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23rd Disaster Risk Management Seminar "Learning from Japan’s Experience in Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management: Launch of A Series of Knowledge Notes"

February 3, 2020

Tokyo, Japan

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Organized by the World Bank Tokyo Disaster Risk Management Hub

  • Globally, floods are the most frequent and damaging among natural hazards. Between 1998-2017, floods led to economic damages exceeding US$600 billion, affected more than 2 billion people, and resulted in around 142,000 fatalities. Compounded by rapid urbanization and climate change, these losses will likely increase, especially in developing countries where population numbers are rapidly growing in flood-prone areas. This poses a serious development challenge to many countries and their efforts to reduce poverty and increase shared prosperity. To help manage the impact of floods on people and economies, the World Bank provides technical assistance, advisory services, and financial support to a range of countries and cities around the world.

    Facing different types and combinations of flood risk, Japan’s rich history, range of investments and approaches taken, offers a unique knowledge opportunity for other countries seeking to adopt and advance integrated urban flood risk management (IUFRM). A series of knowledge notes was developed to compile many of the key lessons learned from Japan’s IUFRM efforts. While any strategy to reduce disaster risk must be developed based on a close understanding of local contexts, the aim of this series is to help members of the international community improve their own approaches to managing urban floods. The four knowledge notes in this series cover urban floods, from assessment and planning through to implementation and maintenance. This public seminar will launch a publication “Learning from Japan’s Experience in IUFRM”, developed by the Urban Floods Community of Practice (UFCOP) and Tokyo Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Hub. The launch of the publication includes invited Japanese, international, and World Bank experts to discuss global and Japanese challenges and opportunities in IUFRM.

    Program

    Welcome Remarks

    Masato Miyazaki
    Special Representative, World Bank Japan

    TBC
    Multilateral Development Banks, International Bureau, Ministry of Finance

    Key Note Presentation 1: Urban Flood Risks and Resilience

    Hiroaki Furumai
    Professor, Research Center for Water Environment Technology, School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo

    Key Note Presentation 2: Tackling Urban Flood Resilience in Japan from the National Level

    Masahiko Murase
    Director, International Affairs Office, Water and Disaster Management Bureau Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)

    Key Note Presentation 3: World Bank’s Efforts on Urban Flood Resilience and Importance of Japan’s Knowledge and Experience

    Jolanta Kryspin-Watson
    Lead Disaster Risk Management Specialist, World Bank

    Panel Discussion

    Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management - Connecting Japanese experience with global cities

    Panelists

    Jun Hayakawa
    Senior Officer, Wide-Area Water management, River Division, Kanto Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)

    Mikio Ishiwatari
    Visiting Professor, The University of Tokyo

    Takashi Toyoda
    Professional Engineer (Civil Engineering), Chief Engineer, Water Resources and Disaster Management Department, International Division, YACHIYO ENGINEERING CO., LTD.

    Panel Moderator

    Jian Vun
    Infrastructure Specialist, East Asia and the Pacific, World Bank

    Facilitator

    Shoko Takemoto
    DRM Specialist, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), Tokyo DRM Hub, World Bank

     

  • “Learning from Japan’ s Experience in Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management: A Series of Knowledge Notes” Full Report

    “Learning from Japan’ s Experience in Integrated Urban Flood Risk Management: A Series of Knowledge Notes” – at a glance
     

    While any strategy to reduce disaster risk must be developed based on a close understanding of local contexts, the aim of this series is to help members of the international community improve their own approaches to managing urban floods. The four knowledge notes in this series cover urban floods from assessment and planning through to implementation and maintenance, in the following order:
     

    1. Urban Flood Risk Assessment and Risk Communication
    2. Urban Flood Risk Reduction Investment Planning and Prioritization
    3. Designing and Implementing Urban Flood Risk Management
    4. Ensuring Sustainability through Operations and Maintenance

    The four knowledge notes draw on and are complimented by an appendix of over 20 detailed flood management case studies across Japan. They range from risk assessments used to create neighborhood-level evacuation plans in five adjoining wards in Tokyo (Knowledge Note 1, box 5) to Japan’s first housing development to apply an infiltration-based construction method (Akishima Tsutsujigaoka Collective Housing, appendix, case 17). Examples were selected by a committee comprised of Japanese technical experts from national and local governments, academia, the private sector, and civil society organizations. The committee ensured that evidence-based examples of IUFRM measures for various types of flood risk were highlighted, so as to draw out good practices and lessons useful to developing countries. Each case analyzes a specific IUFRM strategy and supports the discussion of various components of IUFRM in the knowledge notes.
     

    The Knowledge Notes were prepared under the auspices of the Urban Floods Community of Practice (UFCOP). UFCOP is a global knowledge initiative led by the World Bank with support from the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and others. The Knowledge Notes were developed with the financial support of the Japan–World Bank Program for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in Developing Countries, which is financed by the Government of Japan and receives technical support from the World Bank Tokyo DRM Hub.

EVENT DETAILS

  • DATE & TIME: Monday, February 3, 2020, 10:00am-11:45am
  • VENUE: World Bank Tokyo Office, 14th Floor, Fukoku Seimei Building, 2-2-2 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan (Please refer "ACCESS" in RELATED below) * We have moved to the 14th floor.
  • LANGUAGE: English and Japanese (with simultaneous interpretation)
  • REGISTRATION: Registration is now closed as we have reached our full capacity for the event. Thank you for your interest.
  • ADMISSION: free
  • CONTACT: World Bank Tokyo Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Hub TEL: 03-3597-1320
  • drmhubtokyo@worldbank.org