The FINANCIAL -- The World Bank and the Italian Civil Protection Department (CPD) signed on November 11 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to join efforts towards advancing the agenda of disaster risk reduction, sustainable recovery, and reconstruction in disaster-prone developing countries. 

The signing took place at the Civil Protection Command and Control Direction in L'Aquila, in a ceremony hosted by Mr. Guido Bertolaso, Head of Italian Civil Protection - Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

“The World Bank is honored to partner with the Italian Civil Protection Department,” said Katherine Sierra, World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development, who signed the MoU on behalf of the World Bank . “The Italian authorities have undertaken exemplary measures in earthquake emergency management, in response to the L’Aquila earthquake that struck in April this year, and the Memorandum will allow other countries to benefit from their experience.”

In the aftermath of the earthquake, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) facilitated a Knowledge Exchange Mission to L’Aquila by a World Bank Global Expert Team for Disaster Risk Management. This Mission, in collaboration with the office of the Executive Director for Italy, was designed to exchange lessons and experiences from Italy’s preparedness and emergency mobilization response and the World Bank ’s post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction operations in recent earthquakes in Turkey, Pakistan, and China.

The Mission has led to increased cooperation between the Bank and Italian authorities, underscoring the effectiveness of the Italian Civil Protection Department in training over 1.2 million volunteers in tasks of emergency and recovery, preparedness and prevention, as well as its rapid intervention for emergency stabilization and rehabilitation of cultural heritage.  The CPD has also collaborated with an upcoming World Bank publication, supported by GFDRR, on a housing and reconstruction handbook “Safer Homes, Stronger Communities: Rebuilding After Disasters,” referencing the Italian experience with respect to housing solutions adopted after the L'Aquila earthquake.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed today further advances these ongoing - collaborative efforts, calling for the documentation and dissemination of the L’Aquila earthquake response and recovery experience, particularly focusing on the Italian civil protection system and its actions in response to the earthquake.   The MoU also seeks a closer coordination in Italy’s external assistance and World Bank -supported programs in disaster risk reduction and recovery, especially in the Western Balkans and Mediterranean countries.

Both the Civil Protection Agency and the World Bank will benefit  from the exchange  of knowledge among  Italian authorities, World Bank staff, and international organization officials, government officials, non-governmental organizations, and private sector organization representatives through training in disaster reduction and recovery activities; as well as from a closer cooperation on the disaster risk management Euro-med initiative, including exploring the possibility of the establishment of a Euro-med earthquake insurance pool.

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