"I am incredibly impressed at the speed of innovation in disaster management in the Philippines," said USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks. "As your friend, partner, and ally, the United States remains committed to strengthening our partnerships and working with the Philippine government to rebuild and restore lives following disasters."
Ahead of the forum, WFP launched the PREP Innovation Challenge in July to explore local solutions that tackle food insecurity. Participants in the challenge come from diverse sectors, including national Government, academia, private sector, and non-governmental organizations such as the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards Center, the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative, and the Tarabang para sa Bicol, Inc.
"What makes this year's Forum special is our focus on innovation. WFP aims for the Forum to be a valuable platform where experts and stakeholders share solutions that will enhance the Philippines' disaster management capacity. Innovative solutions can empower vulnerable communities to better prepare for and recover faster from climatic shocks and other crises," said Regis Chapman, WFP Philippines Country Director.
Going forward, WFP will collaborate with the local innovators to implement their solutions in at least one of the most disaster-prone provinces of the Philippines: Albay, Cagayan, Catanduanes, Dinagat Islands, Isabela, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, and Surigao del Norte. This joint venture will empower the most vulnerable communities to prepare for and recover faster from disasters and crises.
The innovation challenge is part of WFP's mission in the Philippines to help pilot and scale existing innovative approaches to improve food security in some of the most disaster-prone areas in close partnership with and support of the Government, donors, and partners.
The Philippines is one of the world's most disaster-prone countries. For the third consecutive year, the Philippines ranked 1st worldwide due to its exposure and susceptibility to natural hazards.
