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Regional Consultation Workshop on Poverty and Floods
ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines, 17-18 October 2002

Post Workshop Statement

Background

Flooding, which occurs annually in many parts of the Asia-Pacific region, has both positive and negative impacts on the poor. When the duration and depth of flooding are not excessive, floods bring natural sediments and nutrients that are beneficial to agriculture and rejuvenate wetlands forming the natural breeding grounds of diverse aquatic plants, fish and animals. On the other hand, flash floods and floods of long duration cause widespread suffering and severe losses. Such flooding exacerbates poverty through disruption of livelihoods, environmental degradation, destruction of vital infrastructure and services, and loss of economic investment in agriculture, aquaculture, and personal property. Discussing and exploring the linkages between poverty and floods will contribute to our ability to take action to mitigate poverty. In particular, it will help focus attention on the needs, aspirations, problems, and constraints of the poor and less-advantaged segments of rural and urban communities in relation to floods.

The Asian Development Bank, Japan Bank for International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) are jointly sponsoring the Regional Consultation Workshop on Poverty and Floods to provide a venue for such discussions. The outputs of this workshop will serve as inputs to the 3rd World Water Forum.

Objectives

The workshop will bring together government and non-government stakeholders to review regional initiatives aimed at reducing the vulnerability of the poor to the adverse impacts of floods. It will help build a better understanding of the linkages between floods and poverty in the region, and will offer a dynamic and interactive process designed to

• highlight good practices for flood mitigation and management in the Asia-Pacific region
• promote further action at the local level for flood preparedness to ensure the attainment of flood security, especially for the poor
• strengthen the regional network of development agencies working on various facets of flooding and poverty reduction

Participants

Participation is being sought from within and outside the water sector, with participants being drawn from many countries.

Organizers

The workshop is jointly organized by the Asian Development Bank, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Workshop Features

Workshop Documents

• Programme [ PDF: 34kb | 4 pages ]
• Opening Remarks by Gerry van der Linder, Director General of the East and Central Asia Regional Department, ADB
• Effective Management Can Turn Floodwater from Liability into Asset, Forum Hears

Contacts

Further information may be obtained by contacting