ENG - Digital Brochure

AMERICAS + URUGUAY
CARIBBEAN 28 FEB,
VIII PLATFORM FOR 1-2 MAR
DISASTER RISK 2023
REDUCTION
DIGITAL BROCHURE
Midterm Review
Welcome to the VIII Session of the Regional
Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the
Americas and the Caribbean (RP23):
“Science and Technology for the Comprehensive
Management of Disaster Risk” - Punta del Este, Uruguay,
from February 28 to March 2, 2023
In this new session of the Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the
Caribbean, the focus will be on topics of science and technology, with an emphasis on promoting
effective coverage of Early Warning Systems (Target G of the Sendai Framework).
It is considered necessary to make science and technology the fundamental tools for disaster
risk reduction, particularly regarding decision-making, feasibility, development, financing, and
implementation.
We are looking forward to seeing you!

OVERVIEW
Event: VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean
(RP23)
Theme: “Science and Technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk”
Dates: Tuesday, February 28 to Thursday, March 2, 2023
Location: Enjoy hotel, Punta del Este, Uruguay
Organized by: Government of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, National Emergency System
(SINAE, by its acronym in Spanish) of the Presidency of Uruguay
Supported by: United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for the Americas
and the Caribbean
Format: Hybrid mode: In-person, with access enabled for remote online engagement in both
the official program and key events
Acknowledgements
The Government of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction (UNDRR) wish to express special appreciation for the financial support received from
various donors and cooperation agencies. Without their valuable contribution, this Regional Platform
would not have been possible. This collaborative work reflects the fact that disaster risk reduction is
everyone’s responsibility.
With special thanks to: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the
European Commission Department of Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO), the United
States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (USAID BHA),
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Government of Japan, the German
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German Federal Foreign
Office (FFO), and the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems Initiative (CREWS).
At the Uruguayan level, thanks are due to the different ministries of the national government for their
support and to the United Nations System in Uruguay, and especially the Ministry of Tourism, the
Municipality of Maldonado, Unicef and the Uruguayan Red Cross for their commitment to the Regional
Platform.
4 VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean (RP23)
Message from the Vice President
of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,
Beatriz Argimón
Every year, emergencies and disasters cause the loss of thousands of lives around the world, with
damages amounting to more than $300 trillion. That is why emergency and disaster risk management
is an increasingly important issue and task in a world where risk is increasing with industrial
development, population growth, and the negative effects of climate change.
For the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, it is an honor to host for the first time the Regional Platform for
Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean: the most relevant space for meeting and
exchange in the continent on the subject.
Punta del Este, one of our most important tourist destinations, which combines the beauty of nature
with modern buildings, intense cultural life and all the necessary infrastructure, will be the ideal
meeting point for representatives of governments, international agencies, social organizations, the
private sector, academia, and the media of the Americas and the Caribbean.
In this eighth session, which will focus on the use of science and technology for comprehensive,
efficient, and effective risk management, we offer a space for participation where we can continue
strengthening links and alliances between our countries.
Together, we will achieve moving towards the construction of a better-prepared and more resilient
region.
“Science and Technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk” 5

Message from the Special
Representative of the Secretary-
General for Disaster Risk Reduction
and Head of the United Nations Office
for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR),
Mami Mizutori
It is time to decide our future. Sometimes it seems that we are already too late, that destruction is
inevitable, and that there is little we can do about it. We are certainly behind schedule, but there is still
time to ensure a safer, more resilient, and better future.
It is important, then, to start designing the scenarios we will face. Our region, the Americas and the
Caribbean, is one of the most exposed to hazards and one of the most likely to report losses due to
disasters. Nothing affects development more than a disaster.
Therefore, UNDRR and the government of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay are committed to the
results and plans that will come out of this VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the
Americas and the Caribbean (RP23), which will be held in Punta del Este from February 28 to March
2, 2023.
This will be a meeting space for governments, intergovernmental organizations, the private sector,
civil society, youth, cooperation agencies, and academia, as well as other relevant actors in the
Americas and the Caribbean, to exchange experiences and design our destiny. The message is very
clear: prevention saves lives.
Uruguay has proposed the topics of science, technology, and early warning systems, under the title
“Science and Technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk”, as the central axis
of RP23. The role of science and technology in the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk
should be highlighted, especially regarding its feasibility, development, financing and implementation.
And under that approach, we will present and analyse progress in the implementation of the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction through the Mid-Term Review, as well as identify good
practices to replicate and boost its progress; review the implementation of the Regional Action Plan,
which will serve as the basis for regional priorities for the next two years; and recommend inclusive
and sustained mechanisms and strategies for further disaster risk reduction.
Both the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the current Regional Action
Plan for the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the Americas and the Caribbean state that
disaster risk management policies and practices must be based on a thorough knowledge of risk.
This knowledge is essential for pre-disaster risk assessment, prevention, and mitigation, as well as
for the implementation of appropriate preparedness and response measures to manage emergencies
and disasters effectively and holistically. For all these processes, science and technology are crucial.
In turn, these processes are crucial if we want to comply with the initiative of UN Secretary-General
António Guterres, who aspires to planetary coverage of early warning systems (EWS) in the coming
years; a complex goal, but very feasible if we start designing our future now. This initiative will ensure
a much safer world for all people. Much more so with the climate change scenarios we will have
to face. At COP27, these scenarios posed by climate change prompted the creation of a Loss and
Damage Fund, in which the most developed countries acquired an active commitment to solidarity.
During the V Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Bali, Indonesia, we delved together
into the actions to be taken to build a more resilient society. Together, we must continue this reflection
during RP23, as effective disaster risk reduction requires meaningful and diverse participation,
commitment and leadership through an inclusive and accessible approach for all.
I thank everyone for their commitment to reducing disaster risk and to building a better future; to our
donors, partners, the advisory board, participants, panelists, exhibitors, volunteers, media, journalists,
allies; in short, to anyone who is part of this community to build resilience and meet the goals we have
set for this Platform. This meeting will be key to the future to which we aspire, the future we deserve.
It is not too late, we have time. But the time to act is now.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements...........................................................................................................................4
Message from the Vice President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Beatriz Argimón.................5
Message from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and
Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Mami Mizutori................6
Table of Contents..............................................................................................................................8
Risk trends, disaster impact and challenges in the region..............................................................11
Concept note...................................................................................................................................11
Science and technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk ............................13
What do we expect from PR23?......................................................................................................15
Advisory Council .............................................................................................................................15
Structure of RP23............................................................................................................................17
Building plan ...................................................................................................................................18
How can you register?.....................................................................................................................22
MAIN AGENDA - Plenary sessions .................................................................................................25
Plenary session 1 / Science and technology for integrated disaster risk management and climate
change adaptation.....................................................................................................................25
Plenary session 2 / Risk governance: innovations for policy and multisectoral coordination to
reduce risk drivers..........................................................................................................................................28
Plenary session 3 / Evidence-based financing of resilient development: a strategic approach to
sustainable and efficient investments.......................................................................................................30
Plenary session 4 / Recover and build back better in a context of increased uncertainty and
complexity of risk. Experiences and lessons learnt.................................................................................32
MAIN AGENDA - Parallel sessions..................................................................................................36
Parallel session 1 / Lessons for sustainable and resilient development...........................................36
Parallel session 2 / Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems: leaving no one behind..........................39
Parallel session 3 / Science and technology within reach: low-cost solutions and traditional
knowledge to increase community resilience..........................................................................................41
Parallel session 4 / Digital transformation and resilience of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs)...........................................................................................................................................................44
Parallel session 5 / Risk reduction through sustainable ecosystem management: science and
technology and nature-based solutions (NbS)........................................................................................47
Parallel session 6 / Urban risk reduction: local leadership towards inclusive, cross-cutting,
multilevel governance....................................................................................................................................50
Parallel session 7 / Systemic risk, inequality and inclusion: lessons from the pandemic for
DRR...................................................................................................................................................................53
Parallel session 8 / Resilient infrastructure in the face of systemic risk impacts: principles,
regulatory frameworks, innovations and good practices.......................................................................56
MAIN AGENDA - Special Session ...................................................................................................59
Mid-Term Review of implementation of the Sendai Framework and progress on the implementation
of the Regional Action Plan.............................................................................................................59
Official statements..........................................................................................................................60
High-level segments ......................................................................................................................61
Side events......................................................................................................................................62
Side event 1 / A gender approach based on women’s autonomy and leadership for a more resilient
region................................................................................................................................................................62
Side event 2 / Safe schools: education for a culture of prevention.....................................................62
Side event 3 / The role of the insurance sector in the context of systemic risk...............................63
Side event 4 / Funding for the localization of humanitarian action and DRR...................................63
Side event 5 / Early warning to reduce loss and damages? Connecting communities through
technology.......................................................................................................................................................63
Side event 6 / Communicating risk: data and information for evidence-based decision-
making..............................................................................................................................................................64
Side event 7 / Vulnerability and Risk to Climate Change in UNESCO-designated sites in Latin
America and the Caribbean..........................................................................................................................64
Side event 8 / Configuration and implementation of Early Warning Systems: challenges and
opportunities...................................................................................................................................................65
Side event 9 / Statistical data and geospatial information for DRR....................................................65
Side event 10 / Disaster displacement: innovative tools for integrating mobility into risk
management...................................................................................................................................................66
Side event 11 / Comprehensive Fire Management ................................................................................66
Side event 12 / Media as transformative driver in DRR.........................................................................67
Side event 13 / Youth, technology and inclusion for DRR.....................................................................67
Side event 14. / Advances in the capacities of Integrated Disaster Risk Management Governance
in Central America and Dominican Republic............................................................................................68
Side event 15 / The Road to 2030: engaging whole-of society in DRR to build an equitable and
resilient future for all......................................................................................................................................68
Learning labs...................................................................................................................................69
Learning Lab 1 / Application of the FORIN method for disaster risk analysis: experiences from
Jamaica, Mexico and Peru...........................................................................................................................69
Learning Lab 2 / Increasing the effectiveness of communication in disaster risk management. An
ABC from advertising.....................................................................................................................................69
Learning Lab 3 / MCR2030 Workshop: the path from planning to funding and implementation of
solutions...........................................................................................................................................................70
Learning Lab 4 / Mobilizing parliaments to address climate migration.............................................70
Learning Lab 5 / Disaster statistics workshop........................................................................................71
Learning Lab 6 / MCR2030 workshop: tools to support locality planning for climate resilience..71
Learning Lab 7 / INCENTIVA groupware for sustainable and resilient investments.......................72
Learning Lab 8 / Sendai Framework Monitoring.....................................................................................72

Ignite Stage.....................................................................................................................................73
Expo.................................................................................................................................................79
Preparatory events..........................................................................................................................80
Preliminary events...........................................................................................................................81
Subsequent events .........................................................................................................................82
Online connection...........................................................................................................................82
Key documents................................................................................................................................82
Communication tools, press accreditation and social networks....................................................83
Overview...........................................................................................................................................................83
Media Network................................................................................................................................................83
Social media....................................................................................................................................................84
Photo Notice....................................................................................................................................................84
Logistics note .................................................................................................................................85
Concept note
The contribution of regional
platforms
In recent years, the sessions of the Regional
Platform were organized successively by
Panama (2009), Mexico (2011), Chile (2012),
Ecuador (2014), Canada (2017), Colombia
(2018), and Jamaica (2021). As an integral
part of the Regional Platform, a ministerial
and high-level authorities meeting is being
held to highlight the political commitment
of countries to disaster risk reduction (DRR)
and the results of the Regional Platform. In
addition, contributions from other important
sectors, such as the private sector and youth,
are welcomed.
Risk trends, disaster impact and challenges in the

region
The first first Regional Assessment Report Action (HFA) and five years after the Sendai
on Disaster Risk in Latin America and the Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-
Caribbean, RAR-LAC 2021 , analyses the
1
2030) was launched, it is possible to verify
underlying causes and drivers of risk and raises that the policies, measures, and mechanisms
the need to deepen them to fully understand risk adopted have been limited in the effective
and its causality, and then reflect on governance fulfilment of their central objective: to reduce
mechanisms and structures that allow it to be the number of disasters and their impact.”2
reduced.
For example, between 1997 and 2017, one in
The RAR-LAC 2021 recognizes that, “three four disasters recorded in the world occurred in
decades after the proclamation of the Latin America and the Caribbean, mainly due to
International Decade for Natural Disaster events of climatic origin (mainly floods, which
Reduction (IDNDR) - which initiated the are potentially predictable). The region is also
systematic efforts of the international the most affected in the world in terms of the
community to reduce disaster risk, fifteen years economic impact of disasters. Between 1998
after the adoption of the Hyogo Framework for and 2017, the region accounted for 53% of the
1 RAR, Regional Disaster Risk Assessment Report for 2 Idem 1

Latin America and the Caribbean | UNDRR
world’s economic losses from climate-related • Ensure that planning and investments are
disasters and 46% of the global disaster losses informed by and sensitive to disaster risk
in the last decade.3 • Building innovative approaches and
ways of managing cities, where risk is
Latin America has been the region most increasingly concentrated
impacted globally by the COVID-19 pandemic. • Transform governance for risk
In 2020, the pandemic was the leading cause of management, so that the predominance
death in virtually the entire region. of reactive vision is overcome once and
for all and has a profound impact on the
Overcoming this reality involves facing a set of DNA of development
challenges clearly set out in the RAR-LAC 2021: .
• Maintaining interest and supporting

coherence between global frameworks
and the commitment of countries to
their compliance, among others, given
the growing impact of climate change,
the panorama of economic recession
foreseen at the time for the region due to
the COVID-19 pandemic and today fuelled
by the impacts of the war in Ukraine
• Improve information and decision-making
support systems to better understand the
risk and impact of disasters
• Acknowledge progress, but improve
the quality of data, update and expand
country coverage in the region to have a
greater understanding, recognizing the
systemic nature of risk
• Addressing the underlying causes
and drivers of risk and containing new
dynamics in the construction of risk: we
must go to the root of the problem
• Promote forward-looking and corrective
risk management decisions and
investments through sustainable
schemes that do not represent a financial
burden for countries
3 Idem
Science and technology for the
Comprehensive Management of
Disaster Risk
It is necessary to highlight the role of science Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk,
and technology in the Comprehensive in its different components and from a systemic
Management of Disaster Risk, tconsidering the approach, requires adequate management of
diversity of knowledge available in the region science and technology:
and the world. Both the Sendai Framework and
the Regional Action Plan state that disaster risk • Corrective management: It is essential to
management policies and practices should be know the vulnerability of people, elements
based on a thorough understanding of risk. and systems exposed to different hazards
Such knowledge is essential for pre-disaster risk of various origins, to reduce uncertainty
assessment, to promote prevention, mitigation and define effective strategies for land-
once risk materializes, and the implementation use planning, formulate public policies
of appropriate preparedness and response that improve the living conditions of our
measures to manage emergencies and populations and promote cultural patterns
disasters effectively and comprehensively. For that incorporate care habits, among other
all these processes, science and technology are dimensions.
key factors.
• Compensatory management: This
In the Declaration of Ministers of the VII Regional requires the use of technology to develop
Platform, Jamaica 2021, the participating high diverse types of EWS for the different
authorities confirmed the need to strengthen adverse events to which a territory is
the development and dissemination of national exposed, to promote resilient practices,
and local science-based methodologies and to generate and apply response protocols,
tools. continuity and evacuation plans, to assess
damage and losses, etc.
The importance of the availability of technical
assistance to facilitate the timely implementation • Prospective management: Information,
of prevention and preparedness measures, knowledge, technology and innovation
as well as the identification, recording, and are relevant to anticipate the construction
reporting of disaster impacts through the online of new risks and not to reinforce existing
monitoring platforms that are designed for this ones, influencing the development model
purpose and adopted for monitoring the Sendai that reproduces them. Anticipatory action,
Framework was also underlined. investment in Disaster Risk Management
(DRM) and ensuring equity in access
to funding to reduce risks must be
strengthened.
However, the Americas and the Caribbean are All the above reaffirms the importance of
one of the most unequal regions in terms of including the diversity of knowledge, science and
scientific and technological development in the technology in the process of developing public
world. While countries such as the United States policies and in DRM governance, facilitating
and Canada are among the world’s leading their access and use, generating mechanisms
countries in research and development (R&D) that improve transparency and accountability,
investment, the rest of the region as a whole is bridging digital gaps and facilitating digital
at the bottom of the list. Furthermore, there is transformation, improving data production and
a trend, aggravated by the pandemic, to reduce data use, establishing a constructive dialogue
the fiscal space of States for investment in R&D between DRM and S&T communities. In
and, therefore, deepen the little value given to short, the aim is to effectively transform S&T
science and technology in public policies and into actions that improve decision-making
national budgets. processes in DRM and inform development at
all levels in a context of increasingly complex
Another challenge is related to the development, and interconnected risks.
access and use of science and technology, which .
are determined by the context of inequality and
exclusion that prevails in the region, leading to
concrete manifestations in the capacity to use
and exploitation of its benefits. For example,
the pandemic showed how and how much the
digital divide weighs heavily and how millions of
people did not have the same opportunities to
adapt to virtuality and the use of technological
packages in areas such as work or education.
In the same vein, given the cultural, ethnic and

social diversity of the continent, it is important
to bear in mind that people’s relationship with
science and technology is different and very
often complemented by other knowledge.
Experience has shown that technological tools
are hard to assimilate if their managers do not
consider the cultural particularities and the
visions and knowledge of communities. The
promotion of technologies should be presented
as a transdisciplinary complement to existing
knowledge systems.
What do we expect from RP23?
Objectives Results
Considering the above, the VIII Regional Platform The main Expected Results of the VIII Regional
will have as its General Objective: to analyse the Platform are:
progress and obstacles to the implementation
of the Sendai Framework and the Regional 1. Summary by the Chairperson
Action Plan (RAP), updated in 2021; to seek 2. Statement by the High-Level Segment/
proposals and collective responses to the Ministerial Meeting
challenges posed by the increase in the number 3. Presentation of progress made and
and complexity of climate and disaster risks recommendations for progress in
in the region; and to find sustained, attractive meeting the RAP for the implementation
and valid mechanisms for the best use of of the Sendai Framework in the Americas
science and technology in the comprehensive and the Caribbean
management of disaster risk. 4. Reports of the VIII Regional Platform for
Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas
In addition, its Specific Objectives are set as and the Caribbean
follows: 5. Declaration on Opportunities and
Challenges of Science and Technology
1. Present and analyse progress and for the Comprehensive Management of
obstacles at national, subregional and Disaster Risk
regional levels in the comprehensive
and inclusive implementation of the Advisory Council
Sendai Framework, its goals and
priorities, to identify good practices and An Advisory Council was formed to define
recommendations that will contribute to and establish the structure, content and
furthering its progress methodology of the VIII Regional Platform for
2. Review compliance with the RAP updated Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and
to 2021 and, in light of the increase in the the Caribbean.
number and complexity of climate and
disaster risks, define regional priorities for The Council is composed of delegates from
the next two years 2023-2024 Uruguay as the host country, who will co-chair
3. Considering the systemic nature of risk, the meetings together with UNDRR, which will
recommend inclusive and sustained act as secretariat; Jamaica, as the host country
mechanisms and strategies for better of the last Regional Platform; intergovernmental
support, development, and use of science organizations from the region; international
and technology in disaster risk reduction agencies and donors cooperating with the
region; regional civil society organizations;
the private sector; representatives of youth
groups and networks; and the scientific and
technological community.
The Government of the Oriental Republic of For more information, please click on the
Uruguay and UNDRR remain strongly committed following link:
to ensuring inclusive and multi-sectoral
consultations as part of the preparations for the https://rp-americas.undrr.org/2023/practical-
Regional Platform. information/accessibility
You can access the full article at the following

link:
Sustainability
Environmental sustainability is a key element
https://rp-americas.undrr.org/sites/default/
for disaster risk reduction. The Government
files/inline-files/ENG%20Concept%20Note%20
of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, with the
RP23.pdf
support of UNDRR, has aspired to organize
an eighth session of the Regional Platform
Accessibility for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas
and the Caribbean that minimizes negative
The host country, with the support of UNDRR, environmental impacts and provides benefits to
is committed to making RP23 accessible to all. local hosts and communities. RP23 has strived
The RP23 will ensure the conditions that allow to minimize negative environmental impacts
the full participation of persons with disabilities, and inspire change. For more information,
both in-person and virtually (online). please click on the following link:
To this end, the following actions have been https://rp-americas.undrr.org/2023/practical-

planned: information/sustainability
Physical accessibility to all RP23 As a member of the United Nations, UNDRR

facilities at the Convention Centre is committed to reducing our environmental
footprint, leaving a beneficial legacy for the
International Sign Language host community and leading by example
interpretation in all sessions of the by organizing environmentally sustainable
formal agenda meetings in accordance with the UN guidelines
for sustainable event management.
Real-time caption
Accessible website, materials, and

software

Training on tourism accessibility
Structure of RP23
Science & Technology Sendai Framework Sustainable Early Warning

implementation development Systems
Structure:
36
sessions
4 high level sessions
8 parallel sessions
1 special session
8 learning labs
15 side events
One technical
session on One
the Regional Ministerial
Action Plan meeting
Ofﬁcial
statements ResilienceTech
Competition
Ignite
Preparatory
Stage
Event

Building plan
Punta del Este Hall

PARALLEL SESSIONS
EVENT ROOM PLENARY SESSIONS
MINISTERIAL RÍO DE JANEIRO A
LEARNING LAB RÍO DE JANEIRO B
SIDE EVENTS RÍO DE JANEIRO C
SRSG PORTOFINO
PUNTA DEL ESTE

Hall
RÍO DE JANEIRO
PORTOFINO
MAIN
ELEVATORS HALL HALL
ENTRANCE
BARILOCHE
CANCÚN
RIVIERA
CARIBE
MAR
VIÑA
DEL
EVENT ROOM
BILATERALL RIVIERA MONTECARLO

Hall
UNDRR CARIBE
SECRETARY CANCÚN
PRESS BARILOCHE
BILATERALL VIÑA DEL MAR
Hall
MONTECARLO
IGNITE STAGE
MARKET PLACE
AMERICAS + URUGUAY
CARIBBEAN 28 FEB,
DISASTER RISK 2023
REDUCTION
AGENDA 28 FEBRUARY 2023

Time Agenda Item
OPENING CEREMONY
9:00 a 10:30
Room: Punta del Este C, D, E

10:30 a 11:00 BREAK
PLENARY SESSION
Science and technology for integrated disaster risk management and climate change adaptation
11:00 a 12:30

12:30 a 12:45 BREAK
SIDE EVENT SIDE EVENT SIDE EVENT LEARNING LAB
A gender approach based Safe Schools: education for The role of the insurance Application of the FORIN
IGNITE STAGE
12:45 a 13:45 on women’s autonomy a culture of prevention sector in a context of method for disaster risk
and leadership for a more systemic risk analysis. Experiences from
resilient region Jamaica, Mexico and Peru
Room: Punta del Este A, B Room: Río de Janeiro C Online Room: Río de Janeiro B
13:45 a 14:30 BREAK
PARALLEL SESSION PARALLEL SESSION LEARNING LAB
Lessons for sustainable and resilient Sistema de Alerta Temprana Multi- Increasing the effectiveness
development amenaza: no dejar a nadie atrás of communication in disaster
14:30 a 15:30 risk management. An ABC from
advertising
Presentation of
Arise Uruguay
Special Event:
Room: Punta del Este C, D, E Room: Punta del Este A, B Room: Río de Janeiro B
15:30 a 16:00 BREAK
SPECIAL SESSION SIDE EVENT LEARNING LAB
Mid-term Review of Funding for the localization of MCR2030 Workshop: The path from
implementation of the Sendai humanitarian action and DRR planning to funding and implementation
16:00 a 17:30 Framework and progress on the of solutions
implementation of the Regional
Action Plan Room: Río de Janeiro C Room:Río de Janeiro B

AMERICAS + URUGUAY
CARIBBEAN 28 FEB,
DISASTER RISK 2023
REDUCTION
AGENDA 1 MARCH 2023

Time Agenda Item
PLENARY SESSION
Risk governance: Innovations for policy and multisectoral coordination to reduce risk drivers
8:30 a 10:00
10:00 a 10:30 BREAK
PARALLEL SESSION PARALLEL SESSION REGIONAL ACTION
PLAN TECHNICAL
Science and technology within reach: low- Digital transformation and resilience of SESSION
Inclusion Disability
10:30 a 11:30 cost solutions and traditional knowledge to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Special Event:
increase community resilience. (MSMEs)
Room: Punta del Este C, D, E Room: Punta del Este A, B
IGNITE STAGE
11:30 a 11.45 BREAK
SIDE EVENT SIDE EVENT LEARNING LAB
Early Warning to reduce loss Communicating risk: Mobilizing parliaments to

11:45 a 12:45 and damages? Connecting Data and information for address climate migration
Communities through evidence-based decision
Technology making
Room: Punta del Este A, B Room: Río de Janeiro C Online
12:45 a 13:00 BREAK
SIDE EVENT SIDE EVENT SIDE EVENT
Vulnerability and Risk to Climate Configuration and implementation of Statistical data and geospatial
IGNITE STAGE
13:00 a 14:00
Change in UNESCO-designated sites Early Warning Systems: challenges information for DRR
in Latin America and the Caribbean and opportunities
Room: Río de Janeiro B Room: Río de Janeiro C Room: Punta del Este A, B
PLENARY SESSION
14:15 a 15:45 Evidence-based financing of resilient development: A strategic approach to sustainable and efficient investments
15:45 a 16:15 BREAK
PARALLEL SESSION PARALLEL SESSION LEARNING LAB
Risk reduction through sustainable Urban risk reduction: Local Disaster statistics workshop
ecosystem management: science, leadership towards inclusive, cross-
16.15 a 17:15
technology and nature based cutting, multilevel governance
solutions
Room: Punta del Este A, B Room: Punta del Este C, D, E Room: Río de Janeiro B
AMERICAS + URUGUAY
CARIBBEAN 28 FEB,
DISASTER RISK 2023
REDUCTION
AGENDA 2 MARCH 2023

Time Agenda Item
PLENARY SESSION
Recover and build back better in a context of increasing uncertainty and complexity of risk. Experiences and lessons
8:30 a 10:00 learnt

10:00 a 10:30 BREAK
PARALLEL SESSION PARALLEL SESSION SIDE EVENT MINISTERIAL
MEETING
IGNITE
STAGE
10:30 a 11:30 Resilient Infrastructure Systemic risk, inequality, Disaster Displacement:
in the face of systemic and inclusion: lessons from Innovative Tools for
risk impacts: Principles, the pandemic for DRR Integrating Mobility into Risk
regulatory frameworks, Management
innovations and good
practices
Resilience Tech
Room: Punta del Este A, B Room: del Este C, D, E Room: Río de Janeiro C
11:30 a 12:30
SIDE EVENT LEARNING LAB
SIDE EVENT
Comprehensive Fire Media as transformative MCR 2030 Workshop: Tools

Management driver in DRR to support locality planning
11:45 a 12:45 for climate resilience
Room: Punta del Este A, B Room: Río de Janeiro C Room: Río de Janeiro B
SIDE EVENT SIDE EVENT LEARNING LAB
Advances in the capacities Youth, technology and INCENTIVA groupware for

of Integrated Disaster Risk inclusion for DRR sustainable and resilient
IGNITE STAGE
12:45 a 13:45 Management Governance investments

in Central America and
Dominican Republic
Room: Río de Janeiro C Online Room: Río de Janeiro B

SIDE EVENT LEARNING LAB
The Road to 2030: Engaging Sendai Framework

Whole-of-Society in DRR Monitoring
13:45 a 14:45 to Build an Equitable and

Resilient Future for All
Room: Punta del Este A, B Room: Río de Janeiro B

14:45 a 15:00 BREAK
CLOSING CEREMONY
15:00 a 16:30
How can you register?
To engage online in the RP23, please sign up at https://rp-americas.undrr.org/es/registro-rp-
americas-2023 and receive email updates on the Regional Platform prior to the event. To learn more,
please refer to the RP23 website.
AMERICAS + URUGUAY
CARIBBEAN 28 FEB,
DISASTER RISK 2023
PROGRAM
REDUCTION
Midterm Review

Midterm Review
MAIN AGENDA
Plenary sessions
The high-level sessions are plenary sessions focused on the 4 priority themes of the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction with a science and technology approach as defined by the
RP23 Advisory Council. The format is hybrid, with greater face-to-face participation, and the duration
is 90 minutes.
Plenary session 1
Science and technology for integrated disaster risk
management and climate change adaptation
Tuesday, 28 February 2023 | 11.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. | DAY 1
HYBRID SESSION
INTERPRETATION: SPANISH - ENGLISH - PORTUGUESE Hybrid
INTERNATIONAL SIGN LANGUAGE
Organizing team: This session will address the encounters and

disagreements between S&T and policies
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk in disaster risk management, exploring how
Reduction, Regional Office for the Americas and decision-making processes related to risk
the Caribbean (UNDRR) | Regional Science and drivers can be improved in the context of
Technology Advisory Group (RSTAG) sustainable development through inputs from
science and technology. The state of scientific
Guiding questions: knowledge applied particularly to disaster
risk reduction and adaptation to climate
What is the state of the art in applied science change in the region will also be reviewed,
and technology for disaster risk reduction and suggesting innovative approaches for the
adaptation to climate change? best use of scientific knowledge and available
data. The potential of emerging technologies
How to strengthen the connection between (e.g. geo-technologies, artificial intelligence,
science and public policies to promote the telecommunications) in disaster risk reduction
adoption of science in development decision- will be examined to enable timely prevention and
making in disaster risk reduction and adaptation the design of more efficient EWS. Best practices
to climate change? in the region will be recognized, and gaps
and critical nodes in the relationship between
What are the best practices in the Americas and science and public policies will be explored.
the Caribbean for science-based approaches Finally, a series of recommendations will be
to disaster risk reduction and adaptation to made to strengthen this nexus for disaster risk
climate change? reduction and adaptation to climate change in
the Americas and the Caribbean.
MODERATOR:
DAVID C. SMITH
Director of the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM) at the
University of the West Indies in Jamaica and former United Nations Assistant
Resident Representative in the UNDP Jamaica Office for Environment, Energy,
Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management
KEYNOTE
MAMI MIZUTORI
Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Disaster Risk Reduction
and Head of the UN Office for Disaster Reduction (UNDRR)
Ms. Mizutori brings to the position a combination of management and leadership

expertise as well as more than 25 years of experience in international affairs and
security. She is currently Executive Director of the Sainsbury Institute for the
Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, University of East Anglia (UK), since 2011.
Prior to joining the Institute, she served for 27 years in the Japanese Ministry
of Foreign Affairs in various capacities, including as Budget Director, Director of
the Japan Information and Culture Centre at the Embassy of Japan in London,
Director of the National Security Policy Division, Director of the United Nations
Policy Division, Director of the US Status of United States Forces Agreement
Division, and Deputy Director of the Personnel Division
PANELISTS
BEATRIZ ARGIMÓN
Vice-President of the Republic in Uruguay, and President of the General
Assembly and the Senate
Uruguayan notary public and politician. She belongs to the National Party. In
Presidential elections of 2019, she was the running mate of Luis Lacalle Pou
(current President of Uruguay), becoming the first elected woman Vice-
President of the Republic in Uruguay. Member of the Executive Committee of
the Inter-Parliamentary Union, President of the Uruguayan Inter-Parliamentary
Group to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Rise Champion - in defense of justice for
survivors of sexual survivors of sexual and gender-based violence
PANELISTS
ANDREA KOULAIMAH
Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific of the
European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) agency
Andrea Koulaimah has held various positions in the Directorate General of ECHO,
including Assistant to the Director General, Head of International Coordination,
Deputy Head of Unit and Head of Unit for Central Africa, Sudan and South Sudan,
and Head of Unit for the Field Network
MONA NEMER
Canada’s Chief Science Advisor
Dr. Mona Nemer was first appointed Canada’s Chief Science Advisor in 2017,
reappointed in 2020, and again in 2022. Prior to this role, Dr. Nemer was Professor
and Vice-President of Research at the University of Ottawa and Director of the
school’s Molecular Genetics and Cardiac Regeneration Laboratory.
A leader in the field of molecular cardiology, her work has contributed to the
development of diagnostic tests for heart failure and the genetics of cardiac
birth defects. She is the author of more than 200 academic publications that
have appeared in prestigious scientific journals and has trained more than 100
students from various countries.
GLADYS LORENA TERRAZAS ARNEZ

Head of the civil organization Red Paz, Integración y Desarrollo (PAZINDE)
A major climate activist and internationalist with a master’s degree in

development and indigenous peoples, Gladys Lorena Terrazas is also a teacher
and researcher. She has worked in international organizations and public
management with indigenous communities at local and international levels,
in Amazonian ecosystems and the American Chaco, on issues related to the
environment, sustainable development, climate change, new water culture,
gender, risk reduction, and disasters. She was appointed Regional Facilitator for
the Region of Latin America and the Caribbean - UN Environment Programme
(UNEP). She is head of PAZINDE and is a member of the Technical Secretariat of
the Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Network for Disaster Risk Reduction
(Red LAC)

Plenary session 2
Risk governance: innovations for policy and multisectoral
coordination to reduce risk drivers
Wednesday, 1 March 2023 | 8.30 a.m. - 10.00 a.m. | DAY 2
HYBRID SESSION
Organizing team: the drivers of risk where risk is generated.

Considerations on the importance of integrated
Global Network of Civil Society Organizations public policies and mechanisms to strengthen
for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) | International the articulation between national and sub-
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent national governments, civil society, academia
Societies (IFRC) | Private Sector Alliance for and the private sector will be presented by
Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE) Network different sectors and stakeholders, identifying
key considerations for effective and inclusive
Guiding questions: risk governance.
How can science and technology contribute to

pluralistic and inclusive risk governance?
Why is it necessary to innovate policies and

strengthened multi-sectoral coordination to
reduce risk drivers?
What should territorial governance look like to

address risk from comprehensive and systemic
perspectives with the participation of all actors?
This plenary will focus on governance in
the current context, taking into account the
experience during the COVID-19 pandemic
and the perspective of addressing systemic
risk with a people-centred approach. Panelists
will present their perspectives on governance
challenges in addressing the link between
disaster risk management and sustainable
development, and on how we can act on
MODERATOR:
ELISA MARIEL TRUJILLO LEYVA

National Director of ARISE Mexico and General Director
of CENACED A.C (the Mexican Centre for Epidemiological
Emergencies and Disaster Support)
PANELISTS
SERGIO RICO
Head of Sinae (Uruguay’s National Emergency System)
Sinae is the institution in charge of promoting disaster risk reduction in Uruguay.
Sergio Rico is a retired colonel and has a master’s degree in political science from
the University of the Republic of Uruguay. He currently complements his activity
as a professor of strategic foresight at the UCES of Argentina (Universidad de
Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales).
MARTHA KEAYS
Regional Director for the Americas of the International Federation of Red Cross
Ms. Keays has worked with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement for more than three decades in a variety of capacities, including
complex emergency management and large-scale operations in Africa, Asia
Pacific and Latin America
ROGER TEJADA
Minister of Government of Panama
Mr. Tejada has a degree in law and political science from the Universidad Católica
Santa María La Antigua. He has master’s degrees in procedural law (labour,
administrative, civil and criminal) from the Universidad Latina de Panamá, and
criminal sciences from the Universidad de Panamá. He was Vice Minister of
Labour and Labour Development from July 2019 to October 2022
DÁRIO JORGE GIOLO SAADI

Mayor of Campinas, Brazil - Resilience Node MCR2030
Graduated in medicine from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas,

previously served as President of the Doutor Mário Gatti Municipal Hospital of
Campinas from 1993 to 1994, Councillor of the City Council of Campinas from
1996 to 2012 and Municipal Secretary of Sports and Leisure from 2015 to 2020.
Under his mandate, Campinas has been selected as a Resilience Node of UNDRR
initiative Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) in January 2022.
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

Plenary session 3
Evidence-based financing of resilient development: a strategic
approach to sustainable and efficient investments
Wednesday, 1 March 2023 | 2.15 p.m. - 3.45 p.m. | DAY 2
HYBRID SESSION
Organizing team: finance and sustainability financing, to foster

inclusive and resilient development in a
Instituto Centroamericano de Administración context of systemic risk. Experiences, lessons
Pública (ICAP) | Global Network of Civil Society learnt and best practices of different actors
Organizations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) | in financing disaster risk management for
Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) evidence-based sustainable development will
be shared. Innovative financing mechanisms for
Guiding questions: sustainable development will also be proposed,
with a focus on disaster risk reduction,
Why is the integration of disaster risk prospective disaster risk management and
management into public and private planning climate action.
and budgeting processes important?
What novel, evidence-based financing

mechanisms for sustainable and resilient
development, with an emphasis on disaster
risk reduction and climate action, have been
developed in the region?
What is sustainable finance and what is

sustainability financing?
This high-level session will address the

implication of disaster risk reduction in the
instruments and mechanisms for public
planning and budgeting, private initiative and
Public-Private Partnerships, offering elements
of analysis on the new conditions that countries
must face in the framework of sustainable
MODERATOR:
LIZRA FABIEN
ARISE Coordinator for Dominica and member of the Board of Directors of Global
ARISE
PANELISTS
ALFREDO IBRAHIM FLORES SARRIA
Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Finance of Central America,
Panama and the Dominican Republic (COSEFIN)
Nicaraguan, with a degree in economics from the UNAN (León), Mr. Flores has a
master’s degree in economics. He has been an international advisor on economic
data analysis and prospective metrics for the design of public policies
ALICIA MONTALVO
Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at the Development Bank
of Latin America (CAF)
Ms. Montalvo has a degree in economics from the University of Valencia and a
master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. She has served
in various capacities in the Spanish Ministry of Economy and held the posts
of Deputy Technical Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, Deputy Director
General for International Finance and member of the Economic Policy Committee
of the European Union
GERARDO AMARILLA
Vice Minister of Environment – Uruguay. Doctor in Law and Social Sciences, he
also holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Law
He has taught Constitutional Law and Environmental Legal Framework at the

Faculty of Science (University Centre of Rivera at UDELAR). He has a diploma in
International Legal Studies and has taken courses on land use planning, strategic
city planning and Environmental Management. He is a defender of life and faith,
and is committed to pro-life, pro-family and pro-freedom struggles

Plenary session 4
Recover and build back better in a context of increased
uncertainty and complexity of risk. Experiences and lessons
learnt
Tuesday, 2 March 2023 | 8.30 a.m. - 10.00 a.m. | DAY 3
HYBRID SESSION
Organizing team: complex situation generated by the COVID-19

pandemic has delayed efforts to reduce poverty,
United Nations Development Programme develop economies and achieve the SDGs. The
(UNDP) | Caribbean Disaster Emergency Americas and the Caribbean have mobilized
Management Agency (CDEMA) | Pan American unprecedented resources to respond to and
Health Organization (PAHO) | Coordination recover from the complex and interconnected
Centre for Disaster Prevention in Central America set of threats. This plenary session will
and the Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC) promote the exchange of knowledge and
| United Nations Major Group for Children and experiences to advance the practice of post-
Youth (UNMGCY) disaster recovery, promoting the integration
of scientific and technological advances in
Guiding questions: recovery and reconstruction processes. It is
expected to provide a broad overview of the key
How can S&T contribute to or support the comprehensive approaches used in the region
creation of resilient recovery processes in the to prepare, assess, plan and execute recovery
region? processes, and discuss how to contribute
from “Build Back Better” practices to building
What aspects can be considered for an resilience and lessening the impact of disasters
effective recovery process in all sectors after a on the lives and livelihoods of people and
pandemic? communities.
What are the challenges to improving post-

pandemic recovery in a region facing cascading
disasters?
In recent years, the world has changed

profoundly, as have the opportunities for social,
infrastructural and economic recovery. The
MODERATOR:
CAROLINA PORTALUPPI
UNDP consultant with expertise in risk management and recovery
PANELISTS
MARÍA LUISA HAYEM BREVÉ
Minister of Economy of El Salvador
Ms. Hayem has more than 13 years of experience in the field of international
development. She was Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland in 2003. From 2009
to 2016, she worked for the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and later
for the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) where she led projects on
international remittances and innovation and access to financial services for
low-income individuals in Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa. She has
a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from the Escuela Superior de
Economía y Negocios (ESEN) of La Libertad, El Salvador, and a master’s degree
in law and diplomacy, with a focus on economic development and international
business, from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University,
Boston, Massachusetts
CYNTHIA SPISHAK
Associate Administrator, US Office of Policy and Program Analysis, Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
In this role, Ms. Spishak leads the strategic and resource planning, data analysis,
policy, audit and international affairs functions. She first joined FEMA days
after Hurricane Katrina. In 2007, she went on to work in Recovery, and in 2014
was appointed Senior Advisor and Executive Officer of the Office of Policy and
Program Analysis.

PANELISTS
DANIEL SALINAS
Minister of Public Health of Uruguay
Mr. Salinas is a neurologist and has a master’s degree in health business

administration from the University of Montevideo and a master’s degree in
innovation and entrepreneurship from the University of Barcelona. He has
diplomas in clinical neurophysiology from the University of the Republic, as well
as a Latin American diploma in sleep medicine from Universidad CLAEH
ELIZABETH RILEY
Executive Director of CDEMA
Ms. Riley has held this position since May 2020, with more than 20 years of
experience in disaster management at regional and international levels. As Deputy
Director, she provided overall leadership for the Agency’s technical programming
and strategic guidance in the areas of Preparedness and Response, Mitigation,
Recovery, Education and Training, as well as Information Management. At the
operational level, she has played a leading role in the coordination of regional
responses to, at least, 10 emergency events, including the coordination of the
region’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
MONICA SCHOCH-SPANA
Researcher and senior scientist at Johns Hopkins University
Medical anthropologist, Senior Research Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Center for
Health Security and Senior Scientist in the Department of Environmental Health
and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Ms.
Schoch-Spana’s areas of expertise include community resilience to disasters,
public participation in policymaking, crisis and emergency risk communication,
and public health emergency management (preparedness/response/recovery).
Midterm Review
MAIN AGENDA
Parallel sessions
The parallel sessions or thematic sessions of the RP23 focus on 8 key specific themes defined by the
Advisory Board for the Regional Platform. The format is hybrid, with greater face-to-face participation,
and the expected duration is 60 minutes..
Parallel session 1
Lessons for sustainable and resilient development
Tuesday, 28 February 2023 | 2.30 a.m. - 3.30 a.m. | DAY 1
HYBRID SESSION
Organizing team: disaster risk management in Latin America and

the Caribbean. Concrete ideas will be put forward
Instituto Centroamericano de Administración to promote public and private investment and
Pública (ICAP) | International Federation of Red management that not only reduces disaster
Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) risk but also builds resilience, slowing down
the processes that drive vulnerability and
Guiding questions: risk, and reducing the underlying factors,
integrating scientific knowledge for planning
What is the balance of the results achieved and decision making. It will assess the progress
in the last 30 years in disaster risk reduction made in terms of innovations in disaster risk
according to the Regional Assessment Report management in the region and will consider
on Disaster Risk for Latin America and the scenarios of global crisis such as pandemics,
Caribbean (RAR 2021) of the United Nations? wars, and cyberattacks, to reflect on their
differentiated impacts on different groups
How could public and private investment and of populations, communities, and regions.
management be oriented to contribute to the From these perspectives, contributions will be
development of resilient territories? provided to rethink the way forward in disaster
risk management, within the framework of
What are the keys to prospective disaster the agenda of adaptation to and mitigation of
risk management in Latin America and the climate change by 2030 and beyond.
Caribbean based on science and scientific
knowledge?
This session aims to reflect on the state of the

art of disaster risk reduction and prospective
MODERATOR:
ALEJANDRA BARRAGÁN
Technical Advisor for the Global Disaster Risk Management Initiative
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ)
PANELISTS
ALLAN LAVELL
Ph.D. and MSc. in geography from the London School of Economics and
Political Science
He has collaborated for 30 years with the Latin American Faculty of Social
Sciences (FLACSO). He is a specialist in urban and regional development, who for
the last 34 years has been dedicated to the issue of disaster risk and adaptation
to climate change. He has more than 150 publications or specialized scientific
writings on risks and disasters and urban-regional development, and has been
a consultant in more than 90 works for more than 20 international and national
organizations. He has been a founding member of La Red de Estudios Sociales
en Prevención de Desastres en América Latina (La RED) since 1992. He was
winner of the Sasakawa Award in 2015 for his contributions to risk management
worldwide. He is a technical advisor and consultant for the IDB, ICAP and UNDRR
ANDREW MASKREY
Urban planner, Mr. Maskrey studied at the University of Manchester and
specialized in disaster mitigation, housing and local and regional planning
He has been the coordinator of the United Nations Global Assessment Report
(GAR) on the International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). He
was Head of the Disaster Reduction Unit of the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP). Prior to joining UNDP, he was the General Coordinator of
the Network of Social Studies on Disaster Prevention in Latin America (La RED),
which brought together leading academic and scientific organizations in the Latin
American and Caribbean region. He has also contributed to regional networks
in South Asia and Southern Africa. He has written and published extensively in
Spanish and English. He currently serves as an expert at the Coalition for Disaster
Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in India

PANELISTS
ALICE BRENES
Coordinator of the Institutional Programme for the Comprehensive
Management of Disaster Risk (PIGIRD), in the Nacional University of
Costa Rica (UNA)
Ms. Brenes has a degree in sociology and a master’s degree in geography

from the University of Costa Rica. For more than 20 years, she has been a
national and international consultant in disaster risk management, development
and environment, and has more than 30 publications on these subjects. She is
a researcher for the State of the Nation Programme of Costa Rica (CONARE)
where she has also published on the topic of disaster risk and climate change.
She is an academic advisor in university extension and is a member of the
epistemic community of disaster risk management and climate change at
the National University of Costa Rica (UNA), which she represents before the
Sectoral Committee for Disaster Risk Management Education. Between 2018
and 2022 she served as a member of the Climate Change Science Council (4C)
of the Government of Costa Rica, a mechanism of the Paris Agreement
PATRICIA CARRILLO
Undersecretary for Risk Reduction in the Risk Management Secretariat of the
Ministry of Education
Patricia Carrillo is an engineer in Disaster Management and Risk Management

from the State University of Bolivar, with a master’s degree in Disaster Risk
Management from the Andean University Simón Bolivar. She has more than 17
years of experience in disaster risk management. Her work experience started in
the Quito Fire Brigade, then in the public sector both at the local level as well as in
the Central Government in some of the State Ministries, one of them the Ministry
of Education, where she promoted the updating of the Public Policy on Disaster
Risk Reduction in the Educational System of Ecuador, Safe Schools pilot project,
as well as the national response plan in the education system
Parallel session 2
Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems: leaving
no one behind
Tuesday, 28 February 2023 | 2.30 a.m. - 3.30 a.m. | DAY 1
Room: Punta del Este A, B
HYBRID SESSION
Organizing team: countries and small island developing states, is

still not covered by EWS or cannot or do not know
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management how to access them. This session will discuss
Agency (CDEMA) | United Nations Development progress and challenges in the development
Programme (UNDP) | Pan American Health of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems,
Organization (PAHO) | Americas and Caribbean and in particular, those that have considered
Youth Group for DRR differentiated vulnerabilities and capacities in
order to integrate the perspectives of individuals
Guiding questions: and groups of people. The opportunities offered
by science and technology to reduce gaps and
Why should inclusion and diversity be addressed inequalities in access to EWS will be raised. It
in Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (M-H will discuss how to develop EWS that includes
EWS)? those groups of people who are most vulnerable
in disaster situations, such as undocumented
How can science and technology contribute to or unregistered migrants, older persons and
reducing gaps and inequalities in access to and persons with disabilities, women and children,
use of EWS? trapped populations and other groups. It will also
consider how the design and operation of EWS
What does an intersectional gender approach can also be an instrument of empowerment, for
contribute to understanding what adjustments example of women and youth.
are needed to ensure that no one is left behind,
and how can the experiences and perspectives
of diverse groups of people (women in their
diversity, young people, people with disabilities,
people with cultural, religious and linguistic
barriers to EWS generated) be catalysed into an
opportunity to understand diversity?
Early warnings save lives. However, one-third of

the world’s population, mainly in least developed

MODERATOR:
ELIZABETH RILEY
Executive Director of CDEMA (Caribbean Disaster Emergency
Management Agency)
PANELISTS
MICHELLE FORBES
Director of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) of St.
Vincent and the Grenadines
Disaster management specialist with over twenty years of experience in disaster

risk management planning, community-based disaster management, emergency
operations and cross-functional project and operations management. She has a
bachelor’s degree in engineering and international disaster management from
Coventry University (UK) and a master’s degree in public administration
LIZA MARIANA HERNÁNDEZ BETANCOURTH

Regional leader of the Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster
Reduction (GNDR)
Guatemalan, Ms. Hernández has a degree in community nutrition from the

University of San Carlos de Guatemala, postgraduate degrees in project
development and advocacy and community development and a master’s degree
in gender, sexuality and public policy
ANGELINA TRINIDAD DA SILVA

Sociologist specializing in development cooperation
Paraguayan, with a master’s degree in disaster management from the

Complutense University of Madrid, and a Ph.D. in geography from the Autonomous
University of Barcelona.
She currently works as a regional consultant and researcher and is part of the
National Network for Risk Reduction and Management and Development of
Paraguay where she is a trainer for the BHA/USAID Training of Trainers Courses
(TOT), the Forest Firefighters specialization (CBF) and the BHA/USAID School
Safety Course (CUSE).
CARLOS VILLAMIL
Sales Director, OTT Hydromet LatAM
Responsible for business development in LatAM for the OTT Hydromet portfolio,
including solutions from OTT, Lufft, Kipp and Zonnen, Sutron, Hydrolab, ADCON,
and Meteostar & Aquatic Informatics. 20 years of professional experience in
different positions related to the design, supply and installation of environmental
and hydrometeorological monitoring systems, including alternatives for EWS in
different regions/applications/conditions
Parallel session 3
Science and technology within reach: low-cost solutions and
traditional knowledge to increase community resilience

HYBRID SESSION
Organizing team: from those people who, being vulnerable and

more exposed to high levels of disaster risk,
Food and Agriculture Organization of the have been able to generate solutions, showing
United Nations (FAO) | Regional Science and examples of how the knowledge of communities
Technology Advisory Group (RSTAG) | National and indigenous peoples represents a relevant
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and low-cost opportunity to strengthen
| Global Network of Civil Society Organizations community resilience and the empowerment
for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) | United Nations of these groups of people. The session will be
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization a space for the exchange of experiences and
(UNESCO) learning, in which creative, situated, sustainable
and people-centred community solutions will
Guiding questions be presented as active subjects of disaster
risk management, from an intersectional
Who is generating knowledge and implementing gender approach. A debate will be generated
low-cost actions to strengthen community on how this knowledge could be integrated into
resilience and how are they doing it? Is it the the policies, plans and programs of national
public sector, civil society, youth, women, disaster risk reduction or management systems,
academia, or the private sector? academia and formal education, recognizing
the knowledge and practices of communities.
How can traditional local knowledge be
incorporated and connected with science
and technology, achieving low-cost, durable,
sustainable and scalable solutions?
How, if at all, do these solutions dialogue with

institutions?
The session will bring together experiences and

good practices from different sub-regions and

MODERATOR:
EDILMA PRADA
Member of the RP23 Media Advisory Council
Research journalist specializing in human rights and culture

of peace and candidate for a master’s degree in human rights.
Founder and director of Agenda Propia, an initiative of journalistic
co-creation on issues of indigenous peoples and minority groups
PANELISTAS
FRANCINE BARON
CEO of the Dominica Climate Resilience Implementation Agency (CREAD) which
supports the implementation of the Dominica Climate Resilience Recovery Plan
With a law degree from the University of Wolverhampton and the University of
London, Ms. Baron was Senior Adviser to the Government of Dominica, Minister of
Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Dominica. She previously served in the diplomatic
service as Dominica’s High Commissioner to the Court of St. James and head
of the Dominica High Commission in London. She also served as Attorney
General of the Commonwealth of Dominica, providing legal advice to Cabinet and
government departments
MAYA TAKAGI
FAO Representative in Colombia and FAO Regional Programme Leader for Latin
America and the Caribbean
Maya TaKagi has more than 20 years of experience in research and policy
formulation in the area of food security and nutrition, rural development, social
protection and peasant agriculture. She specialized in public policy; she has a
Ph.D. in economic development and worked on the implementation of the Zero
Hunger program in Brazil. She was advisor to the President of the Republic of
Brazil from 2005 to 2010, National Secretary for Food Security and Nutrition at
the Ministry of Social Development from 2011 to 2012 and agricultural researcher
attached to the Ministry of Agriculture from 2013 to 2014. She joined FAO as a
Senior Social Protection Officer and Deputy Leader of the Strategic Programme
for Rural Poverty Reduction at FAO Headquarters from 2015 to 2019
CARLOS DOVIAZA
Project Manager at GeoIndigena
Mr. Doviaza is the community monitoring technician, focusing on tenure and

sustainable development of collective territories. Member and treasurer of
the Emberá and Wounaan collective land congress. He worked at Rainforest
Foundation US as a community development and monitoring specialist and
is now the founder and project manager at GeoIndigena. Additionally, he has
successfully supported technical training in satellite and terrestrial-monitoring
and has participated in the elaboration of lessons learnt and presentations of
community monitoring in countries such as Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Honduras, Colombia and Peru, as well as participating in the national REDD+
roundtable to present the work of community monitoring of indigenous peoples
in Panama. He has also provided technical support for organizations such as the
National Coordination of Indigenous Peoples of Panama, the National Congress
of the Wounaan People and the General Congress of the Emberá and Wounaan
collective land
PANELISTS
MARÍA JOSÉ MOLINA
Geography teacher at the University of Costa Rica
María José Molina Montero is a geographer. She obtained a master’s degree

in geographic information systems and remote sensing in 2019. She has 7
years of experience in the use and management of satellite imagery for the
creation of various geospatial applications. She has worked in consultancies
in the public and private sectors and cooperation agencies such as the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Inter-American Institute for
Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), on issues such as risk management, climate
change, water resource management and agriculture. She is currently in charge
of the scientific mission of the Morazán project, Honduras’ first satellite with
the collaboration of Costa Rica and Guatemala. She has also led the Women’s
Rally for Geospatial Technologies, which empowers rural women in the use of
technology
GLORIA EMILCE MEJÍA

Coordinator of the Network of Earth Observation Laboratories for Disaster
Reduction and manager of the Education, Sustainability, Data and DRR
Programme at ESRI Panama
Enthusiastic about the transformation of education, with professional experience,

teaching, implementation and development of public policies and innovative
projects that contribute to improving the quality of education through technology
and sustainability
MANUELA PINILLA
Country Director of Build Change in Colombia
Ms. Pinilla is an anthropologist with master’s degrees in social and cultural

anthropology from Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia, in urban development
and international cooperation from Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany,
and in development economics from Università degli Studi di Roma, Italy.
She has served in leadership roles in international organizations such as the
Huariou Commission, a global coalition of grassroots women’s organizations,
coordinating community resilience, land and housing actions in Latin America
and the Caribbean, and WaterAid, an organization dedicated to ensuring access
to water, sanitation and hygiene worldwide, as program manager in Colombia

Parallel session 4
Digital transformation and resilience of Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
HYBRID SESSION
Organizing team: people in situations of poverty and vulnerability.

This session proposes to understand how more
ARISE Mexico sustainable MSMEs contribute to disaster risk
management, and what could be the role of
Guiding questions: science and technology in that purpose. It will
present how digital transformation is key to the
What does it contribute to local and national development of more sustainable and resilient
disaster risk management if MSMEs in a MSMEs, being an ally in reducing costs and
country are resilient? increasing the value produced in communities,
making it possible to ensure business continuity
How do technology and digitization processes and service delivery, generating a positive
benefit MSMEs, and why would governments impact beneficial to the entire community.
support these processes?
What is the experience of the COVID-19

pandemic in relation to the link between
digitalization and MSMEs’ resilience in Latin
America and the Caribbean?
The development of micro, small and medium

enterprises (MSMEs) is a priority for economic
growth and productive development in the
region. According to the OECD (2019) and SELA
(2022), MSMEs are major generators of value
for our communities. They represent more than
90% of enterprises in Latin America and the
Caribbean and are responsible for 60% of the
sources of formal employment in the region,
helping to maintain the livelihoods of groups of
MODERATOR
VÍCTOR RODRÍGUEZ
Member of the RP23 Media Advisory Board, Journalist at the Centre for
Investigative Journalism (CPI) and manager of the CPI’s Journalism Training
Institute
PANELISTS
CARMEN SÁNCHEZ
President of the National Development Agency – Uruguay
Ms. Sánchez has a degree in economics from the University of the Republic,
a postgraduate degree in governance, political management and public policy
from George Washington University, and a master’s degree in entrepreneurial
development and innovation from the University of Salamanca. Her professional
development and growth have revolved around business development and the
promotion of entrepreneurial culture, convinced that MSMEs are the country’s
engine of growth.
She held the position of Manager of the Entrepreneurship Promotion Area of the
Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining; she was an independent consultant, and
worked for different international organizations (including the Inter-American
Development Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the European
Commission, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)).
She has been a lecturer in the Economics Department of the Faculty of Economics
and Administration of the University of the Republic.
ERIKA VARGAS
Director of Community Relations for UPS Mexico and Latin America
Ms. Vargas is responsible for all philanthropic activities generated by The UPS
Foundation including the creation and implementation of growth initiatives
for communities in need, where she helps design, coordinate and implement
strategies to make local communities more just, safe and resilient. She has two
bachelor’s degrees from the Universidad Anáhuac, one in human development
and education and the other in business administration. She also has a master’s
degree in human capital management from the Universidad Panamericana

PANELISTS
JOSÉ DI BELLA
Research and Strategic Partnerships Coordinator for the Climate Change
Institute of the University of Waterloo
Trainer of the UNDRR Americas and Caribbean Office for the private sector, he
is also a researcher in the TRANSFORM project at the University of Waterloo in
Canada and director of the regional project on business model innovation for Latin
America. He was the leader of the Parliamentary Programme on Climate Change
for the Americas and the Caribbean for the Canada-based Parliamentary Centre
which is composed of the 35 national legislatures of the Americas and Caribbean
region. He has worked on development and disaster resilience initiatives with the
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the International Development
Research Centre of Canada and the regional office of the Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) being one of the delegates selected to participate
in the Talanoa Dialogue at the COP23 Climate Negotiations in Bonn
LESLIE COLLYMORE
Principal Consultant / Founder Advanced Intellectual Methods, Inc.
He has led numerous consultancies for public, private and foreign institutions
which have provided him with deep insight into the management of the delicate
relationship between marketing strategy, business intelligence, sales and
consumer behaviour. He is also President of the Saint Lucia Basketball Federation.
Parallel session 5
Risk reduction through sustainable ecosystem management:
science and technology and nature-based solutions (NbS)
HYBRID SESSION
INTERPRETATION: SPANISH - ENGLISH - PORTUGUESE
Hybrid
Organizing team: adaptation to climate change and mitigation,

providing key information on the incorporation
United Nations Environment Programme of nature as a solution in technical and political
(UNEP) | Wetlands International - Global processes to generate more resilient territories
Network of Civil Society Organizations for and improve the quality of life. In this space,
Disaster Reduction (GNDR) | Global Network multi-sectoral experiences will be shared on
of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster how science and technology related to NbS can
Reduction (GNDR)| United Nations Educational, be applied to reduce climate risks by investing
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the sustainable management of terrestrial,
marine and urban ecosystems. Evidence will
Guiding questions: be presented on the benefits of implementing
NbS in terms of increased adaptive capacity
What are the elements needed to build effective of ecosystems, investments, employment
and resilient ecosystem-based solutions and generation and sustainable livelihoods for
how could science and technology contribute communities. It will also showcase the main
to these solutions to reduce climate risks? tools and approaches available in the use of
NbS to reduce risks, providing technical and
What aspects favour the meaningful practical elements to guide their application
participation of various sectors of the population and contribution to the protection, conservation
in the construction of Nature-based Solutions and restoration of terrestrial, marine, natural, or
(NbS)? modified ecosystems and sustainable cities,
including in UNESCO protected areas and
Can NbS at the local level help to increase the biosphere reserves.
resilience of the region?
This session aims to collaborate in the

understanding of the co-benefits of implementing
NbS with a landscape approach, both for

MODERATOR:
MARÍA TERESA ABOGADO

Degree in geography from the Universidad Central de Venezuela, with
a master’s degree in earth sciences – earth systems modelling from the
Utrecht Universiteit
PANELISTAS
PASCAL OLIVIER GIROT PIGNOT
Director of the School of Geography and full professor at the University of Costa
Rica
He has directed the Central American Graduate Programme in Geography at the

University of Costa Rica and has overseen several research projects on local
risk management and adaptation to climate change in vulnerable communities
in Costa Rica. He has worked as coordinator and advisor to the Ministry of
Environment and Energy of Costa Rica on climate change issues. He has been
a member of Costa Rica’s climate change negotiating team between 2014 and
2021. He has worked as a consultant in Central America and the Caribbean on
environmental policy, land use planning, risk management and adaptation to
climate change. He has participated in post-disaster missions around the world
MACARENA MO
UNDP Technical Consultant at the Ministry of Environment of Uruguay
She has a degree in international relations and postgraduate studies in

environmental sciences. She monitors the implementation of biodiversity and
ecosystem measures in Uruguay’s NDCs and develops the financing strategy for
national adaptation to climate change plans
WALKIRIA ESTÉVEZ
Executive Director of the Yaque del Norte Water Fund, in Dominican Republic
She has a master’s degree in management and specializes in organizational

development and is a student of eco-psychology. She has specialized studies in
Israel, Colombia, Guatemala and Argentina in the sustainability of water funds,
integrated watershed management, governance, the environmental dimension
of the SDGs and disaster risk management. She has extensive experience in the
development and strengthening of non-profit institutions, strategic alliances,
integrated water resources management, volunteering and support to community
groups
PANELISTS
JORGE ALBERTO RUIZ ORDÓÑEZ

Wetlands International National Coordinator for Guatemala since 2015
Biologist and social ecologist with a masters and doctorate in sustainable

development. Dedicated to the integrated management of marine-coastal
zones and other aquatic ecosystems. Currently in charge of the environmental
and nature-based solutions component of two World Bank technical assistance
projects. University professor and founding member of the Inter-University Risk
Management Platform of Guatemala.

Parallel session 6
Urban risk reduction: local leadership towards inclusive,
cross-cutting, multilevel governance
Wednesday, 1 March 2023 | 4.15 p.m. – 5.15 p.m. | DAY 2
HYBRID SESSION
INTERPRETATION: SPANISH – ENGLISH – PORTUGUESE Hybrid
Organizing team: This session aims to recognize the complexity

of urban problems and the components that are
United Nations Development Programme exacerbating the generation of risk conditions,
(UNDP) | United Nations Office for Disaster Risk motivating the reflection of actors from
Reduction, Regional Bureau for the Americas government, the private sector, civil society and
and the Caribbean (UNDRR) international organizations on the importance of
a specific intervention in urban areas. Unplanned
Guiding questions: urbanization processes in the region have led
to the concentration of risks and vulnerabilities
What are the main factors (social, economic, in households, livelihoods, infrastructure and
political-institutional) that are influencing the socioeconomic assets. In informal settlements,
increase of risk conditions in the cities of the disaster risks are linked to several challenges
region? such as conditions of inequality, social
cohesion, population displacement and citizen
What capacities do local and national security. Therefore, comprehensive joint efforts
governments need to strengthen to move are required to influence the socioeconomic
towards comprehensive, inclusive and systemic and institutional causes of risk. This session will
risk management, and how can the role of identify key elements to be taken into account
community actors, civil society and the private for risk management in urban areas, based on
sector in urban risk management be enhanced? the experiences of actors at different territorial
How can the use of science and technology levels.
for risk management in urban settings be
promoted?
In the Americas and the Caribbean, disasters are

increasingly affecting urban areas, particularly
small and medium-sized cities, where 80% of
urban events occurred between 1995 and 2015.
MODERATOR
RONALD JACKSON
Director of UNDP’s Risk Reduction and Recovery Unit
PANELISTS
JAVIER PAVA SÁNCHEZ

Director-General of the Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres
(UNGRD)of Colombia
Geological Engineer from the UPTC, he has a specialization in risk assessment

and disaster prevention from the Universidad de Los Andes and a master’s
degree in territorial planning and population dynamics from the Universidad
Externado de Colombia. He was the creator and director of the District Institute
for Risk Management and Climate Change of Bogotá (IDIGER), 2012-2016. He
has also worked as an international consultant for UNDRR, ROAMC (financial
aspects to strengthen SFM), the General Secretariat of the Andean Community
of Nations (CAN) and the World Bank in Central America. He has been a university
lecturer on environmental management, risk management, energy transition
and climate change associated with territorial development planning. Member
of the programmatic team of the Colombia Humana 2018-2022 campaign and
promoter of the Petro Presidente - Francia Vicepresidenta 2022-2026 government
program. He was the coordinator of the joint work with UNGRD, IDEAM and the
Adaptation Fund
MYRIAM URZÚA
Secretary of Integral Risk Management and Civil Protection of the Government
of Mexico City and recent recipient of the First Sasakawa 2022 Award for her
contribution to urban risk management in Latin America and the Caribbean
Architect, specialized in urban development at UNAM and the University of Chile,

with extensive experience in disaster risk reduction and recovery processes
as a consultant for the UN, WB and other international agencies. She has 38
years of professional experience working in different areas, including 6 years
in the architectural design of hospitals in Cuba and 14 years in the institutional
framework of Environment and Urban Development in Mexico (SAHOP, SEDUE
and SEDESOL) covering the areas of urban and territorial development and
management and monitoring of projects. She has participated as part of the
team and coordinated missions to carry out an economic, environmental and
social assessments of disaster impacts in various countries in the region

PANELISTS
FRANCINE BARON
CEO of the Dominica Climate Resilience Implementation Agency (CREAD)
which supports the implementation of the Dominica Climate Resilience
Recovery Plan
Ms. Baron is a lawyer from the University of Wolverhampton and the University
of London. She was Senior Adviser to the Government of Dominica, Minister
of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM of Dominica. She previously served in the
diplomatic service as Dominica’s High Commissioner to the Court of St. James
and Head of the Dominica High Commission in London. She also served as
Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Dominica, providing legal advice to
Cabinet and government departments
LUIS BONILLA ORTIZ-ARRIETA

Leader for Strategic Alliances and Programs at the Resilient Cities Network
Economist and Master in Latin American Studies. Among others, he has

been Director of TECHO International and Advisor to MINURVI. Consultant for
international organizations such as CLACSO, EUROsociAL+ and Oxfam. He has
extensive experience in various countries in the region and was part of the Expert
Group for the Regional Action Plan for the Implementation of the New Urban
Agenda
ANGELA HENRÍQUEZ
Vice-Mayor of the Municipality of Santo Domingo East
Lawyer and journalist, with specialization in Community Leadership. Ms.

Henríquez is an active member of various advocacy groups such as the Green
March, Proconsumidor, Cesodeco, and the defense of the environment and
natural resources such as water. The deputy mayor is a member of the National
Directorate, the National Political Commission and coordinator of the Council of
the Santo Domingo Province of her party Alianza País
Parallel session 7
Systemic risk, inequality and inclusion: lessons from the
pandemic for DRR
Tuesday, 2 March 2023 | 10.30 a.m. - 11.30 a.m. | DAY 3
HYBRID SESSION
Organizing team: The session aims to share with the public

the meaning of the concept of systemic
Regional Science and Technology Advisory risk, so that its understanding, grounded in
Group (RSTAG) | Pan American Health science, can be of use to all actors involved in
Organization (PAHO) | Centro de Coordinación disaster risk reduction. To this end, an integral
para la Prevención de los Desastres en perspective of the dynamics, relationship and
América Central y República Dominicana interdependence between socioeconomic and
(CEPREDENAC) | Global Network of Civil Society environmental systems will be offered, whose
Organizations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) | vision incorporates the territorial, economic,
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management social, political, institutional, community and
Agency (CDEMA) | Americas and Caribbean governance dimensions of risk. It will also
Youth Group for DRR highlight the importance of science-based risk
communication and decision-making in the
Guiding questions: context of the interaction of socioeconomic and
environmental systems at different territorial
What lessons have been learned from the global and administrative scales, from local to global,
disaster unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on disaster risk reduction.
and the resurgence of war in Europe from a
systemic risk perspective?
How to improve risk communication based on

scientific knowledge through sustained dialogue
between socioeconomic and environmental
systems?
How could science and technology contribute

to making local communities less vulnerable
and more resilient?

MODERATOR
JEREMY COLLYMORE
Member of RSTAG. Geographer with a background in environmental design
and planning, an honorary research fellow at the Institute for Sustainable
Development, University of the West Indies (UWI)
PANELISTAS
LEANDRO FOLGAR
President of Ceibal, Uruguay’s educational technology and innovation agency
He has a degree in education from the Catholic University of Uruguay and a

master’s degree in technology, innovation and education from Harvard University.
He currently complements his activity as a postgraduate university lecturer at the
business school of the Catholic University of Uruguay
CLAUDIA HERRERA MELGAR

Executive Secretary of the Coordination Centre for Disaster Prevention in
Central America and the Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC), as of 1 January
2019 (the first woman to hold this position)
Central American born in Honduras, with a degree in business administration,

with 20 years of experience in addressing the Comprehensive Management of
Disaster Risk. At the regional level, she was part of the team responsible for the
harmonization of the Central American Policy on the Comprehensive Management
of Disaster Risk with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-
2030. She led the process for the update of the Regional Plan for Disaster Risk
Reduction 2019-2023
NATALIA GÓMEZ SOLANO

An environmental engineer from the Tecnológico de Costa Rica
Professional in adaptation to climate change, risk reduction and participatory

processes in UNEP and other international entities. Member of the Youth
Committee of UNDRR-ROAC, Advisor to the Youth Panel of the Global Adaptation
Centre, Associate and Co-Founder of the Costa Rican Youth and Climate Change
Network
Supported the development of Resilience Tech 2022 and the establishment of

the Youth Network for DRR in the Americas and the Caribbean.
PANELISTS
GIOVANNA OSORIO
Co-founder and president of the Asociación Psico Inclusiva Kipu Llaxta, Peru
Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, a specialist in disability and access

to justice from the Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico, in community mental
health. Diploma in inclusive disaster risk management from the University of
Manizales, Colombia. General coordinator of the Calma online psychological
first aid program of the Continental University. First community brigadista with
disabilities recognized by resolution of MUNILIMA of Peru. She has more than 30
years of experience in concerted advocacy, projects and consultancies on social
inclusion and development of people with disabilities.
ALEX CAMACHO
Regional Advisor on Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Risk Reduction for
the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Mr. Camacho is an expert in disability and inclusion in hospital disaster risk

management and DRR and indigenous communities. He has more than 24
years of national and international experience in this field. He has a doctorate in
medicine and a master’s degree in health management for local development.
At the Pan American Health Organization, he implemented and monitored the
Plan of Action for Disaster Risk Reduction 2016-2021, developing effective tools,
procedures and inclusive strategies. He was Regional Incident Manager for the
2016 earthquake in Ecuador, and a member of the PAHO Incident Management
System Team for Pandemic Preparedness and Response COVID-19

Parallel session 8
Resilient infrastructure in the face of systemic risk impacts:
principles, regulatory frameworks, innovations and good
practices
Tuesday, 2 March 2023 | 10.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. | DAY 3
HYBRID SESSION
INTERPRETATION: SPANISH – ENGLISH – PORTUGUESE Hybrid
Organizing team: outlook, context and needs for public and

private investment in infrastructure in the
Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) Americas and the Caribbean. In this space, the
| United Nations Office for Disaster Risk challenges and implications of systemic risks
Reduction, Regional Office for the Americas and in the design, construction and operation of
the Caribbean (UNDRR) infrastructure will be discussed and advances
in the measurement of infrastructure resilience
Guiding questions: will be socialized. The session will cover
different aspects, seeking a balance between
What are the main challenges in the design, technical and scientific knowledge, regulatory
construction and operation of infrastructure in principles and frameworks, examples of good
the Americas and the Caribbean, in the face of a practices, and the challenges of the future
growing landscape of systemic risks? resilient infrastructure agenda. The concept
of infrastructure will be addressed holistically,
Is it possible to measure the resilience of including physical infrastructure, digital
infrastructure, and can such measurement infrastructure and green infrastructure; from
facilitate effective and timely knowledge-based regional, national and local perspectives.
decision-making to improve resilience?
What are the main needs for public and private

investment in infrastructure in Latin America
and the Caribbean?
This thematic session aims to provide

participants with a regional look at the
infrastructure agenda in the Americas and
the Caribbean, based on the technical and
political dialogue around the concept of
resilient infrastructure. It will present the
MODERATOR:
JENNIFER ÁVILA
Member of the RP23 Media Advisory Council. Director and co-founder of
Contracorriente, Honduras
NOTA CLAVE DE PRESENTACIÓN
PAOLA ALBRITO
Director of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
Ms. Albrito has extensive experience in supporting disaster resilience and

sustainable development policies and instruments in Africa, Europe and Central
Asia. Previously, she was Chief of the Intergovernmental Processes, Inter-Agency
Cooperation and Partnerships Branch at UNDRR headquarters in Geneva. Before
moving to Geneva, she headed the UNDRR Regional Office for Europe and Central
Asia in Brussels, which covers 55 countries. Prior to joining the UNDRR in 2004
and as part of her experience in the Resident Coordinator’s office in Djibouti, she
developed and coordinated policy guidance, facilitated climate adaptation and
development strategies, and acted as a focal point for humanitarian appeals,
emergency and rapid response. She has also worked at the International Labour
Organisation and the United Nations Staff College. She has published widely.
Paola has a master’s degree in international relations and political science from
the University of Turin (Italy).
PANELISTAS
OMAR DARÍO CARDONA

He has served on scientific committees of the World Council for Science
(ICSU) such as the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) and the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He is a member of the
board of directors of the International Association of Earthquake Engineering
(IAEE) and the American Concrete Institute (ACI) committees 118 and 314
Mr. Cardona has been the National Director of Disaster Risk Management
of Colombia (1992-1995) and President of the Colombian Association of
Earthquake Engineering (1991-2005). He was part of the founding group of
the Latin American Network of Social Studies in Disaster Prevention (La RED).
He directs the international research group INGENIAR and is an advisor to the
Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and several United Nations
agencies. In 2004 he was awarded the UN Sasakawa Prize for his contributions
to global disaster risk assessment and management

PANELISTAS
ALICIA MONTALVO
Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity of Development Bank of
Latin America (CAF)
Ms. Montalvo has a degree in economics from the University of Valencia and a
master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. She has held
several positions in the Spanish Ministry of Economy and held the posts of Deputy
Technical Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, Deputy Director General for
International Economy and member of the Economic Policy Committee of the
European Union
NIGEL MUÑOZ
UNOPS Regional Project Management Advisor for Latin America and the
Caribbean
Mr. Muñoz is an infrastructure and project management specialist with over

20 years of experience in the management and development of infrastructure
projects. He has worked in several international companies such as Bilfinger
Berger as Senior Site Engineer on the construction of the Centenary Bridge;
McKinney International; and as Senior Project Manager, leading banking,
residential and commercial projects in Panama, before joining UNOPS in 2013.
Nigel is Panamanian, graduated as a civil engineer from Santa Maria La Antigua
University, and has a master’s degree in engineering management from the
University of Louisville. He has also obtained several certifications, such as PMP,
PRINCE2 Practitioner, MSP and P30, among others
VICTORIA SALINAS
Ms. Salinas has worked with communities in the United States and around the
world to build resilience and recovery from major disasters
She currently serves in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as Associate Administrator for
Resilience. Previously, as Chief Resilience Officer and Deputy City Manager for
the City of Oakland, California, she spearheaded planning, policy and legislative
efforts to address climate, disaster and socioeconomic vulnerability. She worked
at the World Bank and the United Nations in major disaster recovery planning.
She began her career in public service in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, as a
Presidential Management Fellow at FEMA. Most recently, she was Vice President
of Programs and Communications at the non-profit FUSE Corps. Victoria Salinas
has a master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and
a bachelor’s degree from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown
University
Midterm Review
MAIN AGENDA
Special Session
During this RP, the special session is dedicated to the Mid-Term Review of the implementation of
the Sendai Framework and progress in the implementation of the Regional Action Plan. Its format is
hybrid with greater face-to-face participation and its duration is 60 minutes.
Mid-Term Review of implementation of the Sendai

Framework and progress on the implementation of the
Regional Action Plan
Tuesday, 28 February 2023 | 4.00 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. | DAY 1
HYBRID SESSION
INTERPRETATION: SPANISH - ENGLISH - PORTUGUESE Hibrido
Organizing team: level and in our region, and guidance on the

high-level meeting to be held in the framework
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly
Reduction, Regional Office for the Americas and in May this year. It will seek to consolidate
the Caribbean (UNDRR) key messages, commitments and concrete
recommendations for cooperation and
Guiding questions: prioritized action in the region for the period
2023 to 2030 with a view to the global meeting
What are the key areas/recommendations for in May. It will also foster dialogue on some
accelerating progress in the implementation of the main findings of the MTR SF process
of the Sendai Framework in the region towards in the region, providing input to the technical
2030 and beyond? session on the Regional Action Plan, a regional
positioning for the high-level meeting in New
What are the main challenges and how can they York and to the Punta del Este ministerial
be overcome? declaration.
What key messages should be taken from The special session will feature Paola Albrito,
the region to the high-level meeting at the UN Director of the United Nations Office for Disaster
General Assembly? Risk Reduction (UNDRR); Marc Gordon, Lead
Coordinator of the Sendai Framework Mid-Term
This special session is framed in the context Review at the United Nations; representatives
of the Mid-Term Review process of the Sendai of member countries and stakeholders.
Framework implementation (MTR SF). It will
provide an overview of key issues at the global

Official statements
RP23 represents an important opportunity to focusing on progress made in disaster risk
reflect on progress and challenges in disaster reduction and best practices of the country or
risk reduction, and to identify good practices organizations they represent.
to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai
Framework at the regional level. The official declarations submitted will be
available on the website https://rp-americas.
Member States and representatives of various undrr.org/2023/official-statements-rp-
stakeholder groups, such as the United Nations, americas.https://rp-americas.undrr.org/
international, or regional organizations, will es/2023/agenda/declaraciones-oficiales-rp-
submit pre-recorded or written statements americas
High-level segments
The VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk
Reduction for the Americas and the Caribbean Understanding that the RAP and the MTR SF-
(RP23) will include two closed high-level LAC have different scopes and objectives, it
segments: the technical session on the Regional has been recognized that the Mid-Term Review
Plan of Action and the Ministerial Meeting. process provides us with inputs that allow
the region to carry out a first reading on the
The Regional Action Plan (RAP) for the progress of the RAP.
implementation of the Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and In this context, the Government of the Republic of
the Caribbean was adopted by Member States Uruguay is leading a governmental consultation
at the V Regional Platform for Disaster Risk at the regional level, which will conclude with a
Reduction in the Americas (7-9 March 2017, technical session on the Regional Action Plan
Montreal, Canada) and updated at the VII on 1 March 2023, during RP23. This technical
Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in session is expected to be the scenario where
the Americas and the Caribbean (1-4 November technical representations of the countries
2021, hosted virtually by the Government of analyse progress on the RAP and review the
Jamaica). The RAP is a consensus-building positioning of the region to be presented at the
exercise for DRR and is the regionally adopted MTR SF high-level meeting in New York in May
roadmap for the implementation of the Sendai 2023.
Framework.
The Ministerial and High-Level Authorities
For its part, the Mid-Term Review of the Meeting, to be held on 2 March 2023, will seek
Implementation of the Sendai Framework for to convey the political commitment of countries
Latin America and the Caribbean (MTR SF- to disaster risk reduction and the outcomes
LAC), which has been launched in 2022, is a of the Regional Platform. The outcome of the
unique opportunity to identify the progress and Ministerial Meeting is the Ministerial and High-
challenges of our region in the implementation Level Authorities Declaration, which renews
of the Sendai Framework. In resolution A/ the commitment to relevant topics and issues
RES/76/204, adopted by the General Assembly around disaster risk reduction in the region.
on 17 December 20214, Member States
decided that the MTR SF will culminate with
a high-level meeting of the General Assembly
to be held in New York in May 2023. They
further decided that the high-level meeting will
adopt an action-oriented political declaration
to renew commitment and accelerate the
implementation of the Sendai Framework.
4 https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/
N21/406/43/PDF/N2140643.pdf?OpenElement

Side events
The side events are 60-minute spaces around the themes defined by the Advisory Council, and are
led by various organizations and institutions. Some of them will be held online and others on-site, as
specified in each case.
Side event 1
A gender approach based on women’s autonomy and
leadership for a more resilient region
Organizers:
Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Network for Disaster Risk Reduction | Global Network of
Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Risk Reduction (GNDR) | UN Women | ARISE Argentina - Latin
American Institute for Peace and Citizenship (ILAPyC)

Room: Punta del Este A, B | INTERPRETATION: SPANISH - ENGLISH - PORTUGUESE
ON-SITE SESSION
This session aims to celebrate and disseminate the work done by women in the region in disaster
risk reduction; to make visible the LAC Women’s Network for DRR and its work in favour of women’s
leadership and autonomy in DRR, and to share experiences.
Side event 2
Safe schools: education for a culture of prevention
Organizers:
Regional Education Group for Latin America and the Caribbean | Caribbean Disaster Emergency
Management Agency (CDEMA) | Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)

Room: Río de Janeiro C | INTERPRETATION: SPANISH - ENGLISH - PORTUGUESE
ON-SITE SESSION
In this space, progress, good practices and lessons learnt in the implementation of the Comprehensive
School Safety Framework will be identified, making visible the contributions of the actors in the
education sector in the development of a culture of prevention.
Side event 3
The role of the insurance sector in the context of systemic risk
Organizers:
SANCOR Seguros and ARISE Argentina | Consejo Colombiano de Seguridad and ARISE Colombia

Online
VIRTUAL SESSION
This session seeks to promote solutions and possible and accessible products from the insurance
sector, including the demand for new technologies, identifying and placing on the agenda the roles
that governments should assume in order to achieve a clear and transparent collaborative model.
Side event 4
Funding for the localization of humanitarian action and DRR
Organizers:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation BMGF | OCHA
ON-SITE SESSION
This session will present innovative financing practices to support local actors in disaster risk reduction
and management, promoting the use of data and knowledge management, as well as collaboration
between local multi-sectoral actors.
Side event 5
Early warning to reduce loss and damages? Connecting communities
through technology
Organizers:
Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation SDC - Disaster Risk Reduction and Rapid Response
Programme | Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation SDC - SDC Office in Central America
| Practical Action | Civil Protection of El Salvador | Asociación Vivamos Mejor Guatemala | Comité
Andino Ad Hoc de Prevención de Desastres (CAPRADE)
Wednesday, 1 March 2023 | 11.45 a.m. - 12.45 p.m. | DAY 2

HYBRID SESSION
This session will present three examples of SDC-supported projects in the Andean countries and
Central America and will analyse how EWS and anticipatory action are an effective tool that connects
communities, science and technology to reduce disaster losses and damage.

Side event 6
Communicating risk: data and information for evidence-based
decision-making
Organizers:
Red de Estudios Sociales en Prevención de Desastres Latinoamérica y el Caribe (La RED) | Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Room: Río de Janeiro C
ON-SITE SESSION
This technical session aims to address the challenges of an increasingly interconnected and global-
ized world by providing a space to share experiences, discuss approaches and present recommenda-
tions, facilitating dialogue and exchange on how to better understand and assess systemic risks as
the main basis for decision-making processes.
Side event 7
Vulnerability and Risk to Climate Change in UNESCO-designated sites
in Latin America and the Caribbean
Organized by:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Room: Río de Janeiro B
ON-SITE SESSION
This session will present a vulnerability and risk assessment of 15 UNESCO Global Geoparks
and Biosphere Reserves, carried out through a new science-based tool, and is expected to be an
opportunity to exchange ideas and establish partnerships for data collection.
Side event 8
Configuration and implementation of Early Warning Systems:
challenges and opportunities
Organizers:
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean
(UNDRR) | World Meteorological Organization (WMO) | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO) | United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) | Latin American Institute for Peace
and Citizenship (ILAPyC) and ARISE Argentina| Regional Science and Technology Advisory Group
(RSTAG)

ON-SITE EVENT
This session will address the region’s challenges in meeting Target G of the Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, with the ultimate goal that all people are reached by Multi-Hazard
Early Warning Systems and will consider the potential of science and technology to contribute to this
achievement, highlighting best practices in the region.
Side event 9
Statistical data and geospatial information for DRR
Organized by:
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)

ON-SITE EVENT
This session aims to present geospatial information platforms and institutional arrangements that
serve as the basis for facilitating the availability of data generated by various institutions, as well as
its distribution, exchange and use to ensure that entities involved in DRM can have access to quality
data for decision making in a quick and timely manner.

Side event 10
Disaster displacement: innovative tools for integrating mobility into risk
management
Organized by:
Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) | International Organization for Migration (IOM) | Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO)
Tuesday, 2 March 2023 | 10.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. | DAY 3

ON-SITE EVENT
This session focuses on the integration of disaster displacement in the field of risk management,
offering attendees a review of the latest advances in the field and new tools for a better approach to
disaster displacement from science and technology, seeking to establish synergies between different
perspectives.
Side event 11
Comprehensive Fire Management
Organizers:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) | Joint Research Centre of the European
Commission
Tuesday, 2 March 2023 | 11.45 a.m. - 12.45 p.m. | DAY 3
ON-SITE EVENT
This session will provide best practices for fire management and fire prevention through the integration
of monitoring, risk reduction, response preparedness, and restoration activities, in line with the 5Rs
approach based on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
Side event 12
Media as transformative driver in DRR
Organized by:
(UNDRR) | Network of Media for DRR in the Americas and the Caribbean
ON-SITE EVENT
The role of regional media in disaster risk reduction is critical, but how can this issue be made clearer
and more visible to audiences and other communicators? That’s why journalists from some of the
region’s most respected media outlets will share their experiences and raise questions, as well as
answer questions from the audience.
Side event 13
Youth, technology and inclusion for DRR
Organized by:
Youth Group for DRR in the Americas and the Caribbean - United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Tuesday, 2 March 2023 | 12.45 p.m. - 1.45 p.m. | DAY 3

Online | Interpretación: INTERPRETATION: SPANISH - ENGLISH - PORTUGUESE
ONLINE EVENT
In the context of systemic risk exacerbated by climate change and socioeconomic phenomena such
as forced displacement, gentrification and the establishment of communities in more exposed areas,
as well as a regional sociodemographic pyramid with a tendency towards the under 35 age group,
this session will provide an innovative and permanent space for young people to develop a solid
epistemological basis of risk built on local experiences.

Side event 14
Advances in the capacities of Integrated Disaster Risk Management
Governance in Central America and Dominican Republic
Organized by:
Coordination Centre for Disaster Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic
(CEPREDENAC)
ON-SITE EVENT
This event will report on the progress and challenges of Central America and the Dominican Republic
in the implementation of the Central American Policy on Comprehensive Risk Management (PCGIR)
contained in the Declaration of the VI Consultative Forum of the PCGIR, whose results will contribute
to the construction of the Regional Plan for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk 2024-
2028, outlining a roadmap.
Side event 15
The Road to 2030: engaging whole-of society in DRR to build an
equitable and resilient future for all
Organizers:
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Government of the United States of America | Public
Safety, Government of Canada
HYBRID SESSION
This session will review progress towards a more inclusive and resilient future for all people, discussing
how the region is working to support the participation of groups disproportionately impacted by
disasters in disaster risk reduction planning and how to strengthen this commitment by 2030.
Learning labs
Learning Lab 1
Application of the FORIN method for disaster risk analysis:
experiences from Jamaica, Mexico and Peru
Organized by:
Red de Estudios Sociales en Prevención de Desastres Latinoamérica y el Caribe (La RED) | Office of
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) | United Nations Office for Disaster
Risk Reduction, Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean (UNDRR)| Ayuda en Acción Peru

ON-SITE EVENT
This workshop will present the results of the application of the FORIN methodology in 2022 in Kingston
and Montego Bay, Jamaica, by ODPEM; and in Huaraz, Peru, by La Red. The session is a continuation
of the learning lab held during the Regional Platform 2021, where the FORIN methodology was
presented.
Learning Lab 2
Increasing the effectiveness of communication in disaster risk
management. An ABC from advertising
Organized by:
Red de Estudios Sociales en Prevención de Desastres Latinoamérica y el Caribe (La RED) | United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) | Ayuda en Acción Perú

ON-SITE EVENT
By improving capacities in communication, identification of key audiences and strategies to better

position the messages they wish to communicate, participants will be able to increase the impact
of their messages on target audiences, contributing to improving the sustainability of activities
developed in the context of the four priorities of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Learning Lab 3
MCR2030 Workshop: the path from planning to funding and
implementation of solutions
Organized by:
(UNDRR) | ARISE Mexico | ARISE Dominica | Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) | Local
Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) | Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI)

Room: Río de Janeiro B | INTERPRETATION: SPANISH - ENGLISH - PORTUGUESE
ON-SITE EVENT
This lab seeks to identify challenges and opportunities for local governments to finance their resilience
and climate action plans, as well as a space for knowledge exchange that will allow participants to
learn and share inspiring practices from the region. The goal of this lab is to cooperate to build the
foundations of a roadmap that will enable local governments in the Americas and the Caribbean to
move from planning to action.
Learning Lab 4
Mobilizing parliaments to address climate migration
Organized by:
ParlAméricas

Online | INTERPRETATION: SPANISH - ENGLISH
ONLINE EVENT
The dialogue at this workshop will examine strategies that parliaments can support to build resilience
to prevent climate-driven migration, and ways in which relocation plans can be integrated into disaster
risk reduction plans. In addition, the session will highlight the differential circumstances that women
and girls consider when weighing the decision to migrate, as well as the obstacles they face during
the migration process and upon arrival in their new location.
Learning Lab 5
Disaster statistics workshop
Organized by:
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) | Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)

ON-SITE EVENT
From the perspective of the implementation of the Sendai Framework, the need to strengthen the
statistical capacities of the countries was identified. To this end, with the support and encouragement
of the UNDRR, guidelines were generated with technical instructions for monitoring and reporting,
aimed at homogenizing reports on progress towards achieving the global targets of the Sendai
Framework, and since 2017, concrete actions have been carried out in the region. This workshop
continues this line of work.
Learning Lab 6
MCR2030 workshop: tools to support locality planning for
climate resilience
Organized by:
(UNDRR) | Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) | Global Factor

ON-SITE EVENT
This lab is an opportunity to increase cities’ awareness and capacities on how to integrate climate
actions and DRR into common strategies and plans. To support cities, CAF and UNDRR will present
the annex of the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities self-assessment tool: Climate Resilience
Addendum. During this workshop, the results of the piloting of the tool in Portoviejo (Ecuador) and
Panama City (Panama) will be presented. A simulation of the use of the tool will also be carried out
with the participants.

Learning Lab 7
INCENTIVA groupware for sustainable and resilient investments
Organized by:
Instituto Centroamericano de Administración Pública (ICAP) | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

ON-SITE EVENT
In this workshop, we propose an instance of training and interaction with the audience about each of
the modules contained in the INCENTIVA groupware software (administrator, formulator, evaluator,
prioritization, and geoportal), to raise awareness of a tool that promotes sustainable and resilient
investments.
Learning Lab 8
Sendai Framework Monitoring
Organized by:
(UNDRR)
ON-SITE EVENT
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Regional Office for the Americas and the
Caribbean (UNDRR) has been mandated to support the monitoring of the implementation of the
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. Progress is reported through the Sendai
Framework Monitor (SFM).
This workshop will support the training of new SFM users in the reporting process and provides a
refresher course for existing SFM users focusing on specific queries.
Ignite Stage
The Ignite Stage is a space where RP23 participants will have 15 minutes (strictly timed) to present
their projects, products, or initiatives in the field of disaster risk reduction. The aim is to provide a
space to share new ideas and spark innovation. This space complements and extends the range of
topics discussed and presented at the Regional Platform. The Ignite stage will be on-site only and in
original language.
The proposals and projects selected for presentation at the Ignite Stage at RP23 are:
Organizing Entity Name of applicant Title of the session
Digital Technologies to maximize

1 ARISE US Peter Williams
DRR for all
ASB – Workers'
Samaritan Federation Jenny Chinchilla (Sendas- Disasters and disability: the
2 Germany(Regional Office RIADIS Foundation) and power of participatory video to
for Latin America and the Alberto Gómez (ASB) reduce risk
Caribbean)
Autonomous Municipal
Juan Pablo Escalera Diploma in Disaster and
3 Government of
Antezana Emergency Management
Cochabamba
AWS (Amazon Web AWS Disaster Preparedness &
4 Camila Saad
Services) Response
Developing Community-Led and
5 Baylor University Benjamin Ryan Scalable Solutions to Strengthen
Food System Resilience
Build Change, Social
Housing Authority, City
of Bogota, Colombia, Using technology to scale up
6 Sofía Andrade-Pardo
INVISU (Social Housing resilient housing in Colombia
Authority, City of
Bucaramanga, Colombia)
Science and technologies within
7 CADENA Mariana Olvera Redding reach: low-cost solutions to
increase community resilience
Youth, Technology, and Inclusion
8 CADENA Benjamin Laniado Kassin
for DRR
The added value and challenges
CAF, development bank of financing and implementing
9 Carolina Cortés
of Latin America cross-border adaptation
initiatives
Experiences of EWS in Chile
CAF, development bank
Nury Bermúdez / Regional and Ecuador, through the use of
of Latin America / United
10 Coordinator CAF-UNDP storm detection systems and
Nations Development
Climate Adaptation Project the improvement of the climate
Programme
monitoring system.

Technologies for preparedness

11 CEPREDENAC Eduardo Vélez
and disaster response
Launch of the III Regional

12 CEPREDENAC Eduardo Vélez Assistance
Humanitarian Drill
3D projection mapping for
13 CIGIDEN Juan Cristóbal Karich disaster risk communication in
the digital ageHumanitarian Drill
Youth Self-Organized
City Hall of Petrópolis -
Committees on Collaborative
14 Secretary of Civil Defense Rodrigo D’Almeida
Missions for Safe Schools in
- PetrópolisRJ Brazil
Petrópolis - RJ Brazil
Strategic Planning of Resilient
Major Doctor Waldemar De
15 City Hall of Veranópolis and Regenerative Cities: how
Carli
new generations may contribute
Civil Society Friends of
“Art as an engine of
the wind meteorology
16 Beatriz Mandagaran communication to promote a
environment
culture of prevention”.
development
Colombian Red Cross Juliana Selen Martinez Measuring Climate Resilience in
17
National Society Lafaurie Urban Communities - Colombia
Colombian Security Using WhatsApp as a Disaster
18 Jacqueline Mesa Sierra
Council Early Warning Tool
Community Empowerment and
19 Cultura Ambiental Gabriela Pignataro Disaster Risk: Reflections from a
Human Rights Approach
Tools to support national and
20 Deltares Patricia Trambauer local EWS: impact-forecasting of
floods and droughts
Desastres Deconstruidos: a
Desastres Deconstruidos
21 Manuela Fernández Podcast from and for Latin
Podcast
America
Emergency Service
of Amateur Radio Fernando Piazzetta Micro-zoning of Risks and
22
Users of Uruguay (Civil Longueira Resources
Association)
Florianópolis City Integrate to protect! Impacting
23 Hall- Civil Defence of Samuel Vidal children, youth, and adults
Florianópolis through strategic partnerships
Joaquín González Youth and Film in Disaster Risk
24 Friends of the Wind
Gyurkovits Reduction
Geomorphology applied to
GEORESPECT –
25 Michal Rajchl disaster risk reduction in the
Scientific Consultant
Peruvian geographic context
GIRDD-LAC Network
for Risk and Disability Videos on risk management and
26 Management in Latin Rosa María Juárez Cobeñas disability: to sensitize and raise
America and the awareness
Caribbean
Disaster Risk Management.
27 GIZ- AMDC - KfW Ingrid Patricia Flores Girón Emergency – Post Emergency
MDC
Government of Canada,
Emergency Geomatics services
Natural Resources
and AI assisted near real
28 Canada, Canadian Centre Eric Loubier
time mapping for disaster
for Mapping and Earth
management
Observation
Multi-hazard Early Warning

29 Government of Río Negro Gonzalo Enrique García
System with Impact Assessment
Mr. Boris Mauricio Mota

Charnau HSI/ESAP
Humane Society
Incidence Officer; Ms.
International/Latin Community Preparation in
Kelly Donin, HSI Director
30 America (HIS); Equinos Disaster Response for Animals in
Animal Disaster Response;
Sanos para el Pueblo Volcanic Eruptions
Mr. Mario Rolando Sapon
Foundation (ESAP)
Pellecer, ESAP General
Director
Risk management and cultural
31 ICCROM Tomás Meraz Castaño
heritage, a regional overview
Jenny Elizabeth Argüello Climate Change statistics related
32 INEC Ecuador
Ruiz to disasters
Geodata production for
Luis Carlos Paniagua
33 INEC-CNE Costa Rica statistical integration and
Carvajal
disaster risk management
Institute for Disaster
34 Macarena Pérez Data Platform for Resilience
Resilience (ITREND)
Intermunicipal Public
Council for Sustainable
Intermunicipal Coordination for
35 Development of the Cristina Martins
Disaster Risk Reduction
Mining Triangle and
Upper Paranaíba
International Federation
NEAT+ environmental
36 of Red Cross and Red Gustavo Eduardo Hernandez
assessments
Crescent Societies
Playing DRR - Leveraging
37 IsraAID Tali Groshaus Technology to Innovate for
Children
“Resilience and prevention in the
Junto al Desarrollo-JADE
38 Gloria Bratschi Curriculum Design for primary
Foundation
schools in Mendoza Argentina”.
Litro de Luz Argentina -
39 Lucas Herrero Energy IVOX
IVOX - Handy Vets
Risk Management in Cultural
Meritorious Autonomous
40 Rosalba Peña Hernández Heritage as a Damage Reduction
University of Puebla
Instrument
Advocacy for Risk Management
41 Mexican Red Cross Francisco Gabriel Reyes Gil Advocacy: Contributions from
Resilience Measurement

Ministry of Housing and Experience and challenges for
Magdalena Radrigán
42 Urban Development of DRR in a territorial intervention
Navarro
Chile model in Chile
Emergency Response
43 Monday.com Anton Driz
Management in the Digital Era
Municipal Coordination of José Francisco Ramírez Integral Early Warning System in

44
Civil Protection Querétaro Santana the Municipality of Queretaro
Municipal Secretary of
Safe Schools Project: Developing
Civil Defense of Nova
45 Vilson Nascimento Resilience Through Education
Iguaçu / Nova Iguaçu
(ES-DRAE)
City Hall
Municipality of La Plata /
46 Mauricio Norman Saldívar Informed citizens, safe citizens
Autotrol SA
SGRD/CONARE: Policy advocacy
National Council of
47 Dorian Chaves Lara in national, sectoral, and
Rectors
institutional planning, Costa Rica
Technical Prescription Guideline
National Forestry
48 Hilson Herrera for Forest Fire Protection
Corporation
Programme
National Institute Geospatial technology for early
49 of Meteorology and Guillermo Flores Cumbal warning of floods and extreme
Hidrology (INAMEH) events in Ecuador
National Statistical Office, Strengthening the Early Warning

50 National Emergency Leidy Ventura System (EWS) in the Dominican
Commission Republic
Mangrove Forests: NBS

National University of Bertha Cecilia García
51 prototype to reduce flooding and
Tumbes Cienfuegos
mitigate tsunamis
Office for the HDX: The data exchange
Coordination of platform for the humanitarian
52 Javier Teran
Humanitarian Affairs sector. https://data.humdata.
(OCHA) org/
Emergency response
Organización de
53 Marco Tulio España Sánchez services and the Sustainable
Bomberos Americanos
Development Goals (SDGs)
Pacifico, Risk Connecting with space to learn
54 Emiliano Rodríguez Nuesch
Communication Agency about disasters
Forget me not: Storytelling to
Pacifico, Risk
55 Emiliano Rodríguez Nuesch share community resilience
Communication Agency
lessons learnt
Panama International Panamanian Leaders | Helping
56 Ismael Ponce
Maritime University Disaster Risk Reduction
Presidency of the
Republic - National
Emergency Directorate of
Strengthening the GIR Toolbox
the National Emergency
57 Natalia Curto of the Uruguayan National
System of Uruguay
Emergency System
- Planning Area, with
the support of UNDP
Uruguay.
RIADIS (Network of
non-governmental
Accessibility Guidelines for the
organizations of persons
58 Rosa María Juárez Cobeñas Meaningful Participation of
with disabilities and their
Persons with Disabilities
families in Latin America
and the Caribbean)
Climate Risk Management
59 Royal Haskoning DHV Carlos Arias
Platform
People and their communities:
School of Social
60 Magela Grisoni the basis for disaster risk
Psychology Uruguay
prevention
Secretariat for Drought Monitoring National
61 Agriculture, Livestock, Maria de Estrada Round Table: Inter-institutional
and Fisheries coordination for early action
Secretariat for Central
Role of SICA's social sector in
62 American Social Anita Zetina
disaster risk management
Integration (SICA)
Secretariat of
Environment, Sustainable
Building a Resilient Puebla: state
63 Development and Beatriz Manrique Guevara
and local resilience strategy
Territorial Planning of the
State of Puebla, Mexico
Statistical recommendations for
UNDRR, INEI Peru, INE
64 Alcides Nunes the measurement of the Sendai
Paraguay
Framework indicators
Experiences of Post-Disaster
United Nations Recovery Needs Assessment
65 Jeannette Fernández
Development Programme (PDNA) in Latin America and the
Caribbean
United Nations Urban risk management in LAC:
66 Luis Gamarra
Development Programme challenges and lessons learned
"MIRADAS QUE CUENTAN" -
United Nations Experience of social perception
67 Myrna Campoleoni
Development Programme of risk in the community of Fray
Bentos.
United Nations
Luis Bonilla,
68 Development Programme Urban resilience
Nicole Ponce
/Resilient Cities network
United Nations
The Multi-criteria Integrated
Development
Resource Assessment (MIRA)
69 Programme/Uruguay's Lercy Barros
and its role in pandemic
National Emergency
management in Uruguay
System

University experience in the
University of Chile's
Daniela Ejsmentewicz creation of permanent DRR
70 Disaster Risk Reduction
Cáceres programs: the case of Citrid-
Programme - CITRID
UChile
José Alexander Chávez Educating All of Us About
71 University of El Salvador
Hernández Problem Rivers and Soil Behavior
WFP Series - Session 1 -Risk
layering with & beyond finance-
72 World Food Programme Flavia Lorenzon
Thinking Local: lessons in
community-level DRR
WFP Series - Session 2 -
Addressing the climate crisis
73 World Food Programme Flavia Lorenzon
through SP: AA and SRSP as key
pieces
WFP Series - Session 3 - Macro
74 World Food Programme Flavia Lorenzon to Micro: lessons in inclusive
disaster risk finance in LAC
Expo
The EXPO is a space to attract and showcase new and innovative approaches to disaster risk reduction,
including those related to the use of new technologies, awareness raising, or educational activities.
EXPO aims to:

• Create an environment that stimulates awareness, behavioural change and shared learning
• Providing opportunities for experiential learning
• Motivate the application of new knowledge and approaches in DRR, with an emphasis on
the development and use of more effective products, processes, services, technologies and
business models
• Ensure interdisciplinary exchange of ideas and reach beyond the more specialized DRR
community so that new partnerships can emerge
• Showing new ways to develop cost-effective DRR interventions
• Suggesting new ideas for implementing and advancing the Sendai Framework
Format
• The EXPO will take the format of a face-to-face and virtual exhibition.

Preparatory events
ResilienceTech22 is an innovation competition for the implementation of EWS at the local level and an
opportunity to find innovative strategies to bridge the digital divide through simple solutions.
ResilienceTech22 took place over four weeks, with more than 150 young people from the Americas
and the Caribbean participating in teams that received mentoring and technical guidance for their
EWS innovation proposals. This broad appeal has reinforced the role of youth and the importance of
their participation in finding the solutions the region needs to reduce disaster risks.
The winning proposal was submitted by the Mexican team Dzahui, made up of Maura Varela, Esai
Osorio and Rosalba Peña, professionals in engineering and human sciences, who were mentored
by Lluvia Gómez. Dzahui developed a Comprehensive Early Warning app, which prioritizes social
participation, scientific-academic links, as well as governmental, based on existing local resources.
The second place award in ResilienceTech was for the Ikatu Oiko team from Paraguay, who developed
a mobile application based on the need to streamline EWS; third place award went to the Mexican
team, The Dangerous, about expanding the understanding of EWS in the event of an earthquake;
and the fourth place award was for the Colombian team Maqllu, with a case study on EWS in high
mountains.
The winning team will present its project during RP23, on 2 March 2023 from 11.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.
in the room Montecarlo.
Preliminary events
The preliminary events are the series of meetings, encounters, workshops, forums and seminars that
have placed RP23 and the themes that will be developed in it in their agendas, contributing to provide
content and promoting meetings, debates, agreements and strategic alliances on the road towards
the achievement of the objectives and results expected in our VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk
Reduction (RP23).
• IV Regional Consultative Forum of the PCGIR (5-7 December 2022, El Salvador)

• Regional Launch of the Early Warning for All (EW4ALL) Initiative for the Caribbean (6 February
2023, online)
• US ARISE Virtual Symposium: Digital Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction (14 February
2023).
• First regional meeting of national meteorological and hydrological services and national risk
management and emergency response systems (27 February 2023)
• Meeting of the working group on statistics for the measurement of indicators for the Sendai
Framework targets (SCA/ECLAC WG-RRD) (27 February 2023)
• Workshop: “Evidence in Disaster Preparedness: Anticipating Complex Crises in a Systemic
Risk Scenario” (27 February 2023)
• 1st International Meeting and Seminar on Media for Disaster Risk Reduction (27 February
2023)
• Regional Science and Technology Advisory Group - Americas and the Caribbean (RSTAG)
Meeting (27 February 2023)

Subsequent events
The subsequent events are the series of meetings and seminars that, based on the VIII Regional
Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (RP23), on the spaces for articulation and synergies created in
it, on the opportunity represented by the face-to-face meeting on disaster risk reduction and on the
topics addressed in the plenary sessions, parallel sessions, side events and learning labs, together
with the challenges and commitments assumed by the countries and groups, will take place in the
days following RP23, in Uruguay.
• Latin American and Caribbean Forest Fire Expert Group (GEFF LAC) Seminar on Forest Fire
Prevention and EWS (3 March 2023, Punta del Este, Uruguay)
• Meeting of the Network for Inclusive Disaster Risk Management and Disability in Latin
America and the Caribbean (Red GIRDDD LAC)
• Annual Planning Meeting of the Regional Education Group for Latin America and the
Caribbean (GIRDDD LAC)
Online connection
Online participation will be available for registered RP23 participants through Hopin, a virtual
conference platform, and also via the web streaming service that will be widely available at:
https://www.youtube.com/@UNDRR
https://rp-americas.undrr.org/2023/rp-americas-live-stream
To engage online in the RP23, please sign up at https://rp-americas.undrr.org/registration-rp-

americas-2023 and receive emails with updates on the Regional Platform prior to the event.
To learn more, please refer to the RP23 website.
Key documents
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030
Regional Action Plan for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030 in the
Americas and the Caribbean
Regional Assessment Report on Disaster Risk in Latin America and the Caribbean
Global Assessment Report 2022
Main conclusions and recommendations of the Mid-term Review of implementation of the Sendai
Framework for DRR 2015-2030
Communication tools, press
accreditation and social networks
Overview
Media coverage of RP23 is welcomed and encouraged, to better understand and communicate how
to address systemic risks.
Even more so in a global context in which uncertainty is the new norm and the use of science and
technology to reduce disaster risk is urgently needed.
During RP23, a dedicated media space will be allocated with a press conference room, as well as
interview slots during the event. There will also be a session focused on media engagement in disaster
risk reduction (see side events).
Media Network
Disasters and risks dominate the news when they occur or are imminent. However, the role of the
media is not - and should not be - limited to reporting when disasters happen. Media coverage is a
powerful tool that can focus attention, set the agenda for public debate, influence policy decisions,
change public attitudes and save lives. The Media Network for DRR in the Americas and the Caribbean
will have active participation during RP23. We invite you to register and learn more about it.
https://www.undrr.org/communication-saves-lives-undrr-regional-office-americas-and-caribbean
Thanks to the support and commitment of journalists, the Network has an Advisory Board of journalists
whose work at organizations and media of regional relevance has been a crucial information channel
between authorities and emergency services, on the one hand, and their audiences, on the other. They
will be advisors and guides on how to strengthen this Network from UNDRR, how to facilitate access
to information on DRR issues to other colleagues, and how to share experiences and realities about
local contexts with a regional perspective.

Social media
The VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean (RP23) can
be followed on UNDRR’s social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
The main #hashtags to participate in the regional virtual conversation around the Platform and to
follow online activities are as follows
#RP23
#SendaiAmericas
#TechnologyOnOurSide
UNDRR
FB
@UnisdrlasAmericasyelCaribe/
TW
@UNDRR_Americas
YouTube
UNDRR
Uruguay’s National Emergency System
TW
@sinae_oficial
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/undrr/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sinae-oficial/
Photo Notice
You are about to attend an activity in a place where photographs and audiovisual recordings may
be taken. These images and videos may be disseminated, reproduced and published in electronic
publications, in print, or on mobile devices by the Government of Uruguay, UNDRR, the media and
others. They may also be used in audiovisual promotions broadcast via the Internet or Intranet,
or on home or mobile devices. By attending this event, you authorize your image and voice to be
used in the production, and in any other material, including promotional uses that may be made
of this production and in any media.
You acknowledge having been fully informed of your consent and having been made aware of the
disclaimer before entering the premises where this event will take place.
Logistics note
Check out our Logistics Note by clicking on the image or by scanning the QR code.

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AMERICAS + URUGUAY

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Dates: Tuesday, February 28 to Thursday, March 2, 2023

Location: Enjoy hotel, Punta del Este, Uruguay

“Science and Technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk” 5

“Science and Technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk” 7

“Science and Technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk” 9

Risk trends, disaster impact and challenges in the

1 RAR, Regional Disaster Risk Assessment Report for 2 Idem 1

• Maintaining interest and supporting

In the same vein, given the cultural, ethnic and

You can access the full article at the following

To this end, the following actions have been https://rp-americas.undrr.org/2023/practical-

Physical accessibility to all RP23 As a member of the United Nations, UNDRR

Accessible website, materials, and

Science & Technology Sendai Framework Sustainable Early Warning

“Science and Technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk” 17

Punta del Este Hall

LEARNING LAB RÍO DE JANEIRO B

SIDE EVENTS RÍO DE JANEIRO C

PUNTA DEL ESTE

BILATERALL RIVIERA MONTECARLO

BILATERALL VIÑA DEL MAR

AGENDA 28 FEBRUARY 2023

Room: Punta del Este C, D, E

Room: Punta del Este C, D, E

13:45 a 14:30 BREAK

PARALLEL SESSION PARALLEL SESSION LEARNING LAB

Room: Punta del Este C, D, E

“Science and Technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk” 19

AGENDA 1 MARCH 2023

Room: Punta del Este C, D, E Room: Punta del Este A, B

Early Warning to reduce loss Communicating risk: Mobilizing parliaments to

Room: Punta del Este A, B Room: Río de Janeiro C Online

12:45 a 13:00 BREAK

SIDE EVENT SIDE EVENT SIDE EVENT

Room: Punta del Este C, D, E

15:45 a 16:15 BREAK

PARALLEL SESSION PARALLEL SESSION LEARNING LAB

AGENDA 2 MARCH 2023

Room: Punta del Este C, D, E

Comprehensive Fire Media as transformative MCR 2030 Workshop: Tools

SIDE EVENT SIDE EVENT LEARNING LAB

Advances in the capacities Youth, technology and INCENTIVA groupware for

12:45 a 13:45 Management Governance investments

Room: Río de Janeiro C Online Room: Río de Janeiro B

The Road to 2030: Engaging Sendai Framework

13:45 a 14:45 to Build an Equitable and

Room: Punta del Este A, B Room: Río de Janeiro B

“Science and Technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk” 23

Organizing team: This session will address the encounters and

Ms. Mizutori brings to the position a combination of management and leadership

GLADYS LORENA TERRAZAS ARNEZ

A major climate activist and internationalist with a master’s degree in

“Science and Technology for the Comprehensive Management of Disaster Risk” 27

Organizing team: the drivers of risk where risk is generated.

How can science and technology contribute to

Why is it necessary to innovate policies and

What should territorial governance look like to

ELISA MARIEL TRUJILLO LEYVA

Sinae is the institution in charge of promoting disaster risk reduction in Uruguay.

DÁRIO JORGE GIOLO SAADI

Graduated in medicine from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas,

A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA