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Post Event Report 2021
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Draft Virtual Agenda
Tuesday 23 February
All timings in EST (GMT -5)
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Context
In addition to the extraordinary global challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 saw the continuation of deadly hurricanes and devastating storms affecting the LAC region. The 6th annual Action on Disaster Relief (ADR2021) forum will look at the nexus between health, disaster management, security organisations and agencies, and examine whether existing plans stood up to demand, whether command and communication structures were sufficient, and whether meaningful regional coordination was able to take place.
 
ADR2021's virtual event provides participants with all the benefits of an international conference without the travel; through the safety of your Internet browser. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact at virtual booths, stream pre-recorded discussion panels and participate in live Q&A sessions, network in chat forums and meet 1-2-1 with some of the region’s leading disaster relief experts. ADR once again sets out to further regional and international cooperation and promote meaningful public-private partnerships that help harmonise the efforts of donors, communities and aid agencies across Latin America and the Caribbean.
 
Daily start times, workshops, live Q&A, and 1-2-1 matchmaking meeting appointments are all in Eastern Standard Time (GMT-5)
10:00 - 11:00
USAID Funding Workshop
Join USAID's Management Bureau from Washington D.C. for a discussion on how to work with USAID. You will learn about the Agency’s operations, key terms you need to know, tips for submitting proposals, how to find funding opportunities and much more! You will also have an opportunity to ask questions of USAID staff.
  
 
Hosted by Matthew Johnson, Industry Liaison - Management Bureau (M/OAA) of USAID - U.S. Agency for International Development
11:00 - 12:30
UN Procurement Workshop
The United Nations Secretariat Procurement Division (UNPD) will host an open session for all ADR2021 delegates, presenting fundamentals on doing business with the UN. This session will look at the principles of UN procurement, the UN system, areas of operation and types of goods & services, statistics, and challenges in peacekeeping procurement. This workshop will be very informative for those wishing to learn more about UN procurement, and will also feature a Q&A session, an excellent opportunity to ask any questions to aid your UN procurement efforts.
 
Hosted by Neris Báez García de Mazzora, Director of UNPD - UN Secretariat Procurement Division
12:30 - 13:00
IFRC Logistics Supplier Workshop
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Americas Regional Office will host a dedicated workshop open to all ADR2021 delegates and sponsors looking to find out more about how to become a supplier for the IFRC. Attendees will learn who IFRC are and what they procure and contract. There will be a presentation of their online item catalogue, who is purchasing in the IFRC, their Regional Logistics Units, and the process to become a registered supplier including how to obtain tender documents whilst sharing valuable contact details.
 
 
Hosted by Stefano Riera, Procurement Manager - Americas Operational LPSCM of IFRC - International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Wednesday 24 February
All timings in EST (GMT -5)
8:30
Opening Ceremony
 
Andrew Dowell, CEO of GRV Global
 
Conference Chair
 Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director (Ag) of CDEMA - Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
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Opening Keynote Address
 
H.E. Janaina Tewaney Mencomo, Minister of Government of Republic of Panama
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Spotlight Address
 
Disaster Recovery & Green Tech “Gut Check” in the Time of Covid: It Hasn’t Changed Much – Just Everything
 Charles Keys, CEO of Wave Water Works, LLC
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Panel 1: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Preparedness (60 mins)
Opening ADR2021’s virtual event, Panel 1 will discuss coordination challenges, looking at vulnerability improvements to ensure resources get to where they are needed most. Panellists will talk about efficiencies through community engagement, social, private and public action, and sustainable partnerships that endure before, during and after emergencies. This session will also look at process engagement – being able to contribute to resilience and avoid repeat support. The Covid-19 pandemic remains a significant focus however, the region must sadly overcome reoccurring natural disasters.
 
Panel Chair: Charles Keys, CEO of Wave Water Works, LLC
 
Lilia Blades Martinez, Shelter Coordination Focal Point for the Americas of IFRC - Global Shelter Cluster
 
Richard Gordon, Director of the Disaster Management Centre of Bournemouth University
 
Tim Hedges, Humanitarian Diplomacy & Liaison Lead of ShelterBox
 
Liza Hernandez-Betancourth, Regional Lead for Americas and the Caribbean of GNDR - Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction
 
Paul Mentor, Chief of Staff of Haiti Ministry of Public Health & Population (MSPP)
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1-2-1 Matchmaking Meetings: Check your inbox for schedules
Across the 2-day event, breakout sessions will be dedicated to 1-2-1 matchmaking meetings between Government, U.S., UN, Disaster Agency and NGO stakeholders, and attending local, regional and global operators. Scheduled 15 minute appointments are prearranged to provide a unique opportunity to discuss disaster reduction, response and relief solutions across the Americas & Caribbean region.
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Keynote Address
 
CEPREDENAC's Contribution to Comprehensive Risk Management
 Claudia Herrera Melgar, Executive Secretary of CEPREDENAC - Coordination Center for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America
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Panel 2: Resilience & Response (60 mins)
Panel 2 will look at providing flexibility and the need to invest in and empower communities, plus the importance of giving an inclusive response considering the rights of people and their culture. Panellists will also assess the need for clear requirements of what is needed, emphasizing the need for renewable sustainable solutions, whilst supporting existing capabilities to build capacity for better resilience. What factors has the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted that may not have been previously considered?
 
Panel Chair: Chloe Demrovsky, President and CEO of DRI International
 
Donna Callejon, Executive Lead - Disaster Response of GlobalGiving
 
Greg Cormier, Humanitarian Team Leader of Mercy Corps
 
Bekah Curtis-Heald, Deputy Director at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) of Clinton Foundation
 
Frank Ford, Chief of Readiness & Contingency Operations (RCO) of USACE - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
 
Sam Tidwell, Volunteer Partner to the Director - Americas Region of American Red Cross
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1-2-1 Matchmaking Meetings: Check your inbox for schedules
Across the 2-day event, breakout sessions will be dedicated to 1-2-1 matchmaking meetings between Government, U.S., UN, Disaster Agency and NGO stakeholders, and attending local, regional and global operators. Scheduled 15 minute appointments are prearranged to provide a unique opportunity to discuss disaster reduction, response and relief solutions across the Americas & Caribbean region.
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Spotlight Address
 
Health-care/Eye-care in Emergency and in Development
 K-T Overbey, President & Executive Director of OneSight
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Panel 3: Utilizing Communications Solutions (60 mins)
Crucial to disaster relief efforts, Panel 3 will look at capitalising on new communication technologies whilst developing local capabilities through training etc. i.e. investing in people and building self-resilience. Panellists will also discuss the need for clear, simple, and useful information throughout the community in times of crisis, whilst pooling and utilising resources outside of emergencies. Given the regularity and severity of disasters in the region, are existing plans and structures sufficient?
 
Panel Chair: Oronde Lambert, Information & Communications Technology Manager of CDEMA - Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
 
Dagbjartur (Dag) Brynjarsson, Program Manager - Emergency Preparedness & Response of NetHope
 
Simon Gray, Senior Vice President of Civil Government of Eutelsat
 
David Meltzer, Secretary General of GVF
 
Francis Raveneau, VP Sales & Marketing of Base Camp Connect
 
Rogerio Mobilia Silva, Head of Office a.i. of Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), UNOCHA - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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Live Q&A Sessions
Put your questions to our expert panellists during a series of live video webcasts. Panel content will be available the day before the event to give attendees time to submit their questions.
11:45 - 12:15
Panel 1 Q&A: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) & Preparedness
12:30 - 13:00
Panel 2 Q&A: Resilience & Response
13:15 - 13:45
Panel 3 Q&A: Utilizing Communications Solutions
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Networking Lunch Break - Virtual Booths
Take a break whilst visiting the full range of ADR2021 virtual booths. Event Sponsors host personalised interactive booths for you to explore; you can chat online, hold video calls and obtain e-takeaways.
14:30 - 15:30
Forum Chat: Filling Gaps in Response Capacity Across the Caribbean: Regional & International Options
Hosted by Lt Col Anton Gash, Former Defence Attaché for the Caribbean of British Army
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1-2-1 Matchmaking Meetings: Check your inbox for schedules
Across the 2-day event, breakout sessions will be dedicated to 1-2-1 matchmaking meetings between Government, U.S., UN, Disaster Agency and NGO stakeholders, and attending local, regional and global operators. Scheduled 15 minute appointments are prearranged to provide a unique opportunity to discuss disaster reduction, response and relief solutions across the Americas & Caribbean region.
Thursday 25 February
All timings in EST (GMT -5)
8:30
Day Two Welcoming Remarks
 
Welcoming Call for Action on the Humanitarian Blisters
 Rogerio Mobilia Silva, Head of Office a.i. of Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (ROLAC), UNOCHA - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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Panel 4: Regional International Support (60 mins)
Kicking off day two of ADR2021’s virtual event, Panel 4 will look at the significance of international support across the region, as a ‘standby’ supporter rather than enforced, assisting when and where needed without duplication. Military intervention is always the last resort but the panellists will discuss the need to remain engaged, ready to assist effectively and in a coordinated manner. Drawing on personal experiences, panellists will offer their view on opportunities for coordination and strategy improvements.
 
Panel Chair: Christian Wiley, CEO of Advance Catastrophe Technologies
 
Vice-admiral Jean Hausermann, Commander of French Armed Forces in the West Indies
 
Brigadier General Erik Rodriguez, Colombian Army, Director of the Exercises & Coalition Affairs (J7/9) Directorate of United States Southern Command HQs
 
Lt Col Simon Westlake, Royal Marines, UK Defence Attaché to the Caribbean of UK Ministry of Defence - British High Commission Kingston
 
Lt Col Paul Simpson, J5 Latin America & Caribbean/HADR/NEO of Canadian Joint Operations Command, Canadian Armed Forces
 
Jorge E. Zequeira, Regional Civil Military & Security Coordinator, and Acting-Head of Office of Program Coordination & Cooperation in Colombia of IFRC - International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
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1-2-1 Matchmaking Meetings: Check your inbox for schedules
Across the 2-day event, breakout sessions will be dedicated to 1-2-1 matchmaking meetings between Government, U.S., UN, Disaster Agency and NGO stakeholders, and attending local, regional and global operators. Scheduled 15 minute appointments are prearranged to provide a unique opportunity to discuss disaster reduction, response and relief solutions across the Americas & Caribbean region.
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Spotlight Address
 
Humanitarian Hub: Facilitator of Alliances & Logistics Coordination
 Alberto Sierra, Director of CLRAH - Regional Logistics Center for Humanitarian Assistance; Panama
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Panel 5: Technology & Effective Logistics (60 mins)
Technology has always served as an enabler; offering significant improvement to the quality and management of aid, it delivers secure solutions, quick and accurate assessments, plus the ability to empower communities. However, ease of access, standardisation and affordability must be considered. At the same time, the security, accuracy, and efficiency of reliable logistics has never been more defined than throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Panel 5 will examine all these matters plus the coordination challenges of moving humanitarian actors and supplies.
 
Panel Chair: Wiley Knight, Director of Humanitarian Aid of Radiant Global Logistics
 
Ben Dinsdale, Global Director for Humanitarian & Government Services of Air Charter Service
 
Philip Hassell, Senior Manager - Business Development of Leonardo DRS
 
Eng. Jaime Posso, Director of Administration & Finances of SINAPROC Panama - National Civil Protection System
 
Edward Meck, Team Leader - Freight Forwarding Team of UNPD - UN Secretariat Procurement Division
 
Francisco Quesada, UNHRD Manager of UN Humanitarian Response Depot / WFP
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1-2-1 Matchmaking Meetings: Check your inbox for schedules
Across the 2-day event, breakout sessions will be dedicated to 1-2-1 matchmaking meetings between Government, U.S., UN, Disaster Agency and NGO stakeholders, and attending local, regional and global operators. Scheduled 15 minute appointments are prearranged to provide a unique opportunity to discuss disaster reduction, response and relief solutions across the Americas & Caribbean region.
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Spotlight Address
 
Watch a short demo on Intelsat FlexMove, the only high-throughput satellite connectivity solution designed to deliver reliable, easy-to-deploy communications in the most remote & challenging locations
 Scott Congdon, Market Development & Partnership Management of Intelsat
 
Udani Pettersson, Sales & Service Design Director of Satcube AB
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Panel 6: Health, Emergencies & Climate Change (60 mins)
Concluding ADR2021’s discussion panels at this year’s virtual event, Panel 6 will assess the robustness of regional networks, and the benefits of strengthening private sector relationships to develop risk and prevention measures. Panellists will also discuss the significance of coordinated activities to mitigate vulnerabilities. The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the resilience of health resources and all related supply challenges. However, the region continues to face considerable displacement issues, with an urgent need to address the many aspects of climate change.
 
Panel Chair: Pablo Escribano, Regional Thematic Specialist of IOM - International Organization for Migration
 
Jose Nelson Chavez Rosales, HEA Sub-regional Advisor of World Vision
 
Basile Ema Ebede, Regional Senior Humanitarian Manager of Save the Children
 
Racquel Moses, CEO of Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator
 
Nadia Ortega, Disaster Risk Management Senior Officer of IFRC - International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
 
Dr. Claudio Santibanez, Regional Advisor Public Partnerships Latin America & Caribbean of UNICEF - UN Children's Fund
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Live Q&A Sessions
Put your questions to our expert panellists during a live video webcast. Panel content will be available the day before the event to give attendees time to submit their questions.
11:45 - 12:15
Panel 4 Q&A: Regional International Support
12:30 - 13:00
Panel 5 Q&A: Technology & Effective Logistics
13:15 - 13:45
Panel 6 Q&A: Health, Emergencies & Climate Change
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Networking Lunch Break - Virtual Booths
Take a break whilst visiting the full range of ADR2021 virtual booths. Event Sponsors host personalised interactive booths for you to explore; you can chat online, hold video calls and obtain e-takeaways.
14:30 - 15:30
Forum Chat: Human Mobility & Population Displacement in the Context of Disasters & Climate Change
Hosted by Juan Méndez, Regional Advisor for the Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD)
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1-2-1 Matchmaking Meetings: Check your inbox for schedules
Across the 2-day event, breakout sessions will be dedicated to 1-2-1 matchmaking meetings between Government, U.S., UN, Disaster Agency and NGO stakeholders, and attending local, regional and global operators. Scheduled 15 minute appointments are prearranged to provide a unique opportunity to discuss disaster reduction, response and relief solutions across the Americas & Caribbean region.
Friday 26 February
All timings in EST (GMT -5)
10:00 - 12:30
Inter-Agency Workshop (invitation only*)
Welcoming all speakers and participating officials, ADR2021 presents an Inter-Agency 'table-top' workshop (webinar) bringing together the region's leading disaster stakeholders for open discussion, sector breakout rooms, evaluation, and planning. Participants will analyse the outcomes of ADR2021's preceding discussion panels and Q&A sessions, whilst considering potential solutions discussed during the 1-2-1 matchmaking meetings. This cross-sector webinar will enable actors to better respond through regional cooperation when the inevitable disaster strikes.
 
* strictly invitation only workshop welcoming ADR speakers/guests & select event sponsors; places are limited.
 
Hosted by Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director (Ag) of CDEMA - Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and
 
Lt Col Anton Gash, Former Defence Attaché for the Caribbean of British Army