Project News

On March 17 and April 14, 2021, the National Risk and Emergency Management Service (SNGRE), with the support of the JICA Project for the Construction of Safe and Resilient Cities against Earthquake and Tsunami Disasters Project, organized the National Service on the Risk Reduction Agenda (ARR) virtually. In Ecuador, the ARR is the equivalent of Japan's disaster management plan, and this seminar was held as a completion of the activities of output 2 of the project: "The Risk Reduction Agenda is updated focusing on mitigation, prevention and preparedness for municipalities. " with the following purpose:

• Deepen understanding of ARR.
• Present the "Guidelines for the preparation of the Risk Reduction Agenda" prepared by the project, the activities and the preparation of the ARR in the seven pilot municipalities.
• Present the "Technical Handbook for the Preparation of the Risk Reduction Agenda", prepared by SNGRE based on the experience of the project.
• Present how to prepare an ARR using the "Technical Handbook for the Preparation of the Risk Reduction Agenda".
• Present case studies of pilot municipalities (Esmeraldas and Portoviejo).
• Share and exchange information for the preparation and updating of the Risk Reduction Agenda.

The objective of this Project is that both the SNGRE and the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (MIDUVI) have a technical support system, so that municipal governments can reduce the damage caused by the occurrence of earthquakes and tsunami in Ecuador and ; thus contribute to one of the global objectives of the "Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030", which seeks to "Substantially increase the number of countries where disaster risk reduction strategies are formulated at the national and local levels by 2020 ".

A total of 363 participants from the 221 cities and 24 provinces of Ecuador attended the two seminars as part of the Output 2 activities, who delved into the "Technical Handbook for the Preparation of the Risk Reduction Agenda" developed through the project. The preparation of the Risk Reduction Agenda for the seven pilot municipalities of the project has been largely completed.

As a closing of the project and as a subsequent initiative, the SNGRE will support municipalities throughout the country to replicate the ARR at the national level in the future.

<Documents related to the Risk Reduction Agenda available in the SNGRE Virtual Library>

• Guidelines for the Preparation of Risk Reduction Agendas (external link)
• Technical Handbook for the Preparation of Risk Reduction Agendas. (external link)

Risk Reduction Agenda of each pilot municipality (officially approved by the municipal council, etc.)

• GAD PORTOVIEJO : Risk Reduction Agenda of Portoviejo Canton (external link)
• GAD SALINAS : Risk Reduction Agenda of Salinas Canton (external link)
• GAD ATACAMES : Risk Reduction Agenda of Atacames Canton (external link)
• GAD ESMERALDAS : Risk Reduction Agenda of Esmeraldas Canton (external link)
• GAD SUCRE : Risk Reduction Agenda of Sucre Canton (external link)
• GAD SANTA CRUZ : Risk Reduction Agenda of Santa Cruz Canton (external link)

Written by Yu Kumagai (CSR Project Coordinator by JICA)

1st Seminar on Preparation of the Risk Reduction Agenda

2nd Seminar on Preparation of the Risk Reduction Agenda

Guidelines for the Preparation of Risk Reduction Agendas

Technical Handbook for the Preparation of Risk Reduction Agendas