Save the Children Philippines wins UN SASAKAWA Award for Disaster Risk Reduction – Philippines
MAY 27, 2022, QUEZON CITY – Save the Children Philippines wins the prestigious UN SASAKAWA Award for its innovative Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) programs that support the meaningful participation of Filipino children and their protection from disaster situations. emergency.
The 2022 UN SASAKAWA Award, which promotes inclusive and accessible DRR practices in line with the Sendai Framework, recognized Save the Children’s Comprehensive School Safety (CSS) and Quality Assurance System (QAS) Ecosystems Programs which have been deployed in over 21,000 schools and 12,000 barangays, respectively, to ensure that the vital needs of children, schools and communities are met with responsive programs and government accountability.
“Save the Children envisions a world where children are protected in everyday life and in times of crisis. It is critical that we strengthen our work to improve risk reduction and response mechanisms to protect children’s rights to survival, education and protection, and to build community resilience,” Atty . Alberto Muyot, CEO of Save the Children Philippines.
The Philippines ranked ninth in the 2020 Global Risk Index and 17th in the 2021 Global Climate Risk Index among the countries most affected by extreme weather events, natural disasters and numerous complex emergencies due to armed conflict.
In response, Save the Children Philippines’ CSS Ecosystems program is using technology to help develop the Ministry of Education’s DRR information system by combining digital tools for data collection, analysis, planning and decision making.
This includes the Rapid Assessment of Damages Report (RADaR) mobile application, a reporting mechanism that assesses the needs of schools, staff and learners, and the Batang Empowered and Resilient Team (BERT), a capacity building program between children to participate in school and community DRR programs and to engage with government/officials. The program has already trained 10,000 learners.
Meanwhile, Save the Children’s QAS supports risk-sensitive and responsive Barangay DRRM plans through standardized planning tools, quality criteria, and technology for data consolidation and information sharing. More than 42,000 barangays will use QAS for their DRRM model.[1]
Save the Children Philippines is working with the Department of Home Affairs and Local Government (DILG), Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and other government agencies for the QAS for Barangay DRRM planning, and with the DepEd and Prudence Foundation for the CSS Ecosystems program.
Marc Fancy, Executive Director of the Prudence Foundation, said, “The Prudence Foundation is delighted that Save the Children Philippines has been recognized with the prestigious UN SASAKAWA Award for its innovative efforts in disaster risk reduction in the Philippines. It is a great reflection of many years and efforts to build resilience in disaster risk reduction across the Philippines, and a journey that the Prudence Foundation is proud to have supported and in partnership with the Department of Health. education of the Philippines.
For over 40 years, Save the Children Philippines has provided lifesaving programs for and with children. The child rights organization remains committed to empowering children through its DRRM programs and mechanisms, and ensuring better informed, prepared and resilient communities.
[1]In accordance with Circular No. 03 of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRMC) Memorandum, art. 2022