Resilience for Communities - What do we really need?- at Rio +20

Rio+20 Side Event: Following the global commitment made by member states to partnering to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability in the face of adversity in Busan, this side event is organized to inform the public about the post Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) regime and discuss how to build the resilience of communities to disasters. The concept of building resilience will be discussed along with the opportunities it provides in the sustainable development debate and intra- and inter-institutional collaboration. Audience will be invited to an open discussion with the panellists which will be moderated by Senior Advisor Toni Frisch.

Why does it make sense to use the concept of resilience?

The member states made a global commitment to resilience in Busan – a commitment to partnering to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability in the face of adversity. The member states expressed their will to ensure that development strategies and policies prioritise the building of resilience. In addition, all partners committed to work together to invest in shock resistant infrastructure and social protection systems for at-risk communities. They also committed to increase resources for disaster management. The concept of resilience provides several opportunities in the sustainable development debate and facilitates the intra- and inter-institutional collaboration:

• The concept of resilience can be applied to address increased security, safety and reduced losses from different view points; in particular it will foster the collaboration between the climate change, the disaster risk reduction and other thematic communities. Also it helps to combine development, humanitarian and political action.
• The concept of resilience is in line with and complements other themes like livelihood, food security or natural resources management.
• The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 overarching goal is: "Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters". Therefore, the concept of resilience is a logic advancement of the post-HFA process.
• Resilience constitutes an added value for the three pillars of sustainable development: the absorption of disturbances and their management. The post MDG process may be fertilized with this aspect.