NISS expert took part in a virtual international working meeting on national resilience system building
Olga Reznikova, Head of the Strategic Planning Research Department of the Center for Security Studies of the National Institute for Strategic Studies (NISS), took part in a virtual working meeting of the analytical subgroup of the Interagency Working Group on the National Resilience System Building held as part of a series of workshops on some aspects of the resilience system on July 16, 2020.
The meeting was organized by the Government Office for Coordination of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine together with the Institute for Security Governance and the NATO Civil-Military Emergency Preparedness (CMEP) Program.
The meeting discussed the draft Concept of National Resilience in Ukraine, the latest approaches to responding to and counteracting the COVID-19 pandemic, the proposals formed following the pilot workshop held on February 11-12, 2020, as well as measures to plan the continuation of the workshops series.
Olga Reznikova presented the results of NISS research in the field of crisis management improvement and national resilience building in the context of countering the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, she noted that an important conclusion from the current situation is the need to build national resilience based on a broad approach. Important elements of this system, besides crisis management, are economic and social resilience and community resilience. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the possible consequences when implementing anti-crisis measures. Also the effective coordination of relevant activities and interaction between central and regional authorities, between public authorities and local governments are important.
Measures to counter the spread of COVID-19 have confirmed the NISS conclusions on the mechanism for ensuring coordination of activities to build national resilience in Ukraine, in particular, the leading role of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the State Commission on Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergencies in Crisis Management. At the same time, the expediency of expanding the powers of the mentioned Commission and strengthening its organizational support; defining of a clear format of interaction of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine at the legislative level; strengthening the role of the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Office of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine in terms of ensuring coordination of activities in the areas of national security and resilience; formation of special units in the structure of these bodies remain relevant.
Dr. Reznikova commented on the draft Concept of the National Resilience System Building, in the development of which the NISS is actively involved. In particular, she described the problems to be solved, the measures, mechanisms and regulations to be developed and implemented.
Olga Reznikova also suggested that the next workshop could consider the formation of a multi-level system of risk and threat assessment in Ukraine as an important element of strategic planning. The meeting participants were informed that the NISS has conducted a study of world best practices in this area and developed a concept and recommendations for the implementation of the relevant system in Ukraine. As a result of the meeting, there will be a presentation of the analytical report "National risk and threat assessment systems: best global practices, new opportunities for Ukraine" at the next international workshop for participants of the Interagency Working Group on September 16-17, 2020.