International Recovery Forum 2018

Build Back Better in Urban Resilience

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015‐2030 stipulates that the International Recovery Platform (IRP) is a mechanism that enhances the sharing of experiences and learning on 'building back better' among countries and all relevant stakeholders primarily through the annual organization of the International Recovery Forum. For 2018, the theme of the Forum will address how building back better contributes to urban resilience.

Objectives

The International Recovery Forum 2018 will address the following two items:

What does it mean to “Build Back Better” for urban resilience?

The Forum intends to discuss what is meant by “Build Back Better” for urban resilience, drawing from recent experiences. "Words into Action guidelines: Build back better in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction (consultative version)" for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR points out four major tasks:

• Develop a national disaster recovery framework,
• Enable a pre‐disaster recovery planning,
• Formalize systems for assessment,
• Strengthen policies on Build Back Better. 

To address this question “What does “Build Back Better” for urban resilience mean?” recent experiences will be discussed, considering these four major tasks stipulated in the Words into Action Guidelines.  Discussions in this Forum will further provide inputs to the consultative version of the Words into Action Guidelines.

Innovative approaches by learning from past experience and initiatives and how to measure success of “Build Back Better” in cities.

The Forum intends to discuss innovative approaches for “Build Back Better” drawing from the experiences and initiatives of local governments and other actors in cities, including private sector and civil society entities,  to achieve longer‐term resilience, in the aspects of housing, business and social protection. For example, Hyogo Prefecture and Kobe City achieved “Build Back Better” after the Hanshin‐Awaji Earthquake in 1995. 

There are a number of recent innovative tools and guidance on Build Back Better and resilience of which many local governments are still unaware, such as risk‐sensitive land‐use planning linked to building regulations (Japan) and probabilistic risk assessment (Philippines) tools to guide recovery processes. In view of this, the Forum offers a venue for sharing these tools and guidance. Learning from  innovative approaches, it is also critical to measure the success of “Build Back Better” in cities.