RCG Second Session (2016)
The Second Session of the Regional Consultative Group (RCG) took place on 11-12 October 2016 at the United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Avenue, Bangkok, Thailand. The event continued to build on the outcomes of the RCG First Session and addressed additional key issues that are central to advancing the civil-military coordination agenda in Asia and the Pacific:
- Update on the work plans that were agreed during the RCG First Session to strengthen the coordination of operational planning between civilian and military actors in each of the RCG priority countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Myanmar and the Philippines);
- Overview of the outcomes of the Annual Meeting of the UNCMCoord Global Consultative Group (Geneva, February 2016) as well as the results of the UN-CMCoord side event at the World Humanitarian Summit (Istanbul, May 2016);
- Outline of new UN-CMCoord projects such as the development of Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination Standards and their relevance for the Asia-Pacific region;
- Overview of regional hazards and trends that can affect disaster response operations and pose a threat to disaster responders and outline of security management and what would be the essential elements of security information that would be needed for the humanitarian response community.
- Establishment of the RCG working group for the Pacific;
- Follow-up to the RCG First Session recommendation to establish an RCG Logistics Working
- Group (RCG-LWG). The LWG purpose is to enhance the predictability and appropriate use of foreign military logistics assets to further augment known humanitarian logistical capabilities.
- Follow-up to the RCG First Session recommendation to develop a dedicated publication that would outline the civil-military coordination mechanisms and platforms in each of the five priority countries.
The Second Session of the RCG gathered a total of 96 participants from more than 25 countries including humanitarian personnel, disaster management officials and military actors from Member States and regional organizations throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
The RCG Second Session was opened by Brigadier General Restituto F. Padilla, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations and Spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, on behalf of Under-Secretary Ricardo B. Jalad, Executive Director NDRRMC and Administrator OCD. In his remarks, General Padilla stated the commitment of the Philippines, as current RCG Chair, to the regional platform, highlighting its relevance for disaster preparedness and response, as well as humanitarian civil-military coordination.
Mr. Stephen O’Brien, the Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator took part in the RCG opening session. He acknowledged the progress that has been made in Asia and the Pacific to bring together humanitarian, civilian and military actors to prepare for and respond to disasters in an organised, effective and mutually supportive manner. He also commended the best practices in humanitarian civil-military coordination undertaken in the region, where a number of stakeholders (regional organisations, militaries, private sector and civil society) complement nationally-led preparedness and response efforts. Mr. O’Brien highlighted how the RCG can contribute to making humanitarian action more fit for purpose by creating an effective and inclusive community of humanitarians and their partners that can better respond to existing and future challenges.