In many years, Japan and the World Bank have been working together to support Disaster Risk Management (DRM) efforts by disaster-prone developing countries. In April 2013, the Government of Japan announced Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming DRM in Developing Countries. Subsequently, World Bank DRM Hub, Tokyo was established within the World Bank Tokyo Office. As part of its outreach and knowledge activities, DRM Hub, Tokyo and the World Bank Tokyo Office co-organized the 3rd public seminar titled “Protecting Children and Their Families through Safe Schools – Japan and World Bank Experience”.
The objective of this third Public Seminar was to present the goals and objectives of the World Bank Global Program for Safer Schools and share good practices, research efforts and lessons learned in Japan, domestically and through overseas development aid.
Up to now, Japan embarked on a program of retrofitting and reconstruction of schools exposed to disaster risks. As a result, it is aimed to complete that public school buildings in the country will be seismically resilient by 2016. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) explained the legislation, financing arrangements and roles and responsibilities of central and local government in achieving this goal, and the lessons this would provide for other countries considering embarking on their own retrofitting programs.
Program
Opening remarks
Yasusuke Tsukagoshi Special Representative, Japan, World Bank Group
Panelists
Niels Holm-Nielsen
Lead Disaster Risk Management Specialist, Social, Rural, Urban & Resilience, World Bank Group
Global Program for Safer Schools Program Overview (PDF)
Kazuhiro Kobayashi
Office for Disaster Prevention, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Promotion of Disaster Resilient School Facilities (PDF)
Fernando Ramirez
Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, Social, Rural, Urban & Resilience, World Bank Group
Global Program for Safer Schools Peru Case Study (PDF)
Gogot Suharwoto
Head of Division for Program Planning and Budget, Ministry of Education and Culture, Indonesia
Achievement of the Indonesian Safe School Implementation (PDF)
Moderator:
Jack Campbell Disaster Risk Management Specialist, Disaster Risk Management Hub, Tokyo, World Bank Group
Q & A’s