11 May 2016
Rotterdam, Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Seventh Meeting of the High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP) was held on 11 May 2016 at Bilderberg Parkhotel Rotterdam, hosted by The Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Kingdom of the Netherlands. As Dr. Han, Seung-soo, Chair of HELP, was unable to attend, the meeting was chaired by the Vice-Chair of HELP, H.E. Ms. Melanie Schultz van Haegen, Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, Kingdom of the Netherlands. The meeting was attended by about 60 participants from HELP member organizations representing national governments, international organizations, civil society and private sector.
The High Level Dialogue on Water and Disasters was organized in the morning by inviting the participants of the Delta Coalition Ministerial Conference held on 10 May 2016.
9:30 Approval of the agenda
9:35 Approval and introduction of new HELP members
9:40 Opening
・Opening Remarks by Dr. Han, Seung-soo, Chair of HELP, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Water
(his remarks were distributed to participants)
・Welcome Address by H.E. Ms. Melanie Schultz van Haegen, Vice-Chair of HELP,
Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, Kingdom of the Netherlands
・Remarks by Mr. Robert Glasser, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
High Level Dialogue on Water and Disasters
10:00 Deliberations by HELP Members
・Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, Commanding General, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
・H.E. Hon. Mr. Amadou Mansour Faye, President of AMCOW and Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Senegal
・H.E. Dr. Koji Ikeuchi, Vice-Minister for Engineering Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan
10:30 Deliberations by participants of the Delta Coalition Ministerial Conference
・H.E. Mr. Carlos Bonete Martinho, Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources, Mozambique
・H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma, CEO of Abzesolar, Burkina Faso
・Mr. Zan Lwin Tun, Director, Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Myanmar
10:50 Discussion
10:55 Conclusion of the High Level Dialogue
11:00 Break
11:30 Water Architecture and Positioning of HELP
・Briefing by the Coordinator, Dr. Kenzo Hiroki on High Level Panel on Water, the International Water Architecture and HELP
・Comment by Dr. David Korenfeld, Chair of Intergovernmental Council of the UNESCO-IHP / Sherpa of Co-Chair of High Level Panel on Water
・Presentation by Mr. Koos Wieriks, Councilor to Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Kingdom of the Netherlands
・Presentation by Dr. Benedito Braga, President of the World Water Council
・Presentation by Dr. Ursula Schaefer-Preuss, GWP former Chair and Special Advisor on Water and Disaster
13:15 Lunch
15:00 Investment and Financing for Water-related Disasters
・Presentation on Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction on behalf of Mr. Rolf Alter by Mr. Jack Radisch, Senior Project Manager, High Level Risk Forum OECD
・Presentation on Disaster Risk Insurance Concepts and Schemes by Mr. Trevor Maynard, Head of Exposure Management and Reinsurance, Lloyd’s of London
16:15 Break
16:30 Drought and Climate Change
・Report on HELP’s Second Flagship Document (Special Issue of Water Policy) on Drought by Mr. Steven Stockton, Director of Civil Works, USACE
・Presentations by contributors
・Presentation by H.E. Dr. Koji Ikeuchi, Vice-Minister for Engineering Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Japan
・Presentation by Dr. Wolfgang Kron, Head of Research for Hydrological Hazards, MunichRe
Briefing on COP22, Morocco
・Briefing on COP22 by Dr. Mohamed Ait Kadi, Member of Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Technology / Member of Scientific Committee of COP22
・Report by the Coordinator, Dr. Kenzo Hiroki on a possible Side Event at COP22, Morocco
17:00 HELP’s Contribution to Habitat 3
・Presentation by Mr. Niels Vlaanderen, Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Kingdom of the Netherlands
17:05 Other Matters
・Date and Venue of next HELP meeting
・Proposal for a side event at the 8th Meeting of HELP by Prof. Toshio Koike, Director, International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM)
17:15 Wrap-up
17:20 Closing
18:30 Dinner
