Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction 2020
Summary
Introduction
1. The Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR) 2020 was held for the first time in an online
format on 20-22 October 2020. An annually organized event, ACDR aims to promote the sharing of
information and practices for implementing SFDRR and the SDGs, and to further enhance
partnerships among ADRC member countries and various international and regional DRR
organizations. ACDR2020 was organized jointly by the government of Japan and ADRC. The virtual
ACDR2020 (https://acdr.adrc.asia/) was attended by 244 people from 22 member countries,
representing DRR organizations, research institutes, universities, and the private sector. The
agenda consisted of an opening ceremony, special presentation, keynote speeches, and twothematic sessions.
October 20: Opening Ceremony, Special Presentation, Keynote Speech
2. In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr. OKONOGI Hachiro, Minister of State for Disaster Management for
the government of Japan, highlighted the importance of public assistance, self-help, and mutual aid,
and introduced the government's collective efforts to eliminate vertical divisions and to share
Japan’s disaster response to COVID-19, touching on ADRC’s visiting researcher program and the
public-private partnership program. Next, H.E. Mr. Rustam Mazarzoda, Chairman of the Committeeof Emergency Situations and Civil Defense of Tajikistan, the country which was originally scheduled
to host the ACDR this year, expressed his hope that Tajikistan would be able host an ACDR in thenear future. He also noted the need to discuss new approaches to disaster response and DRR
strategies for many disasters in Tajikistan based on the lessons presented by the COVID-19
pandemic. Finally, Prof. HAMADA Masanori, Chairman of ADRC, explained the rationale for holding
the conference online, and outlined the themes of ACDR2020.
Special Presentation
3. In the special presentation, Mr. NAKAO Akifumi, Director of the International Cooperation Divisionof the Disaster Management Bureau of the Cabinet Office of Japan, reported on the current statusof the disaster response to COVID-19, and on “Climate Action and Disaster Risk Reduction”
strategies in the era of climate crisis. He also mentioned new initiatives that have emerged, noting
how the current crisis presents an opportunity to analyze issues from multiple angles.
Keynote Speeches
4. The keynote speeches were given by four experts. First, Mr. Sanny Ramos Jegillos, Senior Adviser ofthe Disaster Risk Reduction Bangkok Regional Hub of the UNDP, reported on the multifaceted
impacts of COVID-19 in the Asia-Pacific region, and outlined 10 lessons and best practices forrecovery, including international and regional cooperation, effective governance, social protection,
green economy, digital disruption and innovation, and funding to reduce multiple risks. Finally, heended his presentation with the hopeful comment, "Our future is not as bad as we think."
5. Next, Prof. ISOBE Masahiko, President of the Kochi University of Technology, gave a presentation
entitled "Two-level Framework of Coastal Disaster Reduction." He suggested that better coastal
disaster reduction measures can be taken based on the characteristics of the huge tsunami
resulting from the Great East Japan Earthquake. For the maximum level tsunami (Level 2), which
has an extremely low probability of occurrence (once every 1,000 years), and causes enormous
destruction, the goal should be to save lives through evacuation and to maintain minimum dailyliving and economic activity while tolerating some damage. For the type and size of tsunami that
occurs more frequently, perhaps around once every 100 to 150 years, and causes less destruction
than the Level 2 tsunamis (Level 1), the goal should be to prevent inundation and protect theeconomy and people’s livelihoods using tsunami wall structures. It is likewise possible to protect

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lives and property against the kind of storm surge damage that occurs frequently in Asian countries
by developing and operating a two-tier DRR system.
6. Prof. Arnold M. Howitt, Faculty Co-Director of the Program on Crisis Leadership at the Harvard
Kennedy School, gave a video presentation due to the time difference, entitled “The Challenge ofConcurrent Crises.” Due to the tendency of disasters to become more severe, frequent, andsimultaneous, he pointed to the need for a critical incident management team that has two
operational modes: responding to specific crises that have been experienced before, andresponding to multiple, concurrent crises.
7. Finally, Prof. Ian Robert Davis, Visiting Professor at Kyoto, Lund, and Oxford Brookes Universities,
gave a presentation on “Countermeasures to Tackle Risk Reduction and Climate Change from
Intensifying Hazards.” His 12 countermeasures were developed in consultation with eight experts
from six countries. He noted that the achievement of effective countermeasures requires integrity
and consistency, courage, foresight, long-term perspectives, planning, humility, education,knowledge, authority, resources, local approaches, teamwork, creativity, alternative strategies, andfaith.
October 21: Session 1: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Measures and Challenges to the Intensifying Disaster
Risks
8. Dr. Manzul Kumar Hazarika, Director, Geoinformatics Center, Asian Institute of Technology,
moderated this thematic session, which recognizes the challenges to intensifying risks. He said thateach country adopts various kinds of countermeasures for DRR, depending on the situation andavailable resources.
Presentation from Member Countries
9. Ms. Myat Moe The, Department of Disaster Management, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief andResettlement, Republic of the Union of Myanmar, reported that managing cyclone risk remains
challenging. One of the measures introduced was the development a platform called MUDRA which
provide data to ministries and line agencies. Some concrete actions include the building of 236
multipurpose shelters and establishment of disaster management fund both at the national andsub-national levels.
10. Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan Hong and Mr. TANAKA Yasuhiro, Vietnam Disaster Management Authority,
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam, jointly reported the challenges brought byflooding. While structural measures such as embankments are put in place, suitable legal
framework as well as the development of a Comprehensive Flood Management Plan are also
pursued.
11. Mr. Umar Fikry, National Disaster Management Authority, Maldives, reported that coastal erosion is
becoming a big challenge due to the effects of tropical cyclones and storm surges.
Countermeasures are being deliberated, noting that as the temperature rises by 2 degrees, thecoral reefs will be disappearing from the Maldives in the next 12 years.
12. Mr. Kamalov Jamshed, Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, Tajikistan, institutional
capacity of the national platform could face a challenging in implementing its National Disaster Risk
Reduction Plan 2030. So, the platform intensively collaborates with other agencies in pursuing
various disaster prevention projects (e.g., ADB, the World Bank, JICA, and the King Salmon
Foundation).
13. Mr. TAKAHASHI Kazuaki, Ministry of the Environment, Japan, reported the challenges pose by
climate change and corresponding mitigation activities, such as the government support inachieving zero greenhouse gases by 2050. Other actions he mentioned are distributed energy
supply system, adaptive reconstruction, embankment, tree planting, climate change adaptation
law, climate change adaptation plan, and climate change assessment report.
Presentation from Experts2

14. In support of the DRR measures of ADRC member countries, some partner organizations showcased
new technologies. Prof. Cees van Westen, University of Twente, introduced digital technology fordisaster prevention that is implemented in Tajikistan in collaboration with UNDP and theGovernment of Japan. This technology simulates future scenarios through risk assessment andmapping, and uses a multi-hazard framework.
15. Dr. Mizan Bustanul Fuady Bisri, United Nations University, introduced a knowledge management
tool, ‘CARI’ (https://caribencana.id), an online search engine that could locate locally-relevant
knowledge on DRR. This tool addresses the gaps of fragmented and scattered knowledge thatoverlooked locally existing information.
16. Mr. Keith Paolo C. Landicho, AHA Centre, reported various platforms at AHA Center that are used
to monitor and analyze disasters. One of these is the ASEAN Science-based Disaster Management
Platform (ASDMP), which is interactive research portal that has access to thousands of disaster
research products in Southeast Asia. It connects policymakers with scientists and researchers (e.g.,
VDMA in Vietnam connects with JAXA and AIT) to share disaster information for facilitate aneffective response.
Commentary
17. Dr. Manzul Kumar Hazarika introduced other papers that were not presented in this session.
Armenia submitted a report on risk evaluation based on the experience of the Spitak earthquake
in 1988. Bangladesh issued a report on the latest hazards due to abnormal weather. Nepal reported
on its Strategic Plan for DRR (2018-2030). He also briefly summarized all presentations. He
highlighted that: 1) Tourism income is decreasing as a result of issues arising from climate change
in Maldives; 2) In Tajikistan, Strategic Plan 2030 is one way of ensuring the implementation of
specific DRR missions. He also acknowledged new approaches and technologies that DRR experts
from partner organizations shared, such as use of ICT for decision support system, online portals,
and search engines for local knowledge on DRR. And he suggested to strengthen networking
between the national governments and DRR experts for better DRR efforts in Asia.
October 22: Session 2: Disaster Preparedness and Response Measures Amidst COVID-19
18. Prof. ISHIWATARI Mikio, University of Tokyo, moderated this thematic session, and said that
“Disaster Risk Management (DRM) authorities in Asia are facing difficulties in managing disasters
in the middle of COVID-19 pandemic because most of the systems are not prepared using multihazard approach.”
19. Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, adviser to the Prime Minister in Malaysia, stressed in her keynote theimportance of “future-proofing our systems against complex challenges”. Taking care of theenvironment is one way to future-proof the DRM system, she noted, stating that “environmental
protection is disaster management”.
Response Measures Presentation from Member Countries
20. Notable disaster response measures during the pandemic were reported in this session. In thePhilippines, Dir. Claudio Yucot, Office of Civil Defense Regional Office V, reported that his office
introduced new practices in responding to typhoon Ambo (Vongfong) in May 2020. For example:(1) suspected COVID-19 cases were segregated from the evacuation area; (2) separate facilities
were designated to take care of suspected COVID-19 cases; (3) occupants of the evacuation roommust be either members of one family or people who know each other from the sameneighborhood; and (4) no media was allowed at the emergency operations center.
21. In India, Mr. Sandeep Poundrik, IAS, reported that the National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA), in anticipation of the cyclone season (e.g., Amphan in May 2020), developed a GIS-based
Decision Support System (DSS) platform to manage disaster in the midst of COVID-19. This platform
has a geo-enabled dashboard for the public, where State Disaster Management Agencies (SDMAs)

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and other stakeholders can access information related to COVID-19 cases, logistics, resources andsurveillance.
22. In the Republic of Korea, Mr. KANG Jinmo reported that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety(MOIS) developed a New Guideline for the Temporary Shelter to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
that outlines quarantine measures (e.g., use of public buildings and town halls as temporary
locations) prior to facility operations as well as the stockpiling of hygienic supplies (e.g., sanitizers
and facemasks). This prevented the spread of coronavirus during the heat wave and typhoon
disasters during the summer.
Preparedness Measures Presentation from Member Countries
23. Enhanced preparedness measures have also been put in place in many countries. In Armenia, Ms.
Syuzanna Vardazar Kakoyan said that the Ministry of Emergency Situation (MES) integrates COVID19 response in the Risk Analysis and Emergency Response Plan.
24. In Nepal, Mr. Beda Nidhi Khanal said that the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Authority (NDRRMA) is strengthening the institutional coordination between its disaster response
system and COVID-19 management system as part of its disaster preparedness measures.
Presentation from Experts
25. Partner organizations have also been innovating in extending support to DRM institutions. Ms.
Helen Mould, OCHA, reported that OCHA-ROAP supports countries through the implementation of
the Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP), particularly in identifying the needs across 12
countries in the Asia-Pacific and in securing financial support for plan implementation.
26. Prof. SHIBASAKI Ryosuke, University of Tokyo, reported that his center developed an open-source
software application called “Mobipack” that serves as a decision support system (DSS) tool for
managing COVID-19 as well as other disasters.
Commentary
27. Presentations in this session offered several insights, and Dr. Khamarrul Azahari Razak, University
Technology Malaysia, summarized as follows: (1) responding to disasters in the midst of pandemic
requires multi-level collaboration and enhanced multi-hazard preparedness efforts; (2) an
integrated disaster risk management approach is needed in complex crises; and (3) cooperation
with civil society is crucial to enhance community-level disaster preparedness and response.
Other Thematic Papers
28. Moderators of thematic sessions respectively acknowledged other papers submitted for the
conference but were not presented due to limited slots. For Thematic Session 1, other available
papers are from Armenia, Bangladesh, and Nepal. For Thematic Session 2, other papers are from
Kazakhstan, Singapore, and GeoThings. All submitted papers are accessible at the ACDR website
https://acdr.adrc.asia.
Conclusion and Way Forward
29. This conference, which served as kick-off meeting for a continuing discussion on two the thematic
issues, showed that in Asia, most governments have introduced adaptation measures to reduce theimpact of intensifying disaster risks as well as address the ‘concurrent crises’ in the context of
COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the discussions of these issues at the conference, some initialsuggestions were already recommended as way forward:In addressing intensifying disaster risks, new approaches and technologies (such as use of ICT
for decision support system, online portals, and search engines for local knowledge on DRR)
may be promoted4

In addressing disaster management challenges in the midst of COVID-19, the multi-hazard
approach may be promoted, especially through knowledge management and lessons learned
sharing of best practices

30. Further discussions on the issues will continue at the conference website https://acdr.adrc.asia togather more inputs as well as deliberate the way forward. The discussions will culminate into a final
report that will be released in March 2021.
Closing
31. On behalf of the Government of Japan, H.E. Mr. AKAZAWA Ryosei, State Minister for Disaster
Management for the government of Japan, thanked over 240 participants from 22 member
countries, partner organizations, and general public who actively joined the virtual conference.
Likewise, on behalf of ADRC, Dr. OGAWA Yujiro, Executive Secretary of ADRC, expressed gratitude
to member countries and partner organizations for sharing reports and case studies. He further
encouraged the submission of additional reports in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the
Asian experience.

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