Centre launches ‘G7 Solutions Paper’ as Crisis Lookout coalition gathers to explore lessons of Covid-19
Cash grants before the floods hit allow families to prepare early and recover early. Credit: WFP / Sayed Asif Mahmud
Ahead of a meeting of G7 Foreign and Development ministers next month, the Centre for Disaster Protection today convened leaders from across the Crisis Lookout coalition to explore the international financial response to covid-19 and what lessons it held for world leaders as they prepare to ‘Build Back Better’ from the crisis.
The event was also an opportunity for the Centre to launch its new paper: Predict and Protect: G7 solutions for a new approach to crisis risk financing, setting out detailed and practical proposals for how the G7 could better protect vulnerable communities by better predicting and preparing for disasters. The event was closed with the airing of the coalition's new campaign video (or view below)
In 2021, it’s estimated that one in 33 people will need humanitarian assistance and protection, up 40% from 2020[1]. With covid-19, climate change, and conflict increasing the likelihood of disasters, the Crisis Lookout coalition is working closely with partners organisations including UN Agencies, think-tanks, the private sector and civil society to call on the G7 to agree solutions that would modernise the crisis financing system.
Today’s panel event, hosted by broadcaster and journalist, Chris Gunness, featured Ato Sufian Ahmed, former Finance Minister of Ethiopia, Special Representative for Secretary General of UN DRR Mami Mizutori, Chief Executive of the Start Network, Christina Bennett, and Professor Saleem ul Huq, the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD).
Panellists reflected on new research from the Centre for Disaster Protection showing just 2% of the funding for covid-19 was agreed upon in advance of the outbreak, despite experts warning of the likelihood of a pandemic well in advance. As a result, sufficient money wasn’t available as the disaster hit, causing delays in getting people money when it mattered most.
Christina Bennett, reflecting on the current international crisis financing system, said the START network or humanitarian agencies felt strongly that funding in a disaster comes too late, after the damage had been done. She explained that this reactive approached meant the system was inefficient and led to unnecessary suffering for those communities caught up in a disaster.
Ato Sufian Ahmed spoke of his experience managing the financing during the 2015 drought in Ethiopia, how international aid was not forthcoming despite overwhelming needs and why he had to divert funding from important health and education programmes to prevent loss of life.
Mami Mizutori drew attention to the importance of crisis risk financing as a way of unlocking investment in disaster risk reduction and preparedness. She expressed concern that without focused attention on disaster risk financing and reduction, that disasters would prevent sustainable development for many vulnerable countries.
Professor Saleem ul Huq called on G7 leaders to be ambitious in their response to covid-19 and drew links to the upcoming UN Climate Conference which he said was a test of whether the richest countries in the world were truly committed to supporting adaption and resilience in those countries vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
Drawing the event to a close, Daniel Clarke expressed his hope the today’s paper and today’s discussion would give confidence to G7 leaders that practical steps forward can be made to improve disaster risk information and better crisis-financing.
To download a copy of Predict and Protect: G7 solutions for a new approach to crisis risk financing please click here.
[1] UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs