International Day for Disaster Reduction celebration in Ethiopia

Introduction

Often in many societies, much of the work and achievements of women is of low visibility and taken for granted. While women and girls contribute to building the resilience of communities, as well as, the protection and rebuilding of their communities before and after disasters, such are often unrecognized. The International Day for Disaster Reduction 2012 intends to reverse this situation by acknowledging and appreciating the millions of women and girls who make their communities more resilient to disasters and climate risks and thus to reap the benefits of and protect their development investments.

The International Day for Disaster Reduction 2012 will:

• Celebrate the contribution that women and girls are making before, during and after disasters.
• Highlight that the ability of women and girls to contribute is hindered by exclusion from participation and decision-making in disaster risk reduction and management processes as well as programs and by poor understanding of gender inequality.
• Move beyond the perception of women and girls as victims.
• Present evidence of actions and initiatives by women and girls.

Activities

a) Four Radio Talk Shows for four days

A radio talk show on DRR is going to be aired nationwide from 8-11 October 2012. The radio talk shows will focus on the sub-themes for each day and will feature relevant guests and resource persons. The following are the themes of the daily talk shows:

• Day 1 – Cook stoves and the Climate Resilient and Green Economy (this will feature resource persons from the Ministry of Energy and cook stoves program stakeholders)
• Day 2 – Role and impact of local women in bringing change in the community (this will feature a health worker from one community in the SNNP region)
• Day 3 – Gender sensitive and resilient community (this will feature female tractor drivers which help make their communities disaster resilient)
• Day 4 – Building resilience (this will feature a resource person from the DRMFSS on efforts to build resilience.

b) Radio Program on IDDR celebration for three days

A radio programme to disseminate a well structured information package on DRR to the general public will be prepared and broadcasted for 20 minutes on 8, 10 & 12 October 2012. The nationwide broadcast will focus on the theme, empowering women and girls for a safer and greener tomorrow.

c) Televised Panel Discussion on IDDR celebration

A televised panel discussion will be aired nationwide on 11 October. The televised discussion will focus on the theme, Empowering Women and Girls for a Safer and Greener Tomorrow, and will feature the State Minister for DRMFSS, the UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator, the Director of the Early Warning and Response Directorate, and other relevant persons.

d) Newspaper Supplement on IDDR celebration

A full page, color supplement will appear on 12 October 2012 in the Addis Zemen newspaper. The supplement will feature information on the celebration of the IDDR and, specifically, information on the sub-themes of the celebration

e) Raising visibility on DRM/DRR (Posters, Banners, Leaflets, and other advocacy materials)

To further raise awareness on DRM/DRR and of the International Day for Disaster Reduction and to enhance the visibility of government leadership on DRM/DRR, banners highlighting the International Day for Disaster Reduction celebration will be displayed in Addis Ababa. Posters focusing on the main theme and sub-themes will be posted in populated areas of Addis Ababa and the regional capitals. On the day of the celebration (of the International Day for Disaster Reduction) itself, 1,250 t-shirts, 500 caps, and at least a thousand leaflets highlighting the celebration will be distributed amongst the local population in densely populated areas of Addis Ababa.

f) Site Visit with Media Representatives

The site visit will take place in Kombulcha where the UNDP-assisted Coping with Drought Project is implemented. The visit will be on 3-4 October 2012 and is intended to (1) show women and girls in action and demonstrate evidences that they are not only victims but part of the agents for resilient community; and (2) disseminate achievements as sample result and thereof sensitize the general public that women and girls are agents of change, and that women and girls must be empowered for a safer and greener tomorrow. A total of 18 media representatives from Ethiopian TV and Radio Agency, Radio Fana, Sheger Radio, Ethiopian Herald newspaper, Addis Zemen newspaper, Oromia TV, Addis Ababa TV, Capital newspaper, Fortune newspaper, Reporter newspaper and Addis Admas newspaper are confirmed to be part of the site visit.

g) National Conference on DRM

The conference is the main highlight of the International Day for Disaster Reduction celebration. This would be the 6th such national conference to be conducted and the 3rd to be undertaken in conjunction with the celebration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction. The conference will be held in Hilton Addis Hotel and is organised by the Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector, Ministry of Agriculture and supported by UN Agencies, international NGOs, development partners, and donors.

The national conference will feature the presentation of four technical/academic papers responding to the different sub-themes of the celebration and competitively selected from a number of technical/academic papers submitted. The State Minister (DRMFSS) and the UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator are expected to officially open/grace the occasion with representatives from a wide range of DRM stakeholders in attendance.

h) National Exhibition on DRM

On the sideline of the national conference in Hilton, an exhibition showcasing the different knowledge management products, communication materials, and information on DRM/DRR produced by different organizations and stakeholders will be presented. While prospective exhibitors reached more than 40 organizations, the exhibition will feature only 18 major organizations due to limitations in space.

i) Website/Online

Information on the IDDR celebration is uploaded into the websites of the DRMFSS and the One UN Ethiopia initiative.