Round Table Meeting for Disaster Risk Reduction

Round Table Meeting for Civil Society Organizations Active in Disaster Risk Reduction Meeting Report and Policy Paper | Download English (24 MB)

Round Table Meeting for Civil Society Organizations Active in Disaster Risk Reduction

On 14 November 2019, with the co-organization of Nirengi Association and AKUT, a round table meeting, with regards to the CSOs active in Disaster Risk Reduction – specifically focus on search and rescue and mental health and psychosocial support, was held in lstanbul. CSOs working in cross cutting thematic fields (women empowerment, child protection, people with special needs etc.) were included in this meeting.

It is highly important that all stakeholders participate in the Disaster Risk Reduction process, and that the participating stakeholders have the understanding and capacity necessary to work together. In addition, with regards to the current situation, we are aware that the majority of CSOs don’t have enough experience in working jointly with governmental agencies and with other CSOs. It is also noted that specifically it is needed to improve the cooperation and collaboration among search and rescue CSOs and mental health and psychosocial support CSOs.

Against this background, Nirengi and AKUT is strongly interested in and determined to bring related stakeholders together to discuss potential partnership, collaboration and advocacy opportunities and allow them to have a face to face contact. Aforementioned round table meeting has taken place within this framework.

PURPOSE OF THE MEETING

Evaluating how a sustainable structure allowing all CSOs transparent, participatory, active, efficient and timely involvement in all disaster risk reduction subjects can be formed.

SCOPE OF THE MEETİNG

Topics discussed at the meeting;

Improving dialogue and cooperation among CSOs and with related public institutions with regards to DRR.
Tackling the subject of ‘networking’ between stakeholders (CSO, public institutions, academy, private sector etc.) working in the disaster risk reduction field.
CSOs’ improvement in line with international standards and guides in terms of technical information and capacity in disaster risk reduction, increased competence in advocacy and corporate communication, improving cross border CSO partnerships and network connections.

PARTICIPANT PROFILE

The Round Table Meeting, based on the amount of fund received from GNDR, was held as an invitation-based meeting including only the organizations invited by Nirengi and AKUT because of their potential contribution to policy making within the scope of the meeting.

Nirengi invited 9 CSOs and one university working in mental health and psychosocial support field, while AKUT invited 8 CSOs active in search and rescue. Additionally, authorities from the AFAD, Istanbul Directorate of Civil Defense Search and Rescue; Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Family, Work and Social Services (FWSS) were invited to the meeting.

44 individuals from 21 different organizations attended to the meeting. It is determined that 18 of the attending organizations are CSOs, 2 are public institutions, 1 is a University and 1 is a UN organization. In addition, from 18 attending CSOs 8 works in search and rescue and 9 works in mental health and psychosocial support field.

FLOW AND THE PROGRAM

Program took place in two main sessions and the overall evaluation session at the end.

During the first session, key presentations were given. Details about the presentations are given below respectively.

Suzan Oktay Erol from Istanbul Provincial Directorate of FWSS, made a presentation about Strengthening the Co-operation and Communication between the Public Institutions and CSOs in DRR. Mrs. Erol explained AFAD and FWSS Ministry’s role and collaboration dynamics with CSOs working in DRR and cross cutting thematic fields and other stakeholders with regards to Turkish Disaster Response Plan (TAMP).
Meriç Kalamanoğlu Şahin, on behalf of AKUT, made a presentation about Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Minimum Standards-INSARAG Guidelines. She also talked about INSARAG’s training exercises and certification process while sharing AKUT’s experience receiving an INSARAG certificate.
Zeynep M. Sanduvaç from Nirengi Association, made a presentation about International Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Guide – IASC Guidelines. In addition, she informed the participants about the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), Sphere MS, Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS) and INEE MS.

During the second session, sub-group works, using the World Café technique and with the accompaniment of a moderator, were done. Themes discussed in the group works:

Theme 1: Reflections about general evaluations on the experiences of working together in disaster risk reduction.
Theme 2: Reflections about stakeholders’ experiences on
- What are the challenging or compelling factors while working with together with CSOs and public institutions (AFAD, FMSS, etc. support-solution partners) and other related stakeholders?
- How did you cope with the challenging or compelling factors while working with together with CSOs and public institutions? What did you use to resolve them?

Theme 3: Reflections about CSOs’ national and international network connections and how CSOs in Turkey link/connect with counterpart institutions in the EU and/or cross border to be developed to encourage the transfer of knowledge and experience in disaster risk reduction.