2023 Platform on Disaster Displacement Advisory Committee Workshop

January 25, 2023
Events

Background and Introduction to the Workshop

The Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) was established on 1 July 2016 to follow up on the work started by the Nansen Initiative and to implement the recommendations of the Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda.

The overall objective of the PDD is: To support States and other stakeholders to strengthen the protection of persons displaced across borders in the context of disasters and the adverse effects of climate change, and to prevent or reduce disaster displacement risks in countries of origin. To support the implementation of activities aimed at achieving this objective, the PDD has a structure thatincludes a Steering Group comprised of 18 States and the European Union, an Advisory Committee with over 200 members, including individuals and representatives of international and regional organizations, research institutions, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other civil society stakeholders, a Group of Friends, composed of States interested in supporting the work of PDD, and a Secretariat based in Geneva, Switzerland, with two Regional Advisors in the Americas and the Pacific Regions. Currently, the European Union (EU) is the Chair of the PDD and Kenya the Vice-Chair. Prof. Walter Kaelin is the Envoy of the Chair and Chair of the Advisory Committee.

The objective of the Advisory Committee is to strengthen participation and ownership of a wide range of actors in the follow-up to the Nansen Initiative and the implementation of the Nansen Initiative Protection Agenda. The Advisory Committee’s function is twofold: 1) to provide expert input and strategic advice to the Chair and Steering Group of the Platform and, as applicable, 2) to support the implementation of activities in the Workplan in consultation and coordination with the PDD Chair, the Envoy of the Chair of the PDD and the Secretariat.

The first meeting of the PDD Advisory Committee was held on 13-14 October 2016 at the International Environment House in Geneva, Switzerland. That meeting served to constitute the Advisory Committee and provided input and feedback to the PDD Strategic Framework 2016-2019. The second meeting of the Advisory Committee took place on 23-24 October 2017 at Chateau de Bossey in Switzerland, and served to take stock of progress made and follow up on implementing recommendations from the first meeting. The third meeting of the Advisory Committee was held on 4-5 February 2019 at Chateau de Bossey in Switzerland, and it served as an opportunity to shape the PDD’s next phase, post-2019.

Due to funding constraints and in particular due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has not been possible since the 2019 meeting to convene the Advisory Committee to a physical meeting. Therefore, this 2023 meeting is planned to give ample opportunities for exchange amongst AC Members and to catch up on work done or planned since 2019, beyond the following meeting objectives.

Objectives of the Workshop

In December 2021, the PDD Steering Group meeting at Ambassadorial level decided to continue the PDD and extend the PDD Strategy 2019-2022 until 31 December 2023 (now referred to as PDD Strategy 2019-2023). The Steering Group also tasked the outgoing Chair at the time, Fiji and the incoming Chair at the time, the EU, to lead a transparent and inclusive strategy review process. For this process, a Working Group on Strategy Review has been set up within the PDD Steering Group which seeks input and advice from the AC to develop a new PDD Strategy that shall be endorsed by the Steering Group no later than December 2023.

The fourth meeting of the AC will serve as an opportunity to shape the PDD’s next phase, post-2023 and elaborate input to the strategy review process. The meeting will take place from 1-3 March 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.

As in previous years, the meeting will allow participants to exchange and share their latest work and ongoing or planned initiatives around the topic of disaster displacement. Above all, this meeting will provide the opportunity to plan future collaborative engagement and formulate strategic advice for the PDD’s next steps.

The objectives of the fourth meeting of the PDD Advisory Committee are:

To take stock of implementation, progress made and lessons learned during the PDD’s Strategic Framework 2019-2023 to inform the development of a new PDD Strategy post-2023.
To formulate strategic advice to the Steering Group regarding the PDD’s role and engagement in the implementation of and follow-up to important global policy processes, including the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including the work of the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage (WIM ExCom) Task Force on Displacement (TFD), and other policy areas of relevance such as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on Internal Displacement.
To discuss how to address research gaps and data challenges and share information on new research, knowledge and data initiatives (Data Knowledge Working Group).
To discuss the role of the PDD regarding work at the global, regional and national level, share information on ongoing and planned initiatives by PDD Advisory Committee Members and identify priorities for enhanced collaboration, coordination, and engagement.

Methodology and Expected Results

The workshop will consist of presentations and discussions in moderated plenary sessions as well as group discussions. Participants will be asked to come prepared with ideas and suggestions for the strategy review process and joint implementation of relevant policy processes and will work in groups to formulate recommendations.

The expected results from the workshop include:

Stock-taking of the implementation of the PDD Strategic Framework and Workplan 2019-2023.
Formulation of strategic advice for a new PDD strategy post-2023 including suggestions for national, regional and thematic priorities/actions, based on implementation capacity and actionable commitments of the Advisory Committee.
Suggestions for the PDD’s role and engagement in the implementation of important global policy processes, at the global, regional and national levels:

Global Compacts for Migration and on Refugees, and UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda.
UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, including the WIM ExCom Task Force on Displacement (TFD) and the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage (SNLD).
Sendai Framework for DRR, including the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework.

The results of the workshop will be presented in an outcome report, which will be shared with the Advisory Committee after the meeting. The workshop outcomes will also be shared with the PDD Steering Group.

Practical and Organizational Information

Venue

The Workshop will be held at the Château de Bossey, near Geneva, Switzerland from 1-3 March 2023.

Participants

Participants are the PDD Advisory Committee members. This includes individuals (‘independent experts’) and representatives of international and regional organizations, research institutions, academia, NGOs, and other civil society stakeholders that have an interest in promoting and implementing the Protection Agenda and are committed, individually or collectively, to address protection challenges related to disaster displacement. In addition, there will be participation from representatives of the PDD Chair and the PDD Steering Group.

Other administrative details

The Workshop will be organized by the PDD Secretariat, which is hosted by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The organizers have funding to cover the travel and accommodation cost for a limited number of participants who do not have the means to travel to Geneva, Switzerland. Representatives from international organizations are kindly requested to defray their own expenses. Advisory Committee members requiring assistance are kindly requested to indicate their specific needs as soon as possible to Mr. Erick Mutshayani at ErickM@unops.org and copy info@disasterdisplacement.org.