Indonesia National Platform on DRR

    For most or all of us that work in DRR sector, the name of National Platform or PLANAS PRB might be familiar for us. Yet, for some or most people outside the sector, this name surely brings some question marks in their minds. What PLANAS PRB stands for?what does it function?and how does it operate?after done some readings and reviews on some articles and presentations about it, i decided to summary it in my blog.

    National Platform for DRR or in bahasa is known as Platform Nasional Pengurangan Resiko Bencana (PLANAS PRB) is a forum that concerns on DM/DRR which opens for public and volunteering. As a forum, it is a media that makes its members possible to give inputs, involve in discussion, make decision and gain effort from its existing. The members of this forum mostly are local/national NGOs, private sectors, academician/universities, mass media, and also community groups. As mentioned in the Global Platform for DRR, the National Platform for DRR or PLANAS PRB is foreseen as the principle national institutional arrangement to:

• Improve the coherence of international action on DRR at all levels;
• Advocate and share knowledge among practitioners and experts; and
• Provide reviews and evaluations of national progress in DRR

      Furthermore, in the Guidelines for National Platforms for DRR), explained that “Multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder National Platforms are understood as providing  coordination, analysis and advice to help governments mainstream Disaster risk reduction into development and sectoral programmes, plans and policies, thus, having the potential to be a key instrument for the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action at the national level". Also as part of the recommendations of National Platforms to the Chair and participants of the second session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (Geneva, 16-19 June 2009), stated that "the Nations should facilitate and co-ordinate links between climate change adaptation focal points, and National Platforms for DRR, to avoid parallel mechanisms and to link existing expertise in order to reduce the human impact of climate change".

         The establishment of PLANAS PRB in Indonesia is supported by the legal frame, as it is mentioned in the Indonesia Law Number 24 Year 2007 on Disaster Management (article 4.e, 26.1, 28 & 30.1) which is explained the rights and obligations of various stakeholders in disaster management. It is also described in the Resolution of Economic and Social Council of the United Nations Number 1999/63, and Resolution of the United Nations General Council Number A/RES/59/231. The historical background of its establishment as following:

• Sari Pan Pacific Hotel Agreement in Esatblishment of PLANAS PRB on November 20th 2008 in Jakarta
• Early Meeting of Formatting Team in Jakarta on December 22nd 2008
• 1st Discussion Meeting in Ibis Arcadia, Jakarta on January 15th 2009
• 2nd Discussion Meeting in Ibis Tamarin, Jakarta  on January 23rd 2009
• 3rd Discussion Meeting in Sari Pan Pacific, Jakarta on February 6th 2009
• 1st Meeting of Formatting Team in Jakarta on February 12th 2009
• 4th Discussion Meeting in Sofyan Betawi, Jakarta on February 20th 2009
• 2nd Meeting of Formatting Team in Jakarta on March 4th 2009
• 5th Discussion Meeting in Sofyan Betawi, Jakarta on March 5th 2009
• 1st Multistakeholders Consultancy Meeting on March 19th 2009
• 3rd Meeting of Formatting Team on March 31st 2009
• 2nd Multistakeholders Consultancy Meeting on April 1st 2009 
• 4th Meeting of Formatting Team on April 14th 2009
• Socialization of PLANAS PRB Concept Note on April 22nd 2009
• PLANAS PRB Public Expose on April 28th 2009
• Participation of PLANAS PRB in the 1st Global Platform Conference, Geneve on June 16th to 19th 2009

     Based on the series of meeting on the establishment of PLANAS PRB in Indonesia, it is being agreed that it holds its vision in creating nations' resiliency towards disasters by carries its missions in increasing awareness on DRR, improving knowledge and skills on DRR, supporting people participation and ownership in DRR issues, ensuring smart resources for DRR, and building networking in DRR. Hence, it develops its program in some key actions below: 

• Giving inputs for the policy of development planning and institutional issues
• Encouraging education sector and the development of science and technology
• Raising Public awareness, and sharing information and communication
• Developing wider network and cooperation
• Developing Resources to meet the needs of DRR issues

     Its activities are mainly focus on meetings discussing the progress on HFA achievement and sharing lesson learnt from DRR Programs/Projects in Indonesia, linked to climate change adaptation process and involvement of stakeholders from the environmental civil society groups and others, also inclusion of the DNPI (Indonesian National Council of Climate Change) into PLANAS PRB. Yet, it has other activities that are mainly done through the existing working groups that are set, include:

- Education sector : Prior to the formation of the NP, this sector has formed the Consorsium of Disaster Education, which fits well with the NP in encouraging education sector on DRR issues

- The Civil Society, Higher Education and Research Institution, as well as Private Sectors have been quite active and have set up their own platforms prior to the formation of the NP, and therefore these sectors are involved in the respective areas of the NP’s work plan and priorities

- Local platforms : at the local level, four local platforms have been established prior to the establishment of the NP (Yogyakarta LP, West Sumatra LP, Eastern Nusa Tenggara LP, and Merapi Forum), discussing and supporting local and specific DRR issues

      
      As time goes by, the PLANAS PRB has entered its 3rd year and some advantages having this kind of forum are beginning to show some results, such as: better coordination and communication of all sectors in DRR, sharing of resources among the multistakeholders, an the inclusion integration of all existing potency/resources in Indonesia. Further, there are also some challenges that being face, particularly in term of coordination and integration also better networking at regional, provincial, and district level. Some works that need to be done by PLANAS PRB are: to support and assist the establishment of local platform for DRR and reach wider communities in raising and promoting DRR. Since the establishment of PLANAS PRB until 2011, based on the BNPB (National Disaster Management Body for Disaster Management) Report on HFA Progress Report and Achievement in 2011, there are only 5 thematic forum and 7 local platforms that already established, these include: West Sumatera, Bengkulu, Jogjakarta-Central Java, Central Sulawesi, NTT, Molluca, and East Java Provincial Platforms, and Talang Volcano, Merapi Volcano, Bennenain River, Semeru Volcano, and Bengawan Solo River Thematic Platforms, also Palu City Platform. In regards to the limitation of resources, knowledges, and skills that these platforms have, PLANAS PRB as a national forum has the mandate to give technical assistance and consultations to them as well as supporting their programs and working mechanisms. It is also important for PLANAS PRB to encourage other provinces and districts/cities in set up their platforms. Nevertheless the works on DRR sectors will never work or success without the contribution and fully participation from the local level.

Looking the another way on children and DRR

    Few days ago, my dearest ex-supervisor asked me to write an article on children and DRR and gave me a day to complete it. i spent hours and hours searching the internet about any information on it, surprisingly nearly or most of the information refers to disaster education in school/children disaster education, formally. i must admitted that education is the main issue and probably the best media to incorporate DRR into it, but i cant stop wondering about those children who out of school or dont have chance to be educated or those who are living in street or even those who live in isolated, small or outer island.
    Children are part of the vulnerable group, yet even in this category, there is also children that are marginalized. It comes to realize me that we must also aware that not all children able to speak, read or write, with the limitation and access that they have, we must also consider various way to promote DRR. i notice that some NGOs create game and fun activities such as story telling and song that enable these children to aware and respond to any disaster signs, but still how far do the activities effectively affect these children in term of their respond mechanism?
    Furthermore, i was browsing to all policies related to children and DRR, until now, i did not find any specific policies that mentioned about children's role in DRR. in Bill Number 23 year 2002 on Child Protection, only stated special protection for children as disaster victims by fulfilling their needs. i am aware about children rights and their needs, but rarely we see them as a subject rather than object, we even rarely heard their voices. i found a good concept which i think can be applied for DRR-Children approach, a concept known as Growing Up in Cities (GUC)/Child Friendly City Initiative (CFC). i know that this concept is an urban context, but with some modification it is also suitable for rural and coastal too. anyway, CFC is the embodiment of the Convention on the Rights of the Child at the local level, which is practice means that children’s rights are reflected in policies, laws, programmes and budgets. In a child friendly city, children are active agents; their voices and opinions are taken into consideration and influence decision making processes (www.childfriendlycities.org). Imigine that the children can participate in the development planning process, can decide what is best for them (in term of education, health, etc), can give their opinion and feedback to government policies, and so on. lets try to think as children rather than adults, we do experiencing our childhood, when the adults rarely heard our opinion, understanding our act and thought. it might a good way to learn more about them and involve them actively into our program, there's no early age for them to understand adults like us, so let's them speak!.