there’s a strange sensation in the room can you feel it something is not quite
can you feel it something is not quite
can you feel it something is not quite right people are starting to look at
right people are starting to look at
right people are starting to look at each other uncomfortably phones are
each other uncomfortably phones are
each other uncomfortably phones are starting to beep I can hear a deep
starting to beep I can hear a deep
starting to beep I can hear a deep rumble sounds the ground is shaking
rumble sounds the ground is shaking
rumble sounds the ground is shaking things are starting to fall from the
things are starting to fall from the
things are starting to fall from the walls we can hear sirens in the distance
walls we can hear sirens in the distance
walls we can hear sirens in the distance the ceiling is cracking people are
the ceiling is cracking people are
the ceiling is cracking people are starting to lay up in panic looking for
starting to lay up in panic looking for
starting to lay up in panic looking for the way out first survival and then we
the way out first survival and then we
the way out first survival and then we all hope and call for help
all hope and call for help
all hope and call for help hoping for Superman to fly in pick us up
hoping for Superman to fly in pick us up
hoping for Superman to fly in pick us up into the sky post us somewhere safe
into the sky post us somewhere safe
into the sky post us somewhere safe smile at us and then fly away into the
smile at us and then fly away into the
smile at us and then fly away into the sunset in mega-disasters foreign aid is
sunset in mega-disasters foreign aid is
sunset in mega-disasters foreign aid is our Superman but our Superman does not
our Superman but our Superman does not
our Superman but our Superman does not leave instead he stays to help and this
leave instead he stays to help and this
leave instead he stays to help and this is slightly problematic because Superman
is slightly problematic because Superman
is slightly problematic because Superman is not only powerful and charming
is not only powerful and charming
is not only powerful and charming Superman is alien I am an aid worker for
Superman is alien I am an aid worker for
Superman is alien I am an aid worker for over 17 years I love my work I’ve been
over 17 years I love my work I’ve been
over 17 years I love my work I’ve been living in post natural disaster zones
living in post natural disaster zones
living in post natural disaster zones and conflict zones for ten years and
and conflict zones for ten years and
and conflict zones for ten years and then I needed a break
then I needed a break
then I needed a break and I stopped to research some of the
and I stopped to research some of the
and I stopped to research some of the most challenging learning disabilities
most challenging learning disabilities
most challenging learning disabilities in not-for-profits one of the questions
in not-for-profits one of the questions
in not-for-profits one of the questions that came up during my research was why
that came up during my research was why
that came up during my research was why some cities recover faster from
some cities recover faster from
some cities recover faster from disasters what makes them smarter in
disasters what makes them smarter in
disasters what makes them smarter in doing so well some argue the dancer is
doing so well some argue the dancer is
doing so well some argue the dancer is simple money but others including myself
simple money but others including myself
simple money but others including myself say that the answer is more complex and
say that the answer is more complex and
say that the answer is more complex and lies in two separate issues one is the
lies in two separate issues one is the
lies in two separate issues one is the foreign control of AIDS and the second
foreign control of AIDS and the second
foreign control of AIDS and the second is local resilience to disasters I add
is local resilience to disasters I add
is local resilience to disasters I add to this and say that local resilience is
to this and say that local resilience is
to this and say that local resilience is not only being resilient to disasters
not only being resilient to disasters
not only being resilient to disasters but it’s being distill ian’s to the
but it’s being distill ian’s to the
but it’s being distill ian’s to the foreign aid itself when a disaster hits
foreign aid itself when a disaster hits
foreign aid itself when a disaster hits us we are at our most vulnerable states
us we are at our most vulnerable states
us we are at our most vulnerable states of our lives and we are prone or even
of our lives and we are prone or even
of our lives and we are prone or even forced to place ourselves in others
forced to place ourselves in others
forced to place ourselves in others grace or charity in today’s cities such
grace or charity in today’s cities such
grace or charity in today’s cities such aid comes from outside entities
aid comes from outside entities
aid comes from outside entities superman-like entities at the moment
superman-like entities at the moment
superman-like entities at the moment this happens a powerful process is
this happens a powerful process is
this happens a powerful process is ignited and this powerful process is
ignited and this powerful process is
ignited and this powerful process is propelled by two complementing elements
propelled by two complementing elements
propelled by two complementing elements the first is the international foreign
the first is the international foreign
the first is the international foreign relief system which reports to duty when
relief system which reports to duty when
relief system which reports to duty when called just like Superman it reports
called just like Superman it reports
called just like Superman it reports with its own mandate to save lives
with its own mandate to save lives
with its own mandate to save lives relieve suffering and ensure dignity and
relieve suffering and ensure dignity and
relieve suffering and ensure dignity and it reports with its own teams of experts
it reports with its own teams of experts
it reports with its own teams of experts its own tools and its own ideas and
its own tools and its own ideas and
its own tools and its own ideas and plans yet these do not always fit the
plans yet these do not always fit the
plans yet these do not always fit the local realities and the local needs and
local realities and the local needs and
local realities and the local needs and on the other hand the second element
on the other hand the second element
on the other hand the second element propelling this process is the local
propelling this process is the local
propelling this process is the local recipients
recipients
recipients the moment that they feel that they
the moment that they feel that they
the moment that they feel that they their communities their cities do not
their communities their cities do not
their communities their cities do not have the capacity to respond they
have the capacity to respond they
have the capacity to respond they relinquish all control of AIDS and
relinquish all control of AIDS and
relinquish all control of AIDS and relinquish and let go of all
relinquish and let go of all
relinquish and let go of all responsibility and you think what’s the
responsibility and you think what’s the
responsibility and you think what’s the problem with this right one side direly
problem with this right one side direly
problem with this right one side direly is needing aid desperately and the other
is needing aid desperately and the other
is needing aid desperately and the other side is capable of providing things well
side is capable of providing things well
side is capable of providing things well the foreign system of aids finds leaving
the foreign system of aids finds leaving
the foreign system of aids finds leaving very difficult and instead it becomes
very difficult and instead it becomes
very difficult and instead it becomes entrenched in the local society which
entrenched in the local society which
entrenched in the local society which invited it in this creates a dependency
invited it in this creates a dependency
invited it in this creates a dependency culture now the way this is manifested
culture now the way this is manifested
culture now the way this is manifested in reality is that after the relatively
in reality is that after the relatively
in reality is that after the relatively short period of relief of life-saving
short period of relief of life-saving
short period of relief of life-saving activities the foreign system embarked
activities the foreign system embarked
activities the foreign system embarked on its second phase of operations
on its second phase of operations
on its second phase of operations recovery and reconstruction promising
recovery and reconstruction promising
recovery and reconstruction promising better housing better infrastructure
better housing better infrastructure
better housing better infrastructure better schools better systems of health
better schools better systems of health
better schools better systems of health and education who would say no yes we
and education who would say no yes we
and education who would say no yes we know that with this comes a few other
know that with this comes a few other
know that with this comes a few other things and as the foreign system enters
things and as the foreign system enters
things and as the foreign system enters it brings with it its wealth of experts
it brings with it its wealth of experts
it brings with it its wealth of experts and managers and advisors which push
and managers and advisors which push
and managers and advisors which push aside any such local capabilities and
aside any such local capabilities and
aside any such local capabilities and with these come organizations that need
with these come organizations that need
with these come organizations that need offices and personnel that needs flats
offices and personnel that needs flats
offices and personnel that needs flats bringing mark
bringing mark
bringing mark prices to Seoul making rent commodities
prices to Seoul making rent commodities
prices to Seoul making rent commodities petrol and affordable to the local
petrol and affordable to the local
petrol and affordable to the local population especially to the most
population especially to the most
population especially to the most vulnerable local population which the
vulnerable local population which the
vulnerable local population which the aiders came to aid in the first place
aiders came to aid in the first place
aiders came to aid in the first place and these organizations are highly
and these organizations are highly
and these organizations are highly professional they come prepared
professional they come prepared
professional they come prepared they come with pre-existing input
they come with pre-existing input
they come with pre-existing input contracts of cars of tents of heavy-duty
contracts of cars of tents of heavy-duty
contracts of cars of tents of heavy-duty equipment they come with ready-made
equipment they come with ready-made
equipment they come with ready-made donations of food and clothes
donations of food and clothes
donations of food and clothes they bring in free services for
they bring in free services for
they bring in free services for telecommunication and technology
telecommunication and technology
telecommunication and technology wonderful but this means that all local
wonderful but this means that all local
wonderful but this means that all local players business local players are out
players business local players are out
players business local players are out of the game and in their operations on
of the game and in their operations on
of the game and in their operations on operational side of things food aid most
operational side of things food aid most
operational side of things food aid most recently in Haiti tons of food was
recently in Haiti tons of food was
recently in Haiti tons of food was shipped in relieving immediate hunger
shipped in relieving immediate hunger
shipped in relieving immediate hunger but it hits the local agricultural
but it hits the local agricultural
but it hits the local agricultural community so badly it finds it very
community so badly it finds it very
community so badly it finds it very difficult to recover and feed its
difficult to recover and feed its
difficult to recover and feed its population in the long run and after
population in the long run and after
population in the long run and after natural disasters we find people in
natural disasters we find people in
natural disasters we find people in camps refugee camps IDP camps internally
camps refugee camps IDP camps internally
camps refugee camps IDP camps internally displaced people camps these camps are
displaced people camps these camps are
displaced people camps these camps are meant to last months at most
meant to last months at most
meant to last months at most instead they last year’s becoming into
instead they last year’s becoming into
instead they last year’s becoming into makeshift cities so we all faced this
makeshift cities so we all faced this
makeshift cities so we all faced this disaster imagine you and your families
disaster imagine you and your families
disaster imagine you and your families in short in such camps for weeks
in short in such camps for weeks
in short in such camps for weeks imagine for months for years
imagine for months for years
imagine for months for years with foreign entities structuring your
with foreign entities structuring your
with foreign entities structuring your daily lives telling you what to eat when
daily lives telling you what to eat when
daily lives telling you what to eat when to eat what working if to work at all
to eat what working if to work at all
to eat what working if to work at all and if to get paid for it
so what do we do with this it is
so what do we do with this it is difficult to change the way we do aid it
difficult to change the way we do aid it
difficult to change the way we do aid it is so difficult that we see it repeating
is so difficult that we see it repeating
is so difficult that we see it repeating itself over the years 1998 hurricane
itself over the years 1998 hurricane
itself over the years 1998 hurricane Mitch then in 2004 with Indian tsunami
Mitch then in 2004 with Indian tsunami
Mitch then in 2004 with Indian tsunami then again in dr. Carter in 2006 in the
then again in dr. Carter in 2006 in the
then again in dr. Carter in 2006 in the earthquakes then again in 2010 and 2016
earthquakes then again in 2010 and 2016
earthquakes then again in 2010 and 2016 in Haiti and these are just a handful to
in Haiti and these are just a handful to
in Haiti and these are just a handful to mention but it happens again and again
mention but it happens again and again
mention but it happens again and again so from a local natural disaster we now
so from a local natural disaster we now
so from a local natural disaster we now have a nationwide social and economic
have a nationwide social and economic
have a nationwide social and economic disaster it’s difficult to do aid
disaster it’s difficult to do aid
disaster it’s difficult to do aid differently like parenting we always
differently like parenting we always
differently like parenting we always want to be there for children especially
want to be there for children especially
want to be there for children especially when times are difficult and our
when times are difficult and our
when times are difficult and our children always need and want more no
children always need and want more no
children always need and want more no matter their age but we know that the
matter their age but we know that the
matter their age but we know that the more we will get after a certain point
more we will get after a certain point
more we will get after a certain point the weaker we will become we know that
the weaker we will become we know that
the weaker we will become we know that smart cities bounce back not because of
smart cities bounce back not because of
smart cities bounce back not because of fancy technologies they bounce back
fancy technologies they bounce back
fancy technologies they bounce back because they have plans in place plans
because they have plans in place plans
because they have plans in place plans that they made that are owned by them
that they made that are owned by them
that they made that are owned by them that are led by them
that are led by them
that are led by them therefore these plans are realistic and
therefore these plans are realistic and
therefore these plans are realistic and possible and sustainable I suggest three
possible and sustainable I suggest three
possible and sustainable I suggest three basic guidelines to place us on the way
basic guidelines to place us on the way
basic guidelines to place us on the way for smarter preparedness the first
for smarter preparedness the first
for smarter preparedness the first relief don’t leave it for others to come
relief don’t leave it for others to come
relief don’t leave it for others to come and save you plan before
and save you plan before
and save you plan before and this planning means that the
and this planning means that the
and this planning means that the disaster it’s commonly very localized
disaster it’s commonly very localized
disaster it’s commonly very localized rarely will it eradicate a whole
rarely will it eradicate a whole
rarely will it eradicate a whole nation’s capability there will always be
nation’s capability there will always be
nation’s capability there will always be capacities nearby that are human and
capacities nearby that are human and
capacities nearby that are human and manufacturing capacities that can come
manufacturing capacities that can come
manufacturing capacities that can come to your aid fast and these capacities
to your aid fast and these capacities
to your aid fast and these capacities know you they have an emotional
know you they have an emotional
know you they have an emotional connection they have an economic time
connection they have an economic time
connection they have an economic time and they will be mufe are more
and they will be mufe are more
and they will be mufe are more sustainable and relevant than anything
sustainable and relevant than anything
sustainable and relevant than anything external but in order to tap into these
external but in order to tap into these
external but in order to tap into these in the moment of disaster we need to
in the moment of disaster we need to
in the moment of disaster we need to plan before the disaster hits us second
plan before the disaster hits us second
plan before the disaster hits us second recovery and reconstruction recovery and
recovery and reconstruction recovery and
recovery and reconstruction recovery and reconstruction is all about where you
reconstruction is all about where you
reconstruction is all about where you want to live what culture you want to
want to live what culture you want to
want to live what culture you want to reconstruct in your environments you are
reconstruct in your environments you are
reconstruct in your environments you are the only ones that know what is
the only ones that know what is
the only ones that know what is appropriate what is feasible what we
appropriate what is feasible what we
appropriate what is feasible what we need and therefore the more
need and therefore the more
need and therefore the more decentralized and local the better we
decentralized and local the better we
decentralized and local the better we start at the building level we then plan
start at the building level we then plan
start at the building level we then plan at the street level we then plan at the
at the street level we then plan at the
at the street level we then plan at the neighborhood level into connecting all
neighborhood level into connecting all
neighborhood level into connecting all these micro plans until we have a web of
these micro plans until we have a web of
these micro plans until we have a web of a macro city plan that fits our culture
a macro city plan that fits our culture
a macro city plan that fits our culture our needs and our vision and it’s
our needs and our vision and it’s
our needs and our vision and it’s realistic because we source and contract
realistic because we source and contract
realistic because we source and contract local actors to activate these plans and
local actors to activate these plans and
local actors to activate these plans and now the last number three is external
now the last number three is external
now the last number three is external aid now that you planned for relief and
aid now that you planned for relief and
aid now that you planned for relief and you plan for recovery and reconstruction
you plan for recovery and reconstruction
you plan for recovery and reconstruction you know what you don’t have you know
you know what you don’t have you know
you know what you don’t have you know what capacities you might be missing you
what capacities you might be missing you
what capacities you might be missing you know where are the gaps in your plans
know where are the gaps in your plans
know where are the gaps in your plans and only then do we contract external
and only then do we contract external
and only then do we contract external aid to come and fill these
aid to come and fill these
aid to come and fill these particular gaps in our plan and foreign
particular gaps in our plan and foreign
particular gaps in our plan and foreign aid is then clearly contracted regulated
aid is then clearly contracted regulated
aid is then clearly contracted regulated time bound with a clear exit strategy
and so sticking to one at least one of
and so sticking to one at least one of these guidelines will help us no matter
these guidelines will help us no matter
these guidelines will help us no matter if you’re an aid worker a donor a local
if you’re an aid worker a donor a local
if you’re an aid worker a donor a local recipient to be better prepared for
recipient to be better prepared for
recipient to be better prepared for smarter recovery dependency on foreign
smarter recovery dependency on foreign
smarter recovery dependency on foreign aid is not a financial transaction it’s
aid is not a financial transaction it’s
aid is not a financial transaction it’s a state of mind a state of mind that we
a state of mind a state of mind that we
a state of mind a state of mind that we must change and start taking action and
must change and start taking action and
must change and start taking action and taking responsibility by giving and
taking responsibility by giving and
taking responsibility by giving and taking responsibly and doing this is not
taking responsibly and doing this is not
taking responsibly and doing this is not impossible we see initiatives all over
impossible we see initiatives all over
impossible we see initiatives all over the world taking the step of doing aid
the world taking the step of doing aid
the world taking the step of doing aid differently changing the paradigm it’s
differently changing the paradigm it’s
differently changing the paradigm it’s time to step out of the comfort zone of
time to step out of the comfort zone of
time to step out of the comfort zone of aid provision it’s time to take control
aid provision it’s time to take control
aid provision it’s time to take control and give and take responsible thank you
and give and take responsible thank you
and give and take responsible thank you very much
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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