5. Promoting Cooperation with Member Countries, International Organizations and NGOs

5-3. Promoting Cooperation with Member Countries,
International Organizations and NGOs
The Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) places high priority on the development ofinstitutional and personal network to share disaster information in the Asia region. Developing
personal networks between professionals and their counterparts in member countries, adviser
countries, and observer organizations is vital to promoting cooperation on disaster reduction
efforts in Asia. Therefore, the ADRC invites management level officials, including deputy
directors, directors, and managers, to its annual ADRC International Meeting to encourageinterpersonal exchanges.

(1) 6th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction
The ADRC participated in the 6th Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk
Reduction (6th AMCDRR) held in Bangkok, Thailand from 22 to 26 June 2014. The
conference participants included more than 3,000 delegates, ministers, and top government
officials, as well as UN agencies, international organizations, and NGOs. The objectives ofthis conference were to generate stronger political commitment for and investments in
disaster risk management among the nations of Asia, and to stimulate discussions around theformulation of a post-2015 framework for DRR in preparation for the upcoming 3rd
WCDRR to be held in Sendai, Japan. ADRC also helped arrange several side events andfacilitated a pre-conference meeting as follows.
1) Side Event: Introduction and Demonstration of the DRR Education Tools and Efforts
for Getting Wider Participation of Communities
ADRC conducted a side event entitled "Introduction and Demonstration of the DRR
Education Tools and Efforts for Getting Wider Participation of Communities" on 23 June2014 during the 6th AMCDRR. The session aimed to introduce good practices in CBDRM,
highlighting disaster education tools that have been promoted by local NGOs and local
governments since the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. It also focused on efforts toraise DRR awareness and training programs for local government officials based on
lessons learned from that earthquake. The side event was also intended to facilitate
discussions around how to localize such tools and efforts in other countries, and it
highlighted some successful localization activities from Asia and other parts of the world.
After the introduction by ADRC, Mr. Masahiko Murata from the Disaster Reduction and
Human Renovation Institution (DRI), Mr. Nobuhito Ohtsu of the Kobe City Fire Bureau,
and Dr. Ikaputra of Gadjah Mada University introduced their DRR efforts, all of which are
based on lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. First, Mr. Murata of
DRI gave a presentation entitled "Hyogo Prefecture’s Effort for Capacity Development ofLocal Government Officials and Raising Awareness of the Public”" in which he introduced
the training programs targeting mayors, local government officials, and local residents, as

53

well as efforts to raise public awareness. Mr. Ohtsu of Kobe City next explained"BOKOMI," a community-based disaster risk management organization that has beenpromoted by Kobe City since the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. He emphasized theimportance of self-self and mutual-help, in addition to public help.
After these two presentations, Dr. Ikaputra of Gadjah Mada University described an
example of how disaster education tools have been adapted to Yogyakarta, Indonesia. "Iza!
Kaeru Caravan!" is a Japan-based disaster education and awareness raising program forchildren that was developed by NPO Plus Arts based in Kobe. He localized the tool andconducted the program in Indonesia, ensuring close coordination between Plus Arts andthe local residents of Yogyakarta. He concluded his presentation by stressing the need fordisaster education for children, as well as the importance of ensuring the beneficial
application of various tools within local contexts. Lastly, Mr. David Korunic of AXA
Group introduced an example of how CBDRM has been promoted by the private sector
and NGOs, explaining AXA-CARE International’s joint initiative for building disaster
resilience in local communities in Thailand and the Philippines. At the end of the session,
all the participants confirmed that there is a need for the development of good educational
tools for CBDRM which are based on past experience as well as local contexts. They also
highlighted the need for the well-coordinated localization of tools, as well as the benefitsof involving the private sector and various stakeholders in CBDRM activities.

Fig. 5-3-1-1

Participants of the Side Event2) Side Event: Promotion of DRR Initiatives in Private Sector and Strengthening Public- Private Partnership for Local Resilience Building: Towards HFA2 to be Adopted in
3rd WCDRR in Sendai
On 25 June 2014, ADRC and the APEC Emergency Preparedness Working Group(EPWG) co-chaired a Side Event entitled " Promotion of DRR Initiatives in Private Sector
and Strengthening Public-Private Partnership: for Local Resilience Building: towards
HFA2 to be Adopted in 3rd WCDRR in Sendai " Experts from ADRC, APEC EPWG,
Sendai City, the Development Bank of Japan, JICA, and Mitsubishi Corporation Insurance54

5. Promoting Cooperation with Member Countries, International Organizations and NGOs

gave presentations on their good practices related to the these subjects.
Dr. Wei-Sen Li from the APEC EPWG gave a presentation on surveys on BCP status,
BCP Guidelines for SMEs, and relevant training activities in the APEC region. Sendai City
Vice Mayor, Mr. Yukimoto Ito introduced projects involving collaboration with the private
sector, civil society organizations, and communities such as disaster-resilient town
planning and the formation of agreements with the private sector regarding logistics andevacuation in times of disaster. Sendai City was recognized as a Role Model in the
2010-2015 World Disaster Campaign "Making Cities Resilient" and will host the 3rd UN
World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in March 2015. Mr. Tadao Hasue, Deputy
General Manager, and Ms. Kumi Onuma, Associate, Tohoku Branch, Development Bankof Japan gave a presentation on their region-wide plans and activities targeting the Tohoku
Region including the establishment of the Tohoku Alliance, a Tohoku‐based platform fora flexible alliance among diverse entities in Japan and abroad for knowledge andinformation sharing. JICA Senior Advisor Dr. Hitoshi Baba introduced JICA’s newconcepts of "Area BCP" and "Area BCM," which refer to a scalable cross-sector
coordination framework for disaster management for business continuity. He also outlined
how these are being applied in a pilot project in industrial clusters in the ASEAN region.
Mr. Takahiro Ono of Mitsubishi Corporation Insurance then commented on the importanceof improving disaster resilience of both private sector enterprises and local governments,and on strengthening community-wide networks to ensure that the best actions are taken.
Finally, ADRC Executive Director Mr. Kiyoshi Natori summarized the discussions toconclude the event.

Fig. 5-3-1-2

Participants of the Side Event

3) Pre-Conference: Satellite Data and Information to Supplement Regional andNational DRR Systems and to Assist Local Communities at Risk
On 22 June 2014, JAXA and ADRC cooperated in organizing a pre-conference entitled"Satellite Data and Information to Supplement Regional and National DRR Systems and toAssist Local Communities at Risk." The purpose of this event was to share information on
how satellite data and information are being used for DRR, to investigate user needs, and55

to promote the expansion of cooperative structures among operators, governments, andcommunities with regard to the collection and use of satellite data. This pre-conference
was divided into two sessions.
The first session was on "Progress and Issues with Existing Regional and National(Coordination and Management) Initiatives and Related Access Mechanisms." Dr. Lal
Samarakoon from AIT showed outcomes of the space technology session at ACDR 2014
which was held in Tokyo in March. Dr. Shirish Ravan from UNOOSA also reported on theoutcomes of the ASEAN workshop, given its position as a UN-SPIDER activity. ADRC
reported on regional DRR requirements and activities. Mr. Pierre-Henri Pisani from theEmbassy of France in Japan explained the latest efforts in the development of aninternational charter to promote the use of space technologies worldwide. Dr. Sanjay
Kumar Srivastava from UNESCAP mentioned harnessing regional cooperation forenhancing national capacity for disaster risk management. And representing JAXA, Mr.
Chu Ishida introduced the Sentinel Asia evolution and space agencies' recommendationsfor HFA2. He also announced that a new satellite, the ALOS2 was launched in May 2014.
The second session was on "Working with Communities at Risk: Initiatives and Projects
Devoted to the Use of Earth Observations for the Benefit of Local Communities." Good
practices in the use of space technologies in DRR were reported on by Tajikistan, China,
Bangladesh, and the Philippines. Professor Shunichi Koshimura from Tohoku University
gave a presentation on the analysis and use of satellite images during the Great East Japan
Tsunami. Mr. Hiroshi Une from the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan introduced
some of the basic data developed by that organization and proposed ways that it might be
developed for the DRR field. Professor Ryosuke Shibasaki from the University of Tokyo
explained the use of big data and space technology for DRR.
This pre-conference was tied to the morning pre-conference which was organized by
UN-SPIDER. Both organizers put together a proposal on the importance of investing in thesystematic generation of products based on space-based and geospatial information.

Fig. 5-3-1-3

Participants of the Pre-conference56

5. Promoting Cooperation with Member Countries, International Organizations and NGOs

4) Side Event: Investing in Recovery for Resilience: Articulating Recovery in HFA2
The 6AMCDRR is a biennial conference held in Asia to ensure the commitment ofpolicymakers

and stakeholders toward disaster risk reduction. At this year's event, heldon 24 June in Bangkok, Thailand, the International Recovery Platform (IRP) organized aside event entitled “Investing in Recovery for Resilience: Articulating Recovery in HFA2.”
Opening remarks were given by Mr. Kaoru Saito, Director of the Cabinet Office ofJapan, who described how the government of Japan has been making continuous efforts torevitalize the Tohoku region since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Mr. Saito also
discussed Japan’s contributions to and preparations for the 3rd World Conference on
Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) and HFA2.
This side event featured panelists from diverse backgrounds, including Atty. Violeta
Seva of Makati City (Philippines), Prof. Santosh Kumar of the SAARC Disaster
Management Center (SDMC), Mr. Tadao Hasue and Ms. Kumi Onuma of theDevelopment Bank of Japan (DBJ), and Ms. Ana Cristina Thorlund of the International
Recovery Platform (IRP). The moderator Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Member ofParliament in Bangladesh, posed a broad question: "What will be the critical
recommendations for adequately articulating recovery in HFA2?" In response, Mr. Hasue
shared his insights by referring to DBJ’s new initiative, the “Tohoku Alliance on Recovery,”which has been widely recognized among stakeholders in Japan and beyond.
Based on all the input from the speakers and the audience, the side event participants
came up with the following key recommendations:- Institutionalize recovery functions in national and local governance systems- Ensure financial predictability for recovery programs and activities- Strengthen coordination of recovery actors and consider the trans-boundary nature ofrecovery- Recognize human security as an essential foundation for effective recovery- Develop concrete and measurable indicators to monitor progress toward and theachievement of recovery goals
In view of these recommendations, it was suggested that in the future, IRP might
consider acting as a global mechanism for cooperation in areas where recovery is taking
place. Its tasks may include providing technical support on recovery for subnational
governments, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs),
offering technical support on recovery from large-scale disasters, and ensuring seamlessintegration of recovery in development plans.
Three key conclusions were reached at the end of the session. (1) Recovery should be
adequately articulated in HFA2 so that governments can have general guidance in
implementing recovery programs. (2) Recovery (seen as an opportunity to “Build Back
Better”) must also be aligned with sustainable development goals. (3) Recovery requires
further advocacy at the policy and legislative levels to outline clear measures formonitoring progress and to clearly identify the roles of government departments and57

agencies in implementing recovery programs.
In closing, Mr. Kiyoshi Natori, Executive Director of the ADRC noted that ADRC/IRP
is getting ready for the 3rd WCDRR which will provide substantial input for thedevelopment of HFA2. He successfully closed the event, which was attended by 65
participants.

Fig. 5-3-1-4

Participants of the Side Event

5) Final Plenary Session and the "Bangkok Declaration"
At the plenary session held on the final day of the conference, participants adopted the"Bangkok Declaration" to conclude the event. Its policy recommendations to nations andstakeholders are as follows: (1) Enhance resilience at local levels, (2) Improve public
investment in disaster and climate risk management to protect and sustain development
gains, (3) Promote public and private partnerships for DRR, (4) Promote science andtechnology, (5) Enhance governance, transparency, and accountability, (6) Contribute to
the global deliberation on the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and thedevelopment of an Asia-Pacific Regional HFA2 Implementation Plan, (7) Ensure that the
Post-2015 Framework for DDR is consistent with sustainable development goals andclimate change efforts.

(2) 7th ECO International Conference on Disaster Risk Management
The ADRC participated in the 7th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)International Conference on Disaster Risk Management held in Gabala, Azerbaijan on 4-5
June 2014. This conference was organized by the Ministry of Emergency Situations of
Azerbaijan in cooperation with the ECO Secretariat. It provided an opportunity for delegatesof ECO member states as well as experts from UN agencies, international organizations, andacademic and scientific institutions to discuss and share experiences on disaster risk
reduction to promote better cooperation in the ECO region. The ECO member states that arealso ADRC member countries are Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic,
Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Following presentations and speeches by the heads of the various delegations,58

5. Promoting Cooperation with Member Countries, International Organizations and NGOs

organizations including UNOCHA, UNESCAP, GIZ, the Central Asian Institute for Applied
Geosciences (CAIAG), and ADPC introduced their disaster risk reduction efforts in theregion. ADRC gave a presentation explaining its role in Asia and highlighting the programs
that might benefit member countries in Central Asia and Caucasus, namely, the Visiting
Researcher Program, the JICA training for Central Asia and Caucasus, and the Peer Review
Project.
At the end of the conference, the participants agreed that an integrated approachcombining policy, operational, and scientific elements would facilitate more effective andefficient disaster risk management in the region. ADRC believes that this is crucial not onlyin this region, but also in other parts of Asia.

Fig. 5-3-2-1

Participants of the Conference(3) ASEM Manila Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction andManagement “Post-Haiyan -A Way Forward” in the Philippines
The ASEM Manila Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management"Post-Haiyan/Yolanda - A Way Forward" was hosted by the Philippines and co-hosted by
Japan, the European Union (EU), and Switzerland in Manila on 4-6 June 2014. In support ofthe conference, ADRC sent one representative from the IRP secretariat to attend. The seminar
attracted more than 280 participants including government officials from ADRC member
countries, experts from across the Philippines, and delegates from EU countries.
Mr. Shingo Kouchi, ADRC Senior Expert and IRP Senior Recovery Expert gave apresentation for the Working Group entitled “Role of Stakeholders –National and Local
Governments, NGOs, the Local Community, Media, and the Private Sector (Strengthening
the Role of the State and other DRRM Stakeholders in Disaster Response andCoordination).”In it, he applauded the government of the Philippines as well as the citizenry on theirability to promote multi-stakeholder approaches to effective disaster mitigation and59

prevention, as well as reconstruction and recovery. Mr. Kouchi also noted that ADRC and
IRP have long been working closely with many stakeholders in the Philippines. When
promoting reconstruction and recovery countermeasures after large-scale disasters like the2014 super typhoon “Yolanda” and 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami,
ADRC/IRP has put particular emphasis on the concept of “building back better than before.”
The ADRC, together with the IRP, will continue striving toward the realization ofdisaster-resilient societies and communities across Asia by sharing Japanese technologies,
experiences, and lessons learned from the past.

Fig. 5-3-3-1

Participants of the Conference(4) APEC Senior Disaster Management Officials Forum(8th SDMOF)
The 8th Senior Disaster Management Officials Forum (SDMOF), was held on August
11-12, 2014, Beijing, China. Representatives and experts from APEC economies andinternational agencies gathered for this forum (APEC-funded project led by China) under thetheme: 'Science and technology strengthening disaster risk reduction'. Mr. Natori from ADRC
participated for an emergency preparedness working group (EPWG) as co-chairmanship.
Participants shared experiences and best practices under following topics: 1) Innovativerole of science and technology in disaster preparedness; 2) Science and technology
strengthens efficiency in emergency response; 3) Science and technology enables
rehabilitation for increased resiliency; and 4) International and regional cooperation onscience and technology application for disaster risk reduction.

(5) Second Regional Ministerial Conference of Disaster
Management Authorities in Central Asia under the “Central Asia
plus Japan” Dialogue
ADRC participated in the Second Regional Ministerial Conference of Disaster
Management Authorities in Central Asia under the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue held60

5. Promoting Cooperation with Member Countries, International Organizations and NGOs

in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic on 18-19 September 2014. This conference, organized by thegovernment of Japan, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, andUNDP Kyrgyzstan, aimed to discuss the possible creation of a high level forum for disastermanagement authorities involved in DRR under the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue. The
participants included representatives of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,and Uzbekistan, as well as the Embassy of Japan in the Kyrgyz Republic, JICA, and otherinternational organizations.
During the conference, participants discussed the most urgent DRR issues facing theregion as well as future opportunities for cooperation. ADRC presented information on theoutcomes of DRR programs conducted in various Central Asian countries, and identified
needs and areas for future DRR cooperation in the region.
At the end of the two-day conference, the participants agreed to establish and regularly
convene a forum for the heads of the disaster management authorities in Central Asia for
discussing efforts to strengthen regional cooperation in reducing, preventing, and responding
to disaster risks. In addition, an expert level working group of disaster management
authorities in Central Asia will be established to support this forum.

Fig. 5-3-5-1

Participants of the Conference(6) The second World Reconstruction Conference (WRC 2)
The ADRC, in cooperation with the IRP organized a number of the technical sessions at
the second World Reconstruction Conference (WRC 2) in Washington D.C., 10-12
September 2014. Hosted by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery(GFDRR), a member of IRP, the conference was aimed at building consensus on resilient
recovery as an imperative for sustainable development and poverty reduction. It also
discussed innovative approaches for post-disaster recovery and reconstruction to further
inform the deliberation of Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

61

Fig. 5-3-6-1

Group PhotoAt the opening, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank, emphasized theimportance of including disaster risk reduction in building back better disaster recovery
principles, focusing specifically on developing countries at high risk. In that regard, he
expected the conference to deliberate on a way forward on disaster recovery, particularly infragile contexts, and highlight the role of recovery in poverty reduction and sharedprosperity.
The three IRP/ADRC technical sessions contributed greatly in the discussions to achieve
the objectives of the conference through the recommendations from the panelists andparticipants. In Session 1: Making Post-Disaster Recovery Efficient and Effective: Elementsof Good Recovery for Articulation in Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, therecommendations to aid governments in facilitating effective recovery are as follow: (1)having stable fund for recovery; (2) using scientific information to support policy decisions;and (3) collaborative efforts among all stakeholders, including the private sector.
In Session 8: Ten Years after Tsunami: A Retrospective, the recommendations to improve
recovery operations include the following: (1) ensuring speed and focus on recovery of
livelihoods; (2) creating greater participation of community in recovery planning andimplementation processes; (3) linking recovery from tsunami to long-term development; and(4) adopting simple measures of impacts of tsunami recovery programs.
In Session 16: Role of Private Sector in Recovery: The Case for Private Sector
Engagement in Recovery for Post-2015 Framework for DRR, emphasized that private sector
is a key factor in recovery because they understand the context and have the expertise tosolve problems. This session recommended that private sector can be effectively engaged
through the following actions: (1) providing opportunity for private sector to invest in
recovery as means of sustaining businesses; (2) promoting pre-contract agreements andpre-disaster recovery planning; and (3) building long-term and sustainable relationshipbetween public and private sector.
Included in the conference was the 15th Steering Committee meeting of IRP which mainly
discussed its future role in the implementation of Post-2015 Framework for DRR as well as
IRP’s preparations for the International Recovery Forum in January 2015 in Kobe and World62

5. Promoting Cooperation with Member Countries, International Organizations and NGOs

Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in March 2015 in Sendai. One potential future role of
IRP is to serve as a global mechanism for coordinating recovery policies and recovery
processes.
Speakers at the closing plenary imparted key actions to move forward. Ms. Margareta
Wahlstrom, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
UNISDR, outlined the following recommendations:(1) bridging the segregation gap

between climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) that are
exhibited in research initiatives and in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery
planning; (2) reconciling response and recovery approaches for hazards and conflicts; (3)recognizing of the critical role of local governments and communities in DRR and recovery
by encouraging national governments to motivate and support local responses; and (4)promoting collaboration among multi-stakeholders in recognition of the complexity ofrecovery process.
Ms. Rachel Kyte, Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change, World Bank
Group, indicated that: (1) resilience is all about people: the more we understand about people
the more we understand about communities and their dynamics; (2) it’s not just about money:
while actors need to make sure that there are finances to properly respond, governments musthave the capacity to allocate, disperse, and protect funds; (3) initiatives and messages shouldbe “practical and simple”; and (4) foster effective partnerships to reduce the burden.
Mr. Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Member of Parliament, People’s Republic of Bangladesh,
delivered the Conference Statement: Strengthen Resilient Recovery and Reconstruction in
the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction aimed at advancing consensus,
national and internationally, on the critical role of resilient recovery for sustainable
development and poverty reduction. He ended his presentation saying, “If you fail to plan,
you plan to fail”.
The WRC2 will inform the next round of deliberations at the second Preparations
Committee meeting in November in Geneva leading to the World Conference on Disaster
Risk Reduction in March 2015 in Sendai, Japan where the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster
Risk Reduction will be adopted.
.

Fig. 5-3-6-2

Participants of the Conference63(7) The 2014 International Training Workshop on Natural Disaster
Reduction
ADRC had actively supported the 2014 International Training Workshop (ITW) which wasorganized by the National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR),
27-31 October 2014 at the NCDR Training Center, Taipei, Taiwan. The workshop was aimed
at sharing experiences and lessons on post-disaster recovery, especially from countries thatexperienced mega-disasters.
Along with speakers from various organizations and countries, ADRC had sharedexperiences on post-disaster recovery. In particular, ADRC Executive Director Mr. Kiyoshi
Natori presented the "Recovery and Lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake andTsunami of 2011" highlighting the challenges on post-disaster recovery and how thesechallenges were addressed, including applying the lessons from past disasters as well as
integrating the emerging lessons from current disasters such as considering the "wisdom of
local community" in disaster risk reduction.

Additionally, a researcher at ADRC also sharedsome of the existing "Tools and Guidance in Building Back Better" emphasizing ADRC's
experience in disseminating knowledge on recovery.
ADRC's presentations had contributed in achieving one of the key objectives of theworkshop, which is to collect, analyze, and apply trans-boundary knowledge and lessons on
recovery. Based on the presentations from countries in Asia and the Pacific as well as Latin
America, the elements for organizing effective recovery were identified - especially in theareas of infrastructure/housing reconstruction, livelihood revitalization, and psychosocial
wellness. The sharing of knowledge and experiences was reinforced with a one-day field visit
to the Chi‐Chi Earthquake Museum (9.21 Museum) and Nantou County, which showcased
the recovery efforts from the 1999 earthquake and the recovery of Sacred Wood Communityfrom the 2009 Typhoon Morakot, respectively.
The 2014 ITW was an opportunity to forward collaboration and interdisciplinary
discussions on post-disaster recovery. It explored actions that promote further investment in
DRR and emergency preparedness through development of new technology and upgrading of
infrastructures to make them more resilient.

Fig. 5-3-7-1

Participants of the Conference645. Promoting Cooperation with Member Countries, International Organizations and NGOs

(8) UNISDR Asia Partnership (IAP) Meeting
1)

April 2014
ADRC participated in the ISDR Asia Partnership (IAP) meeting held on 22-24 April in
Amari Watergate Bangkok, Thailand. Around 170 participants attended the meeting including
representatives from Asian countries as well as the international and inter-governmentalorganizations. ADRC, with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) made thepresentation titled "Outcome of the Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction 2014
(ACDR2014) and Update from Sentinel Asia Project". The main contents of the meetingwere as follows; (1) Preparation of the 6th Asia Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk
Reduction (AMCDRR), (2) Sustaining engagement of the stakeholder groups, (3)HFAmonitoring and review: Consultation on proposed indicator system to monitor and review
Post 2015 framework for DRR (HFA2).
This meeting was held as a role of preparatory meeting of AMCDRR (Bangkok) in thisJune and World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (Sendai) in next March. This
meeting discussed outcomes of HFA in Asia region, and inputs toward the "Post-HFA".
2)

December 2014
ADRC joined the 2nd ISDR Asia Partnership (IAP) meeting which was held on 2 - 4
December 2014 in Bangkok, Thailand. The IAP aimed at discussing the way forward fromthe 6th Asia Ministerial Conference, preparation towards the 3 WCDRR and preparing thePost 2015 framework adoption and implementation. Some 90 participants from national
governments, international/regional organizations, UN organizations, CSOs, media etc
attended the meeting. The meeting constituted of the following five sessions; (1) Reflectionsof the 6thAMCDRR, (2) HFA monitoring and updates on 3 WCDRR, (3) Post DRR
framework implementation, (4) Delivering the UN Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction,(5) Strengthening IAP to deliver Post 2015 DRR framework.
Active discussions were made at each session and the meeting closed with the expectations
to the coming 3 WCDRR and Post 2015 DRR framework.

(9) Asian Conference on Urban Disaster Reduction
The 2nd Asian Conference on Urban Disaster Reduction (ACUDR 2014) on the theme of
Resilience and Sustainability was organized by the Disaster Management Society of Taiwan(DMST) at Dapinglin Building, which houses a cluster of DRR related organizations, in New
Taipei City, Taiwan on 20-21 November 2014. The ACUDR is a biennial event bringing
together leading scientists, decision makers, and NGOs in the field of disaster managementfrom across Asia. It was established at the annual Symposium of the DMST in 2011 with theconsensus of the Japanese Institute of Social Safety Science (ISSS) and the Journal of Korean
Society of Hazard Mitigation (KOSHAM).
ADRC and Asia Air Survey Co. Ltd. gave presentations on the outcomes of “The Project65

for Strengthening the Capacity of Seismic Disaster Risk Management in Ulaanbaatar (UB)
City, Mongolia” conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in
2012-2013. The presentations consisted of five components: (1) General Report, (2) Ground
Motion Evaluation, (3) Risk Assessment of Buildings and Lifeline Structures, (4)Development of a Simplified Fire Spread Risk Assessment Method, and (5) Disaster
Education and Capacity Development.
Important suggestions and questions were raised by participants, many of whom had
previous experience with earthquake disasters in Japan and Taiwan. The questions covered
past disaster experiences in Mongolia, worst-case mid-winter scenarios, the seismic
resistance of buildings, micro zoning, and disaster education issues.
ACUDR 2016 will be organized by KOSHAM in South Korea.

(10) 7th APEC Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG)
Meeting
7th meeting of APEC EPWG, which co-chairs the Executive Director of ADRC, was held
on 27-28 January, 2015 at Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Philippines and attended by about 30
disaster management officials and diplomats from APEC economies.
The main purpose of this WS is 1) Reviewing activities of the last year and 2) Discussing
the work plan in 2015, and it was reported that Guidebook on Small and Medium Sized
Enterprises (SME) Business Continuity Planning, which ADRC composed several years ago,
was translated into 7 languages, including a Japanese version.
Also the participants exchanged information on the natural disasters which occurred lastyear; the Government of the Philippines presented the lessons learnt from the Typhoon
Haiyan in 2013 and the improvements of DRR policy based on these lessons enabled tolessen the damage by another large Typhoon Ruby in 2014. The Government of Japan
introduced the outline of On-take mountain eruption and large scale landslide in Hiroshimacity. The Executive Director of ADRC reported the dissemination of information on lessons
from the Hanshin-Awaji Great Earthquake on its 20th anniversary.

66