United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC)

Disasters Lessons Learned and

Impact on Recovery and Reconstruction

University of Technology

Acknowledgements

• With thanks to UNDP Jamaica which instigated the review process

• Colleagues in the field• Colleagues within the ECLAC and UN system

The ECLAC Methodology

The cycleThe procedureThe assessment Its uses

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

The ECLAC MethodologyThe post-disaster cycle

ECLAC evaluation

Emergency Rehabilitation and recovery

Reconstruction

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

The ECLAC MethodologyThe procedure

Description Assessment Rehabilitation and reconstruction

Part I Part II Part III

What is it and where?

Whom has it affected?

What has been done?

How much?

Magnitude?

What is required

What needs to be done?

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

The ECLAC MethodologyThe assessment

Damages

Assets and Stocks

Losses Impacts

GDP

Fiscal Accounts

Balance of payments

Employment

Prices

At the time of the disaster

Lost Income Higher costs

Following the disaster

1 to 5 years

Social and productive sectors, infrastructure and environment Macroeconomic effects

Part 1 Part 2

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

THREE BASIC AND RECURRING CONCEPTS

Damages

+ Losses

=Impact

Global Effects

Disaster affects assets ( damages), the flow of goods and services ( losses)

and the performance of main macro economic aggregates

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

MACRO ECONOMIC EFFECTS

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Years

%

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Years

Per

cent

ages

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

Cayman Islands: Impact of Ivan on GDP

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Years

Per

cent

ages

Grenada

Cayman Islands

Jamaica

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

Rate of growth in states affected by Ivan

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

Sectoral Impacts

Affected populationAgricultureTourismInfrastructureCommerce

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

Social Impacts

Loss of housingLoss of livelihoodsHealth SectorEducationShelters

Existing weaknesses not only affecting disasters but overall well being and performanceLocation of human settlements and economic activities in hazard zonesInappropriate construction techniquesEnvironmental deterioration aggravates damagesLack of risk planning in development

Factors impacting on damages and losses

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

Hurricane preparedness reduces impact. Low probability of event does not equate with zero probability. Government weaknesses exacerbate impactsShelters and EOC’s not always properly designedThe higher the level of economic development the higher the economic damages Unless carefully managed, economic and social structures suffer fracture or complete breakdown

Factors impacting on damages and lossescont’d

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

Poverty major contributor to impacts, short term survival needs will take precedence over probability of natural disastersImpacts of disasters will have a negative impact on achieving MDG’sThe higher the rate of insurance the higher the resilience of the country

Factors impacting on damages and lossescont’d

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

Lessons learned and recommendations

Risk reduction and the transfer of risk should be part of the planning processComprehensive disaster management policy including promotion of economic instruments and risk reduction strategies, hazard mapping, and storage of emergency suppliesInstitutional strengthening that promotes risk managementBuilding codes and land use should be revisited and enforcedRapid needs assessments and socio-economic assessments are complementary to mobilize resources for the emergency and reconstruction.

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

Lessons learned and recommendationscont’d

Strategy for intra-regional cooperation should go beyond the phase that reacts to an event to make provision for preventative action, risk reduction, mitigation and management and risk transfer actions.A partnership between UNDP, ECLAC, World Bank and IDB with regional organizations such as the CDB, OECS, ACS and CARICOM and governments to pursue issues of management and transfer of risk should be developed.

ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean

Lessons learned and recommendationscont’d

Establish small grant, soft loan facilities and community micro financing facilities with particular focus on vulnerable groups such as small farmers, traders and women headed householdsEstablish mechanisms to cope with post disaster stressImprove resilience of schools, health centres and other critical infrastructure