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Natural and technological disasters result in great
human suffering and costs to society. Countries worldwide
are recognizing the need to build communities that are
prepared for emergencies and resistant to disasters.
Government institutions, particularly those in developing
countries, have a history of focusing on disaster response
and recovery. More recently, they are focusing on the
long-term benefits of disaster prevention,
mitigation,
and preparedness.
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Unfortunately many government disaster programs are fragmented
among different institutions, tend to suffer from inadequate
resources, and may not empower the best mixture of government,
citizen, and business support. Institutional strengthening
involves building or improving the coordination of national
and local government institutions, private entities, and nongovernmental
organizations to deliver comprehensive programs to prepare
for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
ICF International can characterize the emergencies faced by
your country and then evaluate the current situation using
diagnostic tools and management audits. For example, ICF International
uses its Comprehensive Emergency Management
Evaluation (CEME) system and tabletop exercises to identify
areas for improvement. Based on this analysis, we develop
recommendations that include policy, training, and equipment
improvements and work with your country to implement changes.
For several countries, we have prepared institutional plans
and developed legislation to support national-level programs
for emergency management. Over the past 10 years, we have
facilitated institutional strengthening throughout the world,
including Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle
East on projects funded by the World Bank, the Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB), the U.S. Trade and Development Agency
(TDA), and the European Community.
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SELECTED PROJECTS |
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DETAILS OF SELECTED PROJECTS |
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European Commission
Through our London office, ICF International is supporting
the European Commission with an economic analysis
of the costs of implementing maritime security
measures in the European Union (EU). We are examining
International Maritime Organization (IMO) proposals
for port, terminal, and ship security measures
and developing recommendations for "model
port" security requirements for EU seaports
and river ports. ICF International also is estimating
the cost to implement the recommended security
measures for ships, terminals, and ports for each
EU member nation.
Integrated Risk Management
System for the Dominican Republic
ICF International conducted an IDB-funded project
to improve the institutional structures and capabilities
for risk management in the Dominican Republic.
We conducted a management audit and a needs assessment
of eight government agencies and the Red Cross
based on our CEME system and made recommendations
for improvements as part of the development of
a proposed inter-institutional system and an integrated
risk management plan. We also developed and implemented
an environmental
management systems (EMS) training program
and supported the implementation of EMS in the
institutions responsible for public works, tourism,
mining, and water resources.
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Emergency Management System
for the Bahamas
ICF International prepared a detailed institutional
plan and supporting legislation for the development
of a comprehensive, national-level environmental
agency. As part of this work, we reviewed and
helped strengthen the government's emergency preparedness
and response plan with respect to the transport
of hazardous materials over the primary road corridors
on the main island of New Providence.
Transporting Hazardous Materials
in Uruguay
ICF International developed a National Control System
for the Transportation of Hazardous Materials
in accordance with MERCOSUR (“Common Market
of the South”) and funded by IDB and TDA.
We designed the system to enable the Uruguayan
government to obtain critical information on hazardous
materials transportation and to implement
the proper controls, governmental programs, and
incentives to reduce the risk of hazardous materials
accidents.
Building a Disaster-Resistant
Asia
ICF International designed and managed a U.S. TDA-sponsored
conference to help Asian emergency managers gain
access to U.S. technology and practices that promote
mitigation of natural disasters. We worked with
more than 14 Asian countries to analyze and characterize
their emergency management programs.
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