

2. InformationSharing  
 

2. Collection and Distribution of DisasterInformation
2-1. Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction 2008
The Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR) 2008 was held on 12-14 November 2008 inBali, Republic of Indonesia. It was organized by the government of the Republic of Indonesia (StateMinistry of Research and Technology (RISTEK)/National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB)),
the government of Japan (Cabinet Office), the United Nations Secretariat of the International Strategyfor Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR), and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC), incooperation with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(UN/OCHA) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
A total of 106 participants attended the conference from 24 countries, mainly ADRC member
countries, and 14 organizations, including the UN, other international organizations, NGOs, andacademic institutions.

2-1-1. Outline of the Conference
The outline of the Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR) 2008 is as follows:(1) Date: 12 (Wed) – 14 (Fri) November 2008
(2) Organizers: Government of the Republic of Indonesia / State Ministry of Research andTechnology (RISTEK) and the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Cabinet
Office of Japan, the United Nations Secretariat of the International Strategy for DisasterReduction (UN/ISDR) and ADRC.
(3) In cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, Bureau for Crisis Prevention
and Recovery (UNDP/BCPR), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (UN/OCHA) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)(4) Participants: 106 (high-level government officials from 24 countries, representatives of 14
organizations including the UN and other international organizations and NGOs, and experts,
practitioners, and scholars from various fields of discipline)(5) Venue: Hotel Grand Hyatt Bali, Republic of Indonesia

2-1-2. Brief Conference Summary
At the opening ceremony on the first day of the conference, opening remarks were delivered by theconference co-chairs, H.E. Dr. Kusmayanto Kadiman, State Minister of Research and Technology for
the Republic of Indonesia, and H.E. Mr. Masayoshi Namiki, Vice Minister of the Cabinet Office ofJapan.
A message by UN/ISDR Director Mr. Salvano Briceno, who was unavoidably prevented fromattending, was read by Mr. Jerry Velasquez, Regional Coordinator of UN/ISDR for Asia and thePacific. ADRC Chairman Prof. Shigeru Ito also gave remarks expressing his high expectations forACDR 2008.
For the keynote speech, Mr. Koji Suzuki,
Executive Director of ADRC, gave apresentation entitled "Progress on RegionalCooperation in the Field of Disaster Risk
Reduction in Asia: ADRC in the First
Decade" and reported on ADRC's efforts interms of each HFA Priority for Action.
During the breakout sessions, reports weregiven on each country's progress with regard
to the HFA, and participants discussed theissues that need to be examined and theFig. 2-1-1 Chair of ACDR 2008,
direction that future efforts need to take.
H.E. Dr. Kusmayanto KadimanAlso, in light of ADRC's 10thanniversary, participants gave reports on the activities ADRC has undertaken thus far and discussed
the direction for its future activities. They also discussed public-private partnerships for disaster risk
reduction (PPP), disaster management tools, and collaborative activities in anticipation of the Third

2. Information Sharing

Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster
Risk Reduction.
Mr. Shambhu Prasad Marasini from Nepaland Mr. Vu Thanh Liem from Vietnam
reported on ADRC's Visiting Researcher
Program, as well as the activities they engaged
in during their time in Japan on this program.
At the closing ceremony, ADRC Executive
Director Mr. Koji Suzuki read a summary of
the conference, and Mr. Sugeng Triutomo,Deputy for Prevention and Preparedness,
BNPB, gave closing remarks.

Fig. 2-1-2 Report from ADRC Visiting Researchers

Mr. Triutomo concluded the conference byreiterating the importance of the HFA in theAsian region and emphasizing the need torespond to climate change.
We would like to express our sincerest
gratitude for the outstanding efforts and kindcooperation provided by the government of theRepublic of Indonesia, including RISTEK andthe BNPB, in hosting ACDR 2008.
ADRC remains dedicated to promoting theHFA as part of its efforts to reduce the damage
caused by disasters in the Asian region.

Fig. 2-1-3 Group Discussions

2-1-3. Conference Summary
The Asian Conference on Disaster Reduction (ACDR) 2008 has taken place in Bali, Indonesia,
from 12 to 14 November 2008. Co-hosted by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and theGovernment of Japan, the Conference was organized together with the United Nations Secretariat ofthe International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center(ADRC), in cooperation with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(UNOCHA) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The Conference was presided by His Excellency Dr. Kusmayanto Kadiman, State Minister for
Research and Technology, Government of the Republic of Indonesia, and His Excellency Mr.
Masayoshi Namiki, Vice Minister, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, and attended by 106
participants including high level government officials from 24 countries and representatives of 14
organizations, among others, UN and international organizations and civil society, and experts,
practioners, and academcians from various fields of discipline.
The Conference reviewed the progress made by Asian countries and UN agencies in theimplementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (HFA) in the region and identified
the gaps and challenges at the national and regional levels. Moreover, as the ADRC marks its 10thyear anniversary this year, the forum provided an opportunity to discuss key activities of ADRC for
the future and to promote stronger collaboration and renewed commitment among the membercountries.
Overall, the participants of the Conference presented the following major concerns, challenges,
and courses of action in advancing disaster risk reduction at all levels:(1) Integrating disaster risk reduction into sustainable development agenda and strategies(2) Translating political commitment into action for effective mainstreaming of disaster risk
reduction



2. Information
Sharing  

 

(3) Promoting a more enabling policy environment for public-private partnership for disaster risk
reduction(4) Making available and accessible effective disaster risk reduction tools using advanced scienceand technology and knowledge management resources
The Conference noted the opportunity to consider the above concerns and challenges in planning
future activities of ADRC, the Asia Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (December2008), and the second session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (June 2009).
The participants of the Conference cited the value of ACDR as a forum in building a network forsharing information, knowledge and lessons, and fostering multilateral and multistakeholder
cooperation in disaster risk reduction in the region.
Finally, the participants also expressed their grateful appreciation to the hosts and organizers forthe warm hospitality extended during the Conference.

Fig.2-1-3 Participants of ACDR 2008