Queensland, World Bank Cooperate on Disaster Risk Reduction

State of Queensland, World Bank to Strengthen Cooperation on Reconstruction and Disaster Risk Reduction

MOU to Exchange Global Good Practice and Support Recovery in Queensland

Brisbane, 16 June 2011 - The Queensland Reconstruction Authority today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Bank to share expertise on disaster risk reduction and reconstruction.

To participate in Queensland’s recovery the World Bank will share global good practice and technical know-how, and will learn from Queensland’s reconstruction to inform its work in developing countries across the world.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said that Queensland’s response has seen positive cooperation across the community and business sectors and all levels of government, and the rapid deployment of funding to local governments for repair and reconstruction.

“Queensland’s reconstruction has many elements of global best practice which The World Bank intends to share with countries prone to natural disasters,” Ms Bligh said.

“These include rapid damage assessment, state of the art geo-spacial information mapping systems for identifying housing and infrastructure damage and flood levels, and robust reporting and accountability measures such as our Value for Money Framework.”

“Not only are we building back quickly, we are making Queensland more resilient and better prepared for future emergencies,” Ms Bligh said.

Ferid Belhaj, the World Bank Country Director for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific said, “Natural disasters such as the flooding in Queensland cause immense suffering and destruction in both poor and richer nations.”

“This win-win partnership creates opportunities for sharing Queensland’s experiences in developing an effective relief approach with other disaster-prone countries, while also helping the Queensland Government rebuild a safer state for its communities.”

Natural disasters have been increasing in frequency and intensity. Over the past 10 years there have been nearly 4000 natural disasters globally which have affected two billion people - compared to 1.6 billion in the previous decade - and cost more than US$960 billion in damages and loss.

Since 1984, the World Bank has provided more than US $25 billion to countries to assist with flood-related activities alone.

A World Bank team of experts visited regional Queensland and worked with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority in March and again in May this year. The undertaking was based on knowledge exchange, with the World Bank engaging in Queensland’s reconstruction and sharing training programs with local councils.

Collaborative activities resulting from the MOU will include shared research; conferences; exchange of information and education programs.

ENDS

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