APFM at Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction

The Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR), managed by UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), was held in Geneva from 8 – 13 May 2011 under the overall theme “Invest Today for a Safer Tomorrow – Increased Investment in Local Action”. APFM co-organized a side-event at the GPDRR on 12 May 2011 in partnership with the World  Bank, funded by the Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction (GFDRR), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).  The side-event titled “Cities and Flooding in the 21stCentury – Trends, Impacts and Policy Implications”  brought together policy makers, city planners and other experts from developed and developing countries to exchange knowledge and experience in urban flood management.  Presentations and discussions focused on the IFM concept and its application to urban areas, especially under consideration of increasing urban flooding rates due to climate change and rapid global urbanization, and management of urban flood risk.    For more information about the side event and presentations, please visit: http://www.preventionweb.net/globalplatform/2011/programme/side-events/v.php?id=201  Exhibition Booth APFM was also present at the GPDRR at WMO’s shared  booth with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and drew much attention from the international community including over 2,000 registered participants such as policy makers and practitioners, government officials, international organizations, NGOs, academia, and the private sector who visited the booth.  Approximately 650 APFM publications and materials were distributed about Integrated Flood Management and the HelpDesk promoted to satisfy the high demand for information relating to flood related disasters and climate change.