees on Rarotonga and Outer Island Councils and Disaster Coordinators for disaster risk management and climate change adaptation planning and implementation. Strategic Goal Area 3 The systematic incorporation of risk reduction approaches into the design and implementation of emergency preparedness, response and recovery programmes in the reconstruction of affected communities. Strategic Goal Statement: National and community level programmes for emergency preparedness, response and recovery have a strengthened risk reduction component, and guidelines and programmes exist for addressing the special needs of vulnerable groups. National Progress Report 2011-2013 5/53 Section 3: Priority for action 1 Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with a strong institutional basis for implementation. Priority for action 1: Core indicator 1 National policy and legal framework for disaster risk reduction exists with decentralised responsibilities and capacities at all levels. Level of Progress achieved: 4 Substantial achievement attained but with recognized limitations in key aspects, such as financial resources and/ or operational capacities Key Questions and Means of Verification Is disaster risk taken into account in public investment and planning decisions? Yes National development plan Yes Cook Islands NSDP 2011 - 2015 (2011) [PDF - 10.86 MB] Sector strategies and plans Yes Climate change policy and strategy No Poverty reduction strategy papers No CCA/ UNDAF (Common Country Yes Assessment/ UN Development Assistance Framework) Civil defence policy, strategy and Yes contingency planning Have legislative and/or regulatory provisions been made for managing disaster risk? No National Progress Report 2011-2013 6/53 Description: Climate change and disaster risk management are now firmly embedded in the Cook Islands Sustainable Development Plan 2011-2015 in which one of the eight ‘priority areas’ is dedicated to ‘resilience’. The Goal is ‘resilient and sustainable communities’ and the vision is ‘a Cook Islands where our people are resilient to disasters and climate change to achieve sustainable livelihoods’. The activities and monitoring framework under this priority area are strongly aligned to those contained in the Cook Islands Joint National Action Plan for DRM and CCA (JNAP). The timeframe of the JNAP is aligned to the that of the NSDP. The JNAP is increasingly being seen by sector stakeholders as the main planning document for DRM and CCA in the Cook Islands and is beginning to serve as an important coordination mechanism for programme and funding alignment. A JNAP Programme Management Unit is now established to facilitate joint planning and coordination of the many CCA and DRM programmes happening in the Cook Islands. The Disaster Risk Management Act (2007) constitutes the primary legal framework for DRM in the Cook Islands. Implementation of the Act is facilitated through a supporting ‘Disaster Management Arrangements’ document developed in 2009 as well as a DRM Finance Policy that is part of a Financial Policies and Procedures Manual developed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management. It is further supported by related sector legislation such as the Biosecurity Act (2009), the National Environment Act (2003)(including regulations for performing EIAs and environmental permits and consents), the Red Cross Act (2002), the Public Health Act (Sewerage Regulations)(2008), and the Marine Resources Act (2005). Cook Islands National policy on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment and Strategic Plan of Action (2011 – 2016) addresses gender dimensions of climate change and disaster risk management. A national policy for climate change does not yet exist. A process towards development of a combined CC and DRM national policy began in 2011 and is linked to up-coming outer island consultations. Through the CI Red Cross, a thorough review of Cook Island’s compliance with International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) has taken place and recommendations are to be included in an update of the National DRM Act. There is also talk of updating the Act to cater for CCA as part of DRM as well updating the DRM Arrangements to better reflect lessons emerging from experiences following the Aitutaki cyclone disaster. A number of DRM plans are in existence and, apart from the JNAP, these include: Cook Islands Influenza Pandemic Action Plan (2006); Ministry of Health’s Emergency/Disaster Management