ADRC Highlights
Asian Disaster Reduction Center Monthly News
● Promoting Cooperation with Member Countries
Vol. 368
November
2023
TOPICS
Promoting Cooperation
with Member Countries

Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR) 2023

The Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR) 2023, held on 20 October
2023 in Dushanbe, Tajikistan was attended by a total of 120 participants in person
at Hyatt Regency Dushanbe, while 111 joined online. The theme for the conference
this year was: “Effective Implementation of DRR Measures —Enabling Digital
Transformation in DRR—”.

Asian Conference onDisaster Reduction (ACDR)
2023

Promoting Cooperationwith AffiliatedInstitutions
Implementation of the Pilot
Project on Utilization of theICT for CBDRM in Malaysia

Participation inInternational
Conferences
6th ASEAN Committee onDisaster Management(ACDM) + Japan Meeting

Announcement
MOI with AHA Centre(ASEAN Coordinating
Centre for Humanitarian
Assistance on disastermanagement)

Asian Disaster
Reduction 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 2023

ACDR2023 Participants

OPENING CEREMONY
We had the honour of having
Ms Sattoriyon Matlubakhon
Amonzoda, Deputy Prime
Minister of the Republic ofTajikistan, make the firstspeech to open the conference.
She addressed that Tajikistan iscommitted to implementing theSendai Framework for DisasterRisk Reduction (SFDRR)
through various initiatives,
Opening Ceremony
including investment inresilient infrastructure and theadoption of the National Disaster Risk Mitigation Strategy. She emphasized thatthe effects of climate change affect all countries, including Tajikistan whose
topography is 93% mountainous.
Ms Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General forDRR, stated that by 2030, climate change will cause over 5 million people to beinternally displaced in Central Asia. To reduce the impact, she stressed the need fora paradigm shift in risk management. She noted the importance of incorporating
DX through the application of data analysis and machine learning to support
evidence-based, data-driven decisions.
Mr MATSUMURA Yoshifumi, Minister of State for Disaster Management,
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Government of Japan, emphasized the importance of identifying disaster risks, investing in mitigation, andsharing 'Build Back Better' experiences. He expressed hopes for ACDR2023 to be a venue for sharing pivotal
technologies and expertise for disaster risk reduction.
Dr HAMADA Masanori, Chairman of the ADRC, announced that Fiji joined as the 32nd member countryof ADRC in August 2023. He also emphasized the increasing risk of climate change disasters and the need toenhance infrastructure and social systems to adapt and become more resilient.
Mr Rustam Nazarzoda, Chairman of the CoES highlighted the collaboration between the CoES, theCabinet Office of Japan, and ADRC in hosting this opportunity. ACDR2023 serves as a platform for policy
sharing, knowledge exchange, and cooperation in DRR. Tajikistan is one of the UN pilot areas for the Early
Warning for All initiative. As the host of ACDR2023, Tajikistan aims to foster greater unity within theinternational community.

ROUNDTABLE SESSION
Aimed at providing the ADRC member countries with
an opportunity to discuss how to leverage collective
action and cooperation in accelerating theimplementation of the Sendai Framework towards
2030, this session was co-chaired by Mr Nazarzoda,
Chairman of the CoES, Ms TSUNOZAKI Etsuko,
Board Member, SEEDS Asia, and Mr SebastianPenzini, Acting Head, Regional Office for Europe andCentral Asia, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk
Reduction (UNDRR).
16 speakers from ADRC member countries(Armenia, Bhutan, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia,
Moderators of the Roundtable Session
Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New
Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan,Thailand, and Viet Nam) shared the opportunity to convey official statements highlighting the progress andchallenges in implementing the four priorities of the Sendai Framework.
To address those gaps, the official statements offered the following recommendations: 1) Scale-up sharingof policies and measures that promote DRR efforts in a coordinated manner, particularly on policies relating
to disaster database, early warning, and community-based disaster risk management as well as on measuresrelating to information management systems, regional knowledge sharing, and disaster response
mechanisms. 2) Promote sub-regional cooperation in addressing complex and transboundary disaster risks,particularly earthquakes, floods, and typhoons. 3) Forge partnerships and joint projects in the areas of hazard
and risk identification, mapping, and assessments in a manner that puts greater emphasis in science-based
approaches and embrace digital technologies for multi-hazards disaster risk reduction.
SESSION 1 “Innovative Solutions for Resilient Societies: DRR Technologies for Earthquakes andGeological Hazards”
This session was co-chaired by Mr Pulod Aminzoda,
Director of the Institute of Geology, Earthquake
Engineering and Seismology of the National Academyof Sciences of Tajikistan, and Dr Sos Margaryan,
Director, National Survey for Seismic Protection(NSSP), Armenia.
Six session speakers from Tajikistan, Kyrgyz
Republic, International Research Institute of DisasterScience, Tohoku University (IRIDeS), UNDRR, CoES,and Türkiye, reported on their current efforts andchallenges as well as the latest multifaceted approaches
including visualization of disaster risk using DX,
measures for earthquake resistance and slope
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Moderators of the Session 1

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stabilization in cities, and development of design technologies and new materials for disaster-resistantbuildings and structures.
It was confirmed that a multifaceted approach is necessary to cope with earthquake and landslidedisasters, including citywide seismic intensity estimation and DRR measures using sensors and AI
technology, development of new building technologies and materials, and urban planning that incorporates aDRR perspective. It was also confirmed that it is essential for local residents, relevant organizations andbusinesses to work together on an efficient DRR measures involving the entire community to minimize thedamage caused by earthquakes. Information on advanced technologies and initiatives to mitigate damage
from earthquakes and landslides as well as practical DRR measures were shared to realize an earthquakeresilient society.
SESSION 2 “Adaptation to the Climate Crisis: Innovative Approaches to Monitoring and Responding toGlacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) and Intensifying Floods”
This session was co-chaired by Prof. Abdulhamid
Kayumov, Director of the Center for Glacier Studies ofthe National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, and Dr
Changje Kwak, Research Scientist, National Disaster
Management Research Institute (NDMI), Republic ofKorea.
Six session speakers from Tajikistan, Center for
Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction(CESDRR), International Centre for Integrated
Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Republic of Korea,
CoES and Agha Khan reported the current situations andefforts taken against climate crisis related disasters. The
climate crisis has resulted in extreme weather events inModerators of the Session 2
many parts of the world. High temperatures andprecipitation are causing increased GLOFs, receding glaciers, more frequent and widespread forest fires, andmore prolonged and damaging floods that are seriously threatening the society and the environment. Thissession focused on innovative approaches to monitoring and responding to GLOFs, forest fires, and floods.
Past efforts in weather-related disaster risk assessment and forecasting were reviewed while analyticalmethods and forecasting models using innovative technologies such as satellite observations, remote sensing,artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning were evaluated.
CLOSING CEREMONY
Before closing the conference, Mr Nazarzoda,
Chairman of the CoES conducted the DRR Award
Ceremony of Tajikistan.
Mr SASAHARA Akio, Executive Director of theADRC, provided a summary of the ACDR2023 andexpressed gratitude to Tajikistan for hosting the event.
He highlighted key points shared during the roundtableand technical sessions.
Dr OGAWA Yujiro, the Executive Secretary of theADRC, acknowledged the efforts in providing
information through the Global unique Disaster
Identifier number (GLIDEnumber). He also noted theClosing Ceremony
increased frequency of disasters worldwide and stressed
the significance of learning from these events. He also mentioned that the study visit the earthquake-affectedsites in Türkiye would be a part of such learning.
Mr Nazarzoda, Chairman of the CoES, emphasized the importance of knowing the necessary measures tobe taken for earthquake and disaster risk reduction. He stressed the significance of sharing and gathering data
among member countries.
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For more information on ACDR2023, please visit the ACDR2023 website (https://acdr.adrc.asia/).
ADRC is grateful for all the participations. We will also like to thank again the CoES for the hard work to
make this event possible.

● Promoting Cooperation with Affiliated Institutions
Implementation of the Pilot Project on Utilization of the ICT for CBDRM in Malaysia

As a project to promote the “Capacity Building on Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR)”
programme under the ASEAN-JAPAN Work Plan on Disaster Management, ADRC has been conducting
since July 2023, the “Pilot Project on Utilization of State-of-the-Art Communication Technologies for
CBDRM and Disaster Emergency Management in Malaysia,” commissioned by the Cabinet Office ofJapan. The pilot activities were carried out in close cooperation with the National Disaster Management
Agency of Malaysia (NADMA).
After the initial coordination in July 2023 with the relevant stakeholders, such as Ranau District Office,Dumpiring and Mesilou Village Disaster Management Committees in the selected pilot area in Kundasang,
Sabah, a test of the ICT tools prepared for this pilot project was conducted on 5 October 2023. The activities
were conducted as one of the programmes during the Science and Technology Disaster Risk Reduction andResilience (STDR3) Week 2023, which was attended by Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Minister in the Prime
Minister’s Department.
The tools were tested and validated through simulated activities in a controlled disaster scenario
involving targeted groups of community members and agencies in the pilot areas, confirming that they canbe used effectively for information sharing in the event of a disaster. The results of the simulation werereviewed after the event by the observed agencies, such as NADMA and the Sabah State Disaster
Management Committee (SSDMC). Follow-up activities, including of a seminar for the district officers,
will be conducted in December 2023.

Pilot Activities with targeted groups of community members and agencies in the pilot areas● Participation in International Conferences
6th ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) + Japan Meeting

The 6th ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) + Japan Meeting was held on 11 October
2023 in Ha Long, Viet Nam. As a part of the program, Mr SASAHARA Akio, Executive Director of theADRC, gave presentations on the progress of the two ongoing projects: “Promotion of Database Linkage andCapacity Enhancement through Utilization of GLIDE” and “Pilot Project on Utilization of State-of-Art
Communication Technologies for CBDRM and Disaster Emergency Management.” With regard to theCBDRM activities, the Vietnamese delegates in particular showed interest in the activities, as it is effective4ADRC Highlights

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Continuedfor use in rural areas remote from urban centres. Other activities at the meeting included reports on theprogress of each activity of the ASEAN-Japan Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plan 2021-2025.
On the last day of the meetings, ADRC participated in the site visit organized for the meeting participants.
In the morning, the participants observed a disaster awareness event held at a nearby high school in
association with the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. Later, the delegations deepened
exchanges with each other on a cruise in the World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay.

Presentation by Mr SASAHARA, ADRC Executive Director● Announcement
MOI with AHA Centre (ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disastermanagement)

ADRC has signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI)with the AHA Centre (ASEAN Coordinating Centrefor Humanitarian Assistance on disastermanagement) to further promote disaster risk
reduction and emergency response activities in theASEAN region.
The MOI signing ceremony was held on 12October as a related event to the 50th Anniversary ofASEAN Friendship and Cooperation under the 3rd
ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk
Reduction + Japan. The MOI was signed by ADRC
Executive Director SASAHARA Akio and AHA
Centre Executive Director Lee Yam Ming, withDeputy Minister HORII Manabu of the Cabinet
Office, Chairman of the ASEAN Disaster
Management Committee and others invited aswitnesses.

Signing Ceremony of MOI with AHA Centre5