Enhanced DRR Partnership Between UNITAR and the Mexican Government

Enhanced DRR Partnership between UNITAR and the Mexican Government 4 December 2014, Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR’s Executive Director, Ms. Sally Fegan-Wyles, its Director of Research, Mr. Francesco Pisano, and the Senior Manager of its Decentralized Cooperation Programme (DCP), Mr. Alex Mejia, welcomed a delegation from Mexico led by the Hon. Jorge Carlos Ramírez Marín, Cabinet Secretary for Territorial and Urban Development. The delegation visited the Palais des Nations on 27 November 2014 and was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Territorial and Urban Development (known in Spanish as SEDATU), and leaders of private sector and civil society organizations involved in disaster reconstruction. Mr. Hector Navarrete, Executive Director of UNITAR's affiliated training center in Mexico, CIFAL Merida, also attended the meetings and provided a briefing on the ongoing collaboration with SEDATU.

During his visit to Geneva, Secretary Ramírez Marín was awarded UNITAR’s “Global Partner Award” in recognition of his leadership in the reconstruction of “La Pintada” a rural community located in the southern state of Guerrero. In the wake of the flood and landslide that affected La Pintada last year with massive destruction and a toll of 71 dead bodies, the leadership demonstrated by the government of Mexico as a whole -and specifically by Secretary Ramirez Marin and the entity he leads, deserves recognition and constitutes a best practice in DRR and disaster management. UNITAR specifically notes the rapid reconstruction that has taken place, including the new community center, water plant, school, clinic, sports facilities and 250 houses provided in less than 250 days after the disaster. UNITAR’s DRR training programs will be enriched with the study case of “La Pintada” and SEDATU.

The UNITAR Global Partner Award for Excellence in Public Service pays tribute to public sector officials that have implemented successful programs and best practices to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The award also recognizes leadership in the public sector and the support of a public official towards the work of UNITAR.

In a separate meeting, Mr. Pisano presented UNOSAT’s work on GIS technologies for monitoring and preventing disasters and Mr. Mejia introduced the work carried out by DCP and the CIFAL Global Network in terms of DRR and Urban Resilience. Both of them focused on the need to build local capacities to strengthen the ability of the public sector in preventing, reducing and mitigating the impact of disasters. The incidence of hurricanes, tropical storms, floods and landslides is increasing in Mexico, thus building resilience has become a priority for the Mexican government. UNITAR is pleased with its ongoing partnership with SEDATU and with the Mexican government’s support for CIFAL Merida.

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