 NGO/NPO staff should participate in the relevant meetings and trainings as well as build relationships with other actors
during the pre‐disaster phase, so that smooth and effective deployment of assistance can be ensured. In addition, common
codes of conduct should be developed for NGOs/NPOs involved in assistance activities.
Part III: Human Resource Development
Providing support for human resource development of practitioners, who are familiar with disaster response and assistance for
affected populations, is critical in realising rapid response; ensuring the quality of assistance; as well as making sure that response
activities are systematic and well-coordinated ‐ including appropriate acceptance of international assistance ‐ in future large
scale disasters in Japan. With the aim of human resource development of those who are equipped with necessary knowledge andskills for disaster response and who can fully demonstrate required competencies in the midst of crises – both in Japan andoverseas – the following seven recommendations are made.
3-1. Identification of priority areas where human resource development is particularly needed
3-2. Identification of professional duties to be targeted for human resource development
3-3. Implementation system of the human resource development programmes
3-4. Basic curriculum and methodologies of trainings
3-5. Functions required for human resource development
3-6. Registration and mobilization of the pools of trained professionals
3-7. Promotion of international cooperation building on domestic disaster response experiences© IFRC© IFRCThe Great East Japan Earthquake taught us many lessons.
We recommend the followings
to prepare for future mega-disasters in Japan;

This study group:
Reviewing the experience, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Kobe and the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) jointly organised a
Public Seminar on International Humanitarian Assistance on July 5, 2012 at the Hiroo Hall of the Japanese Red Cross
College of Nursing in Tokyo.
At the end of the seminar, it was decided that we should not leave the seminar as a one-off event but establish a study
group to continue and deepen these discussions based on the achievements of the seminar. A study group was establishedhosted by the Japanese Red Cross Institute for Humanitarian Studies and voluntarily joined persons from variousorganisations engaging in international humanitarian assistance.
The study group members from various backgrounds participated in a personal capacity beyond organisational boundaries,
sincerely engaged in dialogue from professional perspectives, and committed to giving up their own time in contributing to
produce the following recommendations.
The full page of the report on the Study Group is available as an annex of the Journal of Humanitarian Studies, Vol.3,
March 2014, and its on line version (http://www.jrc.ac.jp/ihs/index.html).

1. To receive international assistance in an efficient manner in order tomaximise the good-will of international community;
2. To establish national minimum standards in humanitarian assistance basedon the international norms and standards in order to protect rights ofaffected population, and3. To train, register and mobilise disaster relief professionals both in national
and international level.
Study Group on the Great East Japan Earthquake& International Humanitarian AssistanceIssued by the Japanese Red Cross
Institute for Humanitarian Studies,Japanese Red Cross Academy,February 2015

Part I: System for Receiving International Assistance
The following eight recommendations are presented, specifically with regard to the system for receiving international assistance,
which is now common practice when a large scale disaster occurs.
1-1. A clear basic policy on receiving international assistance during disasters
As it is expected that international community will offer assistance when a large scale natural disaster hits Japan, the Governmentof Japan should pre‐establish its basic policy clarifying the criteria and procedures for receiving ‐ or declining ‐ offers ofinternational assistance. Putting in place such a policy will help not only promote diplomatic relations but also complimentdomestic response efforts. The basic policy and overall procedures for accepting international assistance should be translated into
foreign languages and shared with the international community during the pre‐disaster phase1-2. Enhancing the role of the Government for acceptance of international assistance
A comprehensive disaster management body within the Government of Japan should make centralised and proactive decisions
on the acceptance of incoming international assistance. This body will need to be strengthened in a way that can bear full
responsibility in terms of quick and smooth acceptance of assistance, including transport of relief goods and personnel to disaster
affected areas, temporary storage of relief items.
1-3. Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for accepting international assistanceIn order to support quick and smooth acceptance of international assistance with centralised and proactive decisions by thecomprehensive disaster management body in the Government, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) needs to be developed
for the officials of the respective Ministries. Joint exercises testing such SOPs with the involvement of multiple stakeholders need
to be conducted once a year. The SOPs need to be developed by taking into consideration existing international guidelines.
1-4. Legal arrangements and administrative orders
Legal arrangements and administrative orders on liability for damages and indemnification need to be put in place for handlingany damages caused by international responders as well as any accidents or incidents that may occur to international responders.
Based on the lessons learned of receiving international assistance in the past and in light of the existing international guidelines
such as the International Disaster Relief Laws (IDRL), exceptional legal measures and administrative orders need to be put inplace before a disaster strikes.
1-5. Concluding partnership agreements
Legal frameworks with foreign countries, from where the likelihood of receiving international assistance is high, should beestablished in advance, so that legal problems related to accidents/damages associated with relief operations can be avoided.

Part II: Application of the existing international norms and standards
In the response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, existing international standards such as ‘Human Rights Based Approach’ and
The Sphere Project – the Humanitarian Charter and the Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response’, as well as specialised
knowledge and capacity of private companies, NGOs/NPOs and individual volunteers were not fully utilised. It is therefore
recommended that based on the existing international standards, minimum standards applicable to disaster response areestablished and applied in Japan. In view of current international practices, closer involvement of actors other than the
Government and designated public institutions is also recommended.
2-1. Establishment and application of national minimum standards for future disaster response in Japan
With a view to improve Japan’s disaster management system, and to ensure fully responding to future large scale natural
disasters in Japan, it is recommended that an expert group, which is tasked to review the existing Japanese disastermanagement system from an international and institutional point of view, is established. More specifically, such an expert
group should discuss and implement action items indicated below.
 Develop national minimum standards that are based on the existing international norms and standards as well as examples
from overseas, and that do not contradict with Japan’s local characteristics and socio‐cultural background. Such minimum
standards should include methodologies of needs assessments as well as types and qualities of assistance to be provided;
 Ensure that institutional aid providers fully recognise their obligations to abide by humanitarian principles including humanity,
neutrality, impartiality and operational independence and etc;
 By fully recognising that assistance needs during disasters differ depending on variables of the affected populations, such as
gender, age, disability, nationality, mother tongues, family composition and livelihoods, and reflect such variations whendeveloping the national minimum standards appropriately; Put in place administrative measures that ensure full participation of the affected populations in consultations where they candemand the assistance they need, and thereby transform the current disaster relief system into the one which is more closelyaligned with the human rights based approaches; Explore concrete measures to realise the principles outlined in the ‘Guidelines for disaster planning, response andreconstruction from a gender‐equal perspective’ issued by the Government of Japan in May 2013; and Promote awareness‐raising among the disaster response actors in Japan on the recent developments and debates on theinternational standards in disaster relief.

1-6. Securing and developing human resources
A system needs to be developed that allow pre‐registration and deployment of human resources those who have experiences
related to international disaster relief from outside the Government structures. The Government of Japan should nurture ‘disaster
response professionals’ who have sufficient knowledge and experience to lead effective coordination in the acceptance ofdomestic and international assistance.

2-2 .Role of NGOs/NPOs, the civil society and actors other than designated public institutions
 Recognising the role of NGOs/NPOs and the civil society more institutionally, guidelines for local authorities should be
developed, by which these diverse actors can promote the national minimum standards, and help integrate them into local
disaster management plans.

1-7. Ensuring accountability
The Government of Japan should bear full responsibility to monitor the utilisation of international assistance and to explain the
results and impacts of such assistance to the international community with the use of standard reporting formats.

 NGOs/NPOs and the civil society should recognise their leading roles in promoting responses to meet the diverse needs ofthe affected populations and in enhancing human rights based approaches. NGOs and the civil society should also strengthen
their engagement in the policy processes in this particular domain.

1-8. Timely dissemination of accurate information to the international community
The Government of Japan should develop a system by which it can communicate well with the international community fromthe on‐set of large scale disasters. The messaging should include damages caused, response activities and specific needs forinternational assistance, and the Government’s communications efforts need to be more proactive, timely as well as be
conducted in English.

 Coordination mechanisms need to be built in the pre‐disaster phase, so that NGOs and NPOs can implement theirassistance programmes in a coordinated and collaborative manner. For this purpose, frameworks of coordination need to be
designed; a secretariat facilitating the coordination work needs to be supported; human resources of those who are involved in
the coordination work needs to be developed, and roles of NGOs/NPOs need to be articulated in local disaster management
plans.

Part I: System for Receiving International Assistance
The following eight recommendations are presented, specifically with regard to the system for receiving international assistance,
which is now common practice when a large scale disaster occurs.
1-1. A clear basic policy on receiving international assistance during disasters
As it is expected that international community will offer assistance when a large scale natural disaster hits Japan, the Governmentof Japan should pre‐establish its basic policy clarifying the criteria and procedures for receiving ‐ or declining ‐ offers ofinternational assistance. Putting in place such a policy will help not only promote diplomatic relations but also complimentdomestic response efforts. The basic policy and overall procedures for accepting international assistance should be translated into
foreign languages and shared with the international community during the pre‐disaster phase1-2. Enhancing the role of the Government for acceptance of international assistance
A comprehensive disaster management body within the Government of Japan should make centralised and proactive decisions
on the acceptance of incoming international assistance. This body will need to be strengthened in a way that can bear full
responsibility in terms of quick and smooth acceptance of assistance, including transport of relief goods and personnel to disaster
affected areas, temporary storage of relief items.
1-3. Development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for accepting international assistanceIn order to support quick and smooth acceptance of international assistance with centralised and proactive decisions by thecomprehensive disaster management body in the Government, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) needs to be developed
for the officials of the respective Ministries. Joint exercises testing such SOPs with the involvement of multiple stakeholders need
to be conducted once a year. The SOPs need to be developed by taking into consideration existing international guidelines.
1-4. Legal arrangements and administrative orders
Legal arrangements and administrative orders on liability for damages and indemnification need to be put in place for handlingany damages caused by international responders as well as any accidents or incidents that may occur to international responders.
Based on the lessons learned of receiving international assistance in the past and in light of the existing international guidelines
such as the International Disaster Relief Laws (IDRL), exceptional legal measures and administrative orders need to be put inplace before a disaster strikes.
1-5. Concluding partnership agreements
Legal frameworks with foreign countries, from where the likelihood of receiving international assistance is high, should beestablished in advance, so that legal problems related to accidents/damages associated with relief operations can be avoided.

Part II: Application of the existing international norms and standards
In the response to the Great East Japan Earthquake, existing international standards such as ‘Human Rights Based Approach’ and
The Sphere Project – the Humanitarian Charter and the Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response’, as well as specialised
knowledge and capacity of private companies, NGOs/NPOs and individual volunteers were not fully utilised. It is therefore
recommended that based on the existing international standards, minimum standards applicable to disaster response areestablished and applied in Japan. In view of current international practices, closer involvement of actors other than the
Government and designated public institutions is also recommended.
2-1. Establishment and application of national minimum standards for future disaster response in Japan
With a view to improve Japan’s disaster management system, and to ensure fully responding to future large scale natural
disasters in Japan, it is recommended that an expert group, which is tasked to review the existing Japanese disastermanagement system from an international and institutional point of view, is established. More specifically, such an expert
group should discuss and implement action items indicated below.
 Develop national minimum standards that are based on the existing international norms and standards as well as examples
from overseas, and that do not contradict with Japan’s local characteristics and socio‐cultural background. Such minimum
standards should include methodologies of needs assessments as well as types and qualities of assistance to be provided;
 Ensure that institutional aid providers fully recognise their obligations to abide by humanitarian principles including humanity,
neutrality, impartiality and operational independence and etc;
 By fully recognising that assistance needs during disasters differ depending on variables of the affected populations, such as
gender, age, disability, nationality, mother tongues, family composition and livelihoods, and reflect such variations whendeveloping the national minimum standards appropriately; Put in place administrative measures that ensure full participation of the affected populations in consultations where they candemand the assistance they need, and thereby transform the current disaster relief system into the one which is more closelyaligned with the human rights based approaches; Explore concrete measures to realise the principles outlined in the ‘Guidelines for disaster planning, response andreconstruction from a gender‐equal perspective’ issued by the Government of Japan in May 2013; and Promote awareness‐raising among the disaster response actors in Japan on the recent developments and debates on theinternational standards in disaster relief.

1-6. Securing and developing human resources
A system needs to be developed that allow pre‐registration and deployment of human resources those who have experiences
related to international disaster relief from outside the Government structures. The Government of Japan should nurture ‘disaster
response professionals’ who have sufficient knowledge and experience to lead effective coordination in the acceptance ofdomestic and international assistance.

2-2 .Role of NGOs/NPOs, the civil society and actors other than designated public institutions
 Recognising the role of NGOs/NPOs and the civil society more institutionally, guidelines for local authorities should be
developed, by which these diverse actors can promote the national minimum standards, and help integrate them into local
disaster management plans.

1-7. Ensuring accountability
The Government of Japan should bear full responsibility to monitor the utilisation of international assistance and to explain the
results and impacts of such assistance to the international community with the use of standard reporting formats.

 NGOs/NPOs and the civil society should recognise their leading roles in promoting responses to meet the diverse needs ofthe affected populations and in enhancing human rights based approaches. NGOs and the civil society should also strengthen
their engagement in the policy processes in this particular domain.

1-8. Timely dissemination of accurate information to the international community
The Government of Japan should develop a system by which it can communicate well with the international community fromthe on‐set of large scale disasters. The messaging should include damages caused, response activities and specific needs forinternational assistance, and the Government’s communications efforts need to be more proactive, timely as well as be
conducted in English.

 Coordination mechanisms need to be built in the pre‐disaster phase, so that NGOs and NPOs can implement theirassistance programmes in a coordinated and collaborative manner. For this purpose, frameworks of coordination need to be
designed; a secretariat facilitating the coordination work needs to be supported; human resources of those who are involved in
the coordination work needs to be developed, and roles of NGOs/NPOs need to be articulated in local disaster management
plans.

 NGO/NPO staff should participate in the relevant meetings and trainings as well as build relationships with other actors
during the pre‐disaster phase, so that smooth and effective deployment of assistance can be ensured. In addition, common
codes of conduct should be developed for NGOs/NPOs involved in assistance activities.
Part III: Human Resource Development
Providing support for human resource development of practitioners, who are familiar with disaster response and assistance for
affected populations, is critical in realising rapid response; ensuring the quality of assistance; as well as making sure that response
activities are systematic and well-coordinated ‐ including appropriate acceptance of international assistance ‐ in future large
scale disasters in Japan. With the aim of human resource development of those who are equipped with necessary knowledge andskills for disaster response and who can fully demonstrate required competencies in the midst of crises – both in Japan andoverseas – the following seven recommendations are made.
3-1. Identification of priority areas where human resource development is particularly needed
3-2. Identification of professional duties to be targeted for human resource development
3-3. Implementation system of the human resource development programmes
3-4. Basic curriculum and methodologies of trainings
3-5. Functions required for human resource development
3-6. Registration and mobilization of the pools of trained professionals
3-7. Promotion of international cooperation building on domestic disaster response experiences© IFRC© IFRCThe Great East Japan Earthquake taught us many lessons.
We recommend the followings
to prepare for future mega-disasters in Japan;

This study group:
Reviewing the experience, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Kobe and the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) jointly organised a
Public Seminar on International Humanitarian Assistance on July 5, 2012 at the Hiroo Hall of the Japanese Red Cross
College of Nursing in Tokyo.
At the end of the seminar, it was decided that we should not leave the seminar as a one-off event but establish a study
group to continue and deepen these discussions based on the achievements of the seminar. A study group was establishedhosted by the Japanese Red Cross Institute for Humanitarian Studies and voluntarily joined persons from variousorganisations engaging in international humanitarian assistance.
The study group members from various backgrounds participated in a personal capacity beyond organisational boundaries,
sincerely engaged in dialogue from professional perspectives, and committed to giving up their own time in contributing to
produce the following recommendations.
The full page of the report on the Study Group is available as an annex of the Journal of Humanitarian Studies, Vol.3,
March 2014, and its on line version (http://www.jrc.ac.jp/ihs/index.html).

1. To receive international assistance in an efficient manner in order tomaximise the good-will of international community;
2. To establish national minimum standards in humanitarian assistance basedon the international norms and standards in order to protect rights ofaffected population, and3. To train, register and mobilise disaster relief professionals both in national
and international level.
Study Group on the Great East Japan Earthquake& International Humanitarian AssistanceIssued by the Japanese Red Cross
Institute for Humanitarian Studies,Japanese Red Cross Academy,February 2015