The 6th Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference will be held next week over 22 – 23 May at The Star Gold Coast.
Ms Sonia Fitchett, Evaluation and Reporting Officer with the New Zealand Red Cross joins us to discuss ‘New Zealand Red Cross Canterbury Earthquake Appeal: Evaluation of a Multi-Year Disaster Recovery Programme in a Developed Country’.
Following the destructive Canterbury earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, New Zealand Red Cross (NZRC) coordinated a national appeal with agreement of local territorial authorities, with the funds being used for a large-scale response and recovery operation that was the first of its kind in the country.
The 2011 Canterbury Earthquake Appeal raised more than $NZ103 million (including interest) in donations from the New Zealand public, and was further supplemented with contributions from international Red Cross Red Crescent societies and corporate sponsorships. This was the largest NZRC appeal since the Second World War.
The NZRC Recovery Programme spanned more than five years and 80 different projects, including $NZ98 million disbursed directly to affected individuals, households, and communities through an extensive cash transfer programme.
Subsequently, an independent evaluation of the Recovery Programme was commissioned for the purpose of assessing what difference was made, and ensuring transparency and accountability to donors. The four key questions were: How much did we do? How well did we do it? What effects did we have? What can we learn for next time?
This evaluation utilised both quantitative and qualitative data to triangulate the reach, impact and success of the NZRC Recovery Programme. It proposes a broad framework of three different types of post-earthquake need through which NZRCs contribution to the wider recovery process can be understood.
This presentation will provide an overview of key findings of interest, as well as insights, reflection and learnings gathered from the five year Recovery Programme.
For more information on the 2017 Australian & New Zealand Disaster & Emergency Management Conference and to secure your spot, visit www.anzdmc.com.au.
