User:Firtrees/Global Risk Forum

The Global Risk Forum is a Switzerland-based foundation established in 2008. It strives for enhancing the know-how and knowledge exchange between all disciplines and stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction (management and prevention).

History
At the first International Disaster and Risk Conference in Davos (Switzerland) in 2006, the need to improve the collaboration and knowledge exchange between the different disciplines and stakeholders involved in disaster risk reduction was identified. As a result, the idea for a foundation as means to achieving this aim was born. The 2006 conference was followed by a regional conference in Harbin, China, in 2007 and a Davos conference in 2008, which established the conference cycle of alternating Davos and regional conferences. The Global Risk Forum as a foundation under Swiss law was established in 2008.

Though developing out of the conferences, the Global Risk Forum encompasses two other instruments, the Platform for Networks and the Risk Academy (for more information on the foundations structure see below).

The Foundation
GRF Davos is an independent, self-financing organization, based in Davos, Switzerland, and organized as a foundation according to Swiss foundation regulations with a Foundation Board and a Scientific and Technical Advisory Board. The Foundation Board is GRF’s legal, highest administrative organ. The GRF Scientific and Technical Advisory Board plays a leading role in providing guidance and advice on major strategic, policy-related and organizational decisions, in defining GRF’s work agenda and in assuring the quality of all of GRF’s deliverables.

Motto and Goals
Through its various activities GRF Davos aims at serving as a center of knowledge and know-how exchange for the application of contemporary risk management strategies, tools and practical solutions. Thus, GRF Davos aims at reducing vulnerability for all types of risks and disasters to protect life, property, environment, critical infrastructure and all means of business for the worldwide community on a sustainable basis.

The main goals of GRF Davos are:
 * To bridge the gap between science and practice
 * To promote the worldwide exchange of know-how and experience
 * To target solutions and promote good practice in integral risk management and climate change adaptation for an improved understanding, assessment and management of disasters and risks that affect human safety, security, health, the environment, critical infrastructures, the economy and society at large
 * To provide and manage a network for decision-makers, practitioners and experts from politics, government, IGO’s, business, science, NGOs, media and the public,

ultimately making contributions to the UN Hyogo Framework for Action and the UN Millenium Development Goals.

Structure
The Global Risk Forum’s activities fall within three structural components or pillars:

IDRC Conferences and Workshops
A main pillar of GRF Davos consists of the international conferences and workshops, where leading experts meet from fields such as the natural, engineering and social sciences, politics, governments, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, NGOs and other risk management professions. A biennial conference on disaster and risk reduction and climate change adaptation is held in Davos, Switzerland, as a global gathering, complemented in the years between with regional conferences hosted in different global locations. The IDRC conferences promote the integral risk management approach – across subject areas, professions, and sectors – encompassing scientific understanding with business, policy responses, the media and citizen participation, encouraging stronger ties with adequate public-private partnership models and devising approaches for moving towards a more truly integrated way of thinking about disaster and risks.

The IDRC Davos 2008 conference was visited by around 1200 participants from around 90 countries. Among them ambassadors, ministers, respresentatives of international organization, NGO’s, leading scientists and business representatives. In about 100 sessions topics like “Harmonization of risk reduction and adaptation to climate change”, “Protection of critical infrastructures”, “ Pandemics and diseases”, “Integral risk management” and more were covered.

Risk Academy
The Risk Academy is the knowledge sharing and know-how transfer instrument of GRF Davos, based on rigorous issue and knowledge management. It initiates and facilitates the dissemination of topical knowledge and new technologies to be transferred from the world of academic science to business and society as efficiently as possible so that they have an impact on the scientific community and society at large, and can enhance both commercial and non-material value creation. It is the Risk Academy’s primary focus to enable know-how transfer from science to practice. Disaster and risk management and climate change adaptation are lacking in applicable know-how. The Risk Academy will help close this gap by publishing blueprints and white papers, by organizing various continuous education courses, trainings and workshops, or by actively participating in the organization of Executive Master courses, or initiating and running PhD studies. GRF Davos also coordinates international research and development initiatives, both as a project leader and as a subcontractor. The Risk Academy will facilitate the formation of efficient international project teams, link scientific institutions with practice and provide the necessary project management tools and support. A specialty of the Risk Academy will be education and training courses in risk management for decision makers in developing countries. These courses will be jointly organized and held both in Davos and the respective country or region.

During the time of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2009, GRF Davos, Crossroads Foundation and UNHCR organized a "Refugee Run" in Davos. A simulation of a refugee camp, where WEF participants, school classes, local people and other guests experienced a refugee situation and explored ways to assist.

Platform for Networks
GRF Davos is creating an Internet platform as a permanent forum for individual professionals, related associations and expert institutions engaged in disaster and risk management and in climate change adaptation. This platform is to be used as a scientific, technical and operationally focused global gathering of individuals – a Global Risk Alliance as a network of individual government officials, experts and practitioners, representatives from IGOs, NGOs, the private sector, scientific and academic institutions, the media and other personalities from all kinds of risk management professions and activities. This actively managed “professional’s platform” provides individuals and organizations with the opportunity to develop, share and communicate knowledge, experiences, problems, ideas, projects, etc. with each other, giving them the possibility to join a number of specific virtual circles. The platform is thus focused on achieving the following primary outcomes:


 * Networking people with same interests but working in different professions, sectors, regions, etc.
 * Fostering professional alliances so they can move beyond the boundaries of experts, stakeholders or organizations and associations, thus offering a network of networks.
 * Providing timely information on local, national and international disasters based on a wide network of experts in the various countries.
 * Providing a periodic check on (emerging) risks. Among the most important factors that have to be considered, monitored and periodically checked are globalization processes and increasing economic interdependencies, mobility, sociopolitical changes and in particular climate change.

Additional platforms are planned, such as a Young Scientists Platform, a mentoring platform for young practitioners, or a platform for children and schools.