ADRC Highlights
Asian Disaster Reduction Center Monthly News
● Announcement
Vol. 338
May2021
TOPICSAnnouncement
ADRC Online DRR
Seminar Series 2021:
First Seminar on"Investing in Disaster Risk
Reduction for a Resilient
Society"
Participation inInternational
Conferences
APEC EPWG andSDMOF Meetings

ADRC Online DRR Seminar Series 2021:
First Seminar on "Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for a Resilient
Society"

Despite continued efforts by member countries to implement the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), the damage caused by disasters
has increased in recent years due to the global climate crisis and the increasing
vulnerability of cities. In order to not only save human lives but also to ensuresustainable development of countries and regions, it is necessary to build a disaster
resilient society through various systems and technologies.
The ADRC will hold online DRR seminar series in line with the above issues
starting in June, focusing the following three themes:
1) Building resilient societies to the intensifying climate crisis and increasing
urban vulnerability;
2) Strengthening preparedness for disasters (disaster education, promotion ofdisaster volunteer activities, among others); and3) DRR technology that match local needs to create safe, secure and livablesociety.

ADRC Staff Profile¶ Mr. NAKAYASU
Yusuke, ADRC SeniorResearcher (IRPSecretariat)

The first seminar will be held on Tuesday, June 15th, 2021 on the theme"Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for a Resilient Society" as a part of theme1).

¶ Ms. TANAKA Tomomi,ADRC Research
Department

Asian DisasterReduction Center
Higashikan 5F, 1-5-2
Wakinohamakaigan-dori,Chuo-ku, Kobe
651-0073 Japan
Tel: 078-262-5540
Fax: 078-262-5546
editor@adrc.asia
https://www.adrc.asia© ADRC 2021

Asia is experiencing rapid urbanization and development that this region
accounts to half of the estimated USD6 trillion annual global investments oninfrastructures until 2030. It is crucial to integrate disaster resilience into theseinvestments to avoid the accumulation of structural and non-structuralvulnerabilities. The first seminar hopes to generate insights that contribute to theimplementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, especiallyPriority Three: Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience. Specifically, it1ADRC Highlights

Vol. 338

Continuedintends to:● Share recent knowledge on risk informed investment from analytical, programming, and empiricalviews that member states can further adopt to fundamentally reduce disaster damages and economic
losses,● Provide an overview of the key components for achieving a resilient society through investing indisaster risk reduction from the following viewpoints:- Why do we need to invest in disaster risk reduction?
- What have we achieved and what remains to be done?
- What are the crucial points for building a resilient society?
With resource speakers from the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and Japan, thefirst seminar hopes to answer the following focused questions:
What are the gaps and challenges of the current developments that hinder DRR, people's well-being,and sustainable economic growth in Asian countries?
● How to assess risks and vulnerabilities by considering social, economic, and cultural backgrounds?
● What strategies can the national and local government further adopt to fundamentally reduce disasterdamage and economic loss?
● How to integrate or align disaster mitigation strategy with other plans (e.g., land-use plan, spatial
development plan, and master plan for infrastructure) to ensure low-risk spatial development?
● How can state governments effectively implement disaster mitigation, highlighting the role of good
governance, sound financing, and institutional cooperation/collaboration?
●To participate, please register through the ZOOM Webinar or watch the livestreaming via YouTube.
Register for ZOOM Webinar: http://bit.ly/adrcseminar1
YouTube Livestreaming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFAvt0RinKA
URL: https://www.adrc.asia/acdr/drr2021seminar.php
We are looking forward to meeting you online!
● Participation in International Conferences
APEC EPWG and SDMOF Meetings
The 17th Meeting of the APEC Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG17) was held on May 20and 21, 2021. The meeting addressed several topics, such as (1) the EPWG's initiatives in responding toCOVID-19, (2) the EPWG Strategic Plan 2021-2024 and EPWG TOR, (3) the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040
Implementation Plan, (4) opportunities for collaboration across working groups, and (5) capacity building
projects. Participants discussed EPWG plans and their implementation and shared information on recent
major disasters and response measures.
The 14th Senior Disaster Management Officials Form (SDMOF14) was held on 26 May. Reports frommember economies addressed (1) DRR polices including preparedness, response, and recovery measures inlight of the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) inclusive and balanced participation in disaster management. The
participants from the APEC member economies reported on their experiences related to these topics.
ADRC Executive Director Mr. NAKAGAWA Masaaki attended both meetings, where he reported onrecent disasters in Japan and the DRR measures taken during the COVID-19 outbreak. At SDMOF14,Senior Researcher Mr. Gerry Potutan moderated the session (2) and also made a presentation on Japan's
experiences and practices in line with subject.

2ADRC Highlights

Vol. 338● ADRC Staff Profile
Mr. NAKAYASU Yusuke, ADRC Senior Researcher (IRP Secretariat)

My name is NAKAYASU Yusuke, and I was assigned by the Hyogo
Prefectural Government to work at ADRC as of April 1, 2021. In my
previous job in the International Economic Development Division ofthe Hyogo Prefectural Government, I supported the overseas
development efforts of SMEs and promoted inter-regional economic
exchanges. One of the most memorable experiences I had while inthat role came from a business trip I took to Vietnam for an
economic exchange conference. I has the honor of attending themeeting between the Prime Minister of Vietnam and the Governor ofHyogo Prefecture in Hanoi.
In the field of disaster risk reduction, I worked in the Disaster
Management Bureau of the Government of Japan's Cabinet Officefrom FY2002 to 2003. I was mainly in charge of earthquake
preparedness measures. I also was involved in supporting therecovery from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake from FY2004 to2006. Now I work in the secretariat of the International Recovery Platform (IRP), which consists of 17
governments and international organizations. It is a very rare opportunity for a local government official towork in such an international context, and I believe it will be a great step forward in my career. I will do mybest to realize the "Build Back Better" ideal, and I look forward to your guidance and encouragement in myefforts.

Ms. TANAKA Tomomi, ADRC Research Department

My name is TANAKA Tomomi, and I joined the ADRC secretariatstaff in April. I have been supporting the ACDR Secretariat for the lasttwo conferences (it will be my great honor if anyone recognizes myname!) but now I will be around throughout this fiscal year to help out
mainly with correspondence relating to ACDR and other seminars.
I hope my experience in organizing many international conferences
and also in working as a freelance translator/ interpreter will help
facilitate communications between ADRC and its member countries,researchers, and others. I hope that this will lead to more efficient
sharing of valuable information on disaster risk reduction.
When the pandemic situation improves, I look forward to meeting youin person at a future ACDR conference.

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