Following Uzbekistan, Georgia continued the promotion of the Guideline for addressing water-related disaster risk reduction under the COVID-19 pandemic.
The online Consultation on Addressing Water-Related Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) under the Covid-19 Pandemic organized by CWP-Georgia jointly with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia was held on 24th of February, 2021.
The purpose of this consultation was to discuss and gain insights on how to practically implement key suggestions to Address Water-related Disaster Risk Reduction under Covid-19 Pandemic. The consultation also aimed at fostering exchanges among decision-makers, experts and practitioners in national emergency services and water resources authorities, on how they can be better prepared for co-occurring disasters on water and health.
More than 60 representatives from national authorities and institutions who plan, make decisions and practice actions in relation to water disasters in the context of a pandemic, private companies, NGOs, international agencies and projects as well as the HELP program, GWPO, GWP CACENA attended the consultation.
The following presentations were made:
- HELP principles introduction (Host & Facilitator;
- Emergency Management and the National System;
- Environmental aspects of Water-related DRR during Covid-19;
- Public Health system response on water-related DRR & Covid-19;
- Communal service’s response on Water-related DRR;
- Draft Law of Georgia on Water Resources Management – Flood Risk Assessment and Management;
- Reducing the risk of climate-driven disasters in Georgia;
- Role of civil society in coping with water–related disasters and COVID–19 pandemic;
- Outputs of the Consultation process on implementing HELP principles in Uzbekistan.
Participants discussed how applicable are the principles to be implemented on the ground and which principles can be implemented in the immediate, short and long term, and also the opportunities and challenges that exist to implement the principles.
At the end of discussion, CWP-Georgia proposed the following activities:
- Develop a Practical Guide on implementing the Principles;
- Hold a Roundtable for experts from different sectors to discuss Chapter IX of the New Water Law (“Flood Risk Management");
- Participate in the working group on the development of the second version of the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The practical recommendations on the basis of outcomes of the consultation is planned to be developed for decision-makers and practical specialists working to reduce the water-related DRR under the COVID-19 pandemic.