Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) Initiative – Disaster Theme

Strengthening Science Capacities for
Sustainable Development andDisaster Risk Reduction
Regional Research Strategy

\Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) Initiative – Disaster Theme

Strengthening Science Capacities for
Sustainable Development andDisaster Risk Reduction

Regional Research Strategy(January 2017)

Regional Research Strategy 2016 - 2019

Authors:
Anshu Sharma, Rajib Shaw and Fang Chen
with support from
Fang Lian and Lucy Lu (IRDR)
Summary ............................................................................................................................................. 1
1. Context and Need ........................................................................................................................ 3
2. Milestones and Evolution ......................................................................................................... 8
3. Goal and Objectives ................................................................................................................. 12
Strategic Goal ............................................................................................................................. 12
Objectives .................................................................................................................................... 12
Alignment with DBAR Science Plan Objectives ............................................................ 12
4. The Action Agenda ................................................................................................................... 13
Twelve Key Actions ................................................................................................................. 13
Prioritising of Actions............................................................................................................. 14
5. The Process: From Policy to Action .................................................................................. 15
6. Work Plan .................................................................................................................................... 17
Phasing ......................................................................................................................................... 17
Activities and Outputs ............................................................................................................ 18
Cross-Cutting Activities ......................................................................................................... 19
7. Resource Prioritization and Mobilization....................................................................... 21
Nature of Resource Requirement ...................................................................................... 21
Committed Resources ............................................................................................................ 21
Involvement of End-users, Engagement and Technology Transfer ..................... 21
8. Current Achievements and Next Steps ............................................................................ 22

Please refer this publication as follow:
Sharma A., Shaw R., Chen F., Lian F., Lu L. (2017): Strengthening Science Capacities
for Sustainable Development and Disaster Risk Reduction: Regional Research
Strategy, published by DBAR, IRDR and SDIM, Beijing China, 22 papges.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike 4.0
International License.
To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ or send a
letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.

Regional Research Strategy 2016 - 2019

Summary
The Regional Research Strategy has been formulated under an international science program,
Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) Initiative, for promoting cooperation between countries along
the Belt and Road to advocate and demonstrate the applications of big Earth data in supportof the sustainable development, including disaster risk reduction, of people and economies at
local, national and regional levels. It aims at strengthening science technology academic
community, and making research more meaningful, by focusing on higher education, researchand disciplinary issues in academics.
The Belt and Road initiative involves more thansixty countries, repressing more than one third of
the world economy and more than half of world
population. This also is the very region thatexperiences over 85% of the world’s natural
hazard events having serious impacts on humanpopulations. The region represents the majorityof the world’d disaster deaths and losses. Given
the rapid urbanisation and continued population
growth trend, the challenges faced by the region
are only due to increase in the future.
The Disaster Risk Reduction theme is thus very
appropriate to be a key area of work in the region,
bringing together mutliple stakeholders from theconcerned countries to address the risk ofdisasters arising out of natural hazards, climatechange and technological accidents.
The initiative has been formulated in the recently
agreed global frameworks that include the Sendai
The Belt and Road region houses a majority of the world’s
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the population, and experiences most of the world’s hazard
Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris events, disaster deaths and losses.
Agreement on climate change.
The approach taken by the programme covers Satellite and Information and Communication
Technologies, but also Implementation Oriented Technologies that involve hardware
solutions to risk reduction challenges; Process Technologies that are concerned with decision
making, collaboration and people’s engagements; and Transferrable Indigenous Knowledge
that banks on traditional wisdom that most countries of the region are very rich in.
A number of preparatory activities have been undertaken, including: 1st ASTCDRR, Bangkok, 2016 Preparation of a Status Report Survey on Priority actions for S&T
 Networking and Communications
Based on this, a set of twelve actions was identified along the four SFDRR priorities, and thesewere further prioritised towards preparation of a phased work plan. Emerging issues wereRegional Research Strategy 2016 - 2019

Page 1

identified through a Consultative Workshop. Common themes and unique approaches
identified were then used to form a detailed action plan.
Focus on integrating digital and social processes and tools emerged as a key element of theapproach, based on which principles of integration were agreed upon. These cut across data,
disciplines, the region, and stakeholders.
Further, consultative group meetings and an international workshop were held for formative
discussions on this strategy, with involvement of over fifty participants from seventeen
countries. A regional training course was also piloted, which was conducted by international
resource persons and was attended by twenty participants from fifteen countries.
The outcome is this comprehensive Regional Research Strategy, which lays down the roadmap
to be followed for regional convergence, preparation of national strategies and plans, buildingof capacity particularly of young scientists, and taking up of specific country level projects. The
strategy also details a work plan for the next three years, with activities as well as expected
outputs clearly spelt out. The document is expected to be a key tool towards guiding the
programme during 2016-19.
It is envisaged that the DBAR Disaster programme will influence regional and global milestone
events during its tenure. It is set to inform SFDRR indicator based monitoring processes,
influence the youth through capacity building initiatives, and assist countries in the
preparation of national strategies and plans.
Operational strategies including
communications, business andoutreachstrategies
willbedeveloped in the initial stages.
Partnership offers are alreadycoming from regional institutions,and these will be pursued tostrengthen the networking aspect. A
four country integrated assessment
initiative has been launched, andmore regional programmes will also
be taken up in due course.
With these means, the Strategy is
expected to influence a number ofupcoming global policy events thatwill serve as milestones in thedisaster risk reduction domain.
A three-year work plan has
accordingly been developed as partof the strategy, with clear activities
and outputs.

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1. Context and Need
A gap analysis of the regional research domain highlights compartmentalisation along
different parts of the region, highly varying levels of state of the art, and differing states ofresearch motivation. Inter-regional collaborations do exist in an ad-hoc manner, but havenever addressed the issue of disaster risk in an organized way. Global Frameworks that haveemerged in recent times have a significant potential to influence the way an inter-regional
strategy can translate into regional/national/local plans. DBAR Disaster Theme is thus aiming
to complement and strategically link regional initiatives, and deliver benefits at the local level.
There is undisputable evidence to strong linkages between development, environment anddisasters. Sustainable development can reduce pressure on the environment and results intoless disasters and eventual impacts. In turn, a well prepared disaster risk reduction (DRR)
approach and/or environmental management can reduce the impacts of disasters on
development and can make the development sustainable. With climate change emerging as
an important issue undermining the development and impact the disaster risks, finding
synergies between Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and appropriate DRR measures is an
inherent goal.
Keeping pace with the urgency for progress on the fronts of sustainable development, CCA
and DRR, the year 2015 has been a landmark year in the history of development, disaster andenvironment fields, where three major international frameworks have been formed. The year
started with adopting a new DRR framework in March 2015 in Sendai, Japan, called Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) with a time frame of 2015 to 2030. Then, there
was a new set of development goals called Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with thesame time frame of 2015 to 2030, which was adopted in the UN General Assembly in New
Work in September 2015. Finally, the world leaders agreed on a new climate change
agreement called Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change), which needs to be ratified between 22nd of April 2016 to 21st April 2017.

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Science and Technology for disaster risk reduction has always been there in some form in
different countries. Through the advancement of scientific research, disaster risk reduction
has been benefitted, especially in terms of early warning systems, to identify risk in both
spatial and temporal scale, strengthening of buildings and infrastructures for different typesof hazards. There is a need for proper synergy of new innovations in terms of science andtechnology, knowledge development and business opportunity in terms of sustainable
development and disaster risk reduction. As the world has entered into the new age ofcommunication, social networking and open data sharing among countries and stakeholders
become important. The new communication technology needs to be used more effectively,
breaking the development divide of the countries.
The Belt and Road initiative will involve more than 60 countries, repressing more than one
third of the world economy and more than half of world population. It is an initiative thatcreates vast opportunities for public and private sector to contribute to infrastructuredevelopment and trade and economic cooperation projects and to build “people to people”
relationships through cultural and scientific exchanges and partnerships. Digital Belt and Road
initiative (DBAR) is an international research programme for promoting cooperation withcountries along the Belt and Road route to advocate and demonstrate the smart use andapplication of `Big Earth Data’ in support of the sustainable development of people andeconomies at local, national and regional levels. DBAR is initiated by the Institute of Remote
Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and is to be given
the fullest support by over 20 countries along the Belt and Road. Disaster management is oneof the key pillars of sustainable development in the DBAR, along with coastal zone
management, agriculture and food security, environmental changes, water resource, andheritage conservation.

Regional Research Strategy 2016 - 2019

Page 5DBAR, jointly with Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) International Programme Office(IPO), IRDR China National Committee (IRDR CHINA), Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital
Earth (RADI), International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE), and CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellenceon Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation (SDIM) will conduct international research
programme (DBAR-Disaster) to strengthen science capacities for sustainable development
and disaster risk reduction under the Digital Belt and Road Initiative for three years, startingfrom year 2016. To develop regional research strategy and facilitate the process of science
policy linkage, a regional research platform is being formed with participation from scientists,
policy makers and practitioners from the countries under the Belt and Road initiative.

The Belt and Road region houses a majority of the world’s population, and experiences mostof the world’s hazard events, disaster deaths and losses

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Over the past decade, a number of natural hazards of great severity have occurred in countries
and regions countries along the Belt and Road, such as Nepal (earthquake, 2015), Pakistan(flood, 2015), Thailand (flood, 2011), Indonesia (Tsunami, 2004), Kyrgyzstan (landslide, 2009),
etc. The impacts of natural hazards are continuing to increase around the Belt and Road, andit has been noticed that mitigation of the damage caused by natural hazards like floods,
droughts, earthquakes and cyclones has been a key challenge.
Science and technologies are already playing a crucial role in contributing to the generationof relevant information to support informed decision-making regarding risk and vulnerability
reduction and to address the underlying factors of disaster risk in the Belt and Road. To
address need of big earth science based policy making for disaster risk reduction; and of
science-policy interface to the better balance between the supply and demand between
science community and the governments, the implementing partners have establishedseveral successful operational support services.
However, it is noted that Earth observation data andmany DRR related information are owned by a varietyof entities around the Belt and Road. There are several
challenges in the weak use of Earth observations in
DRR, including the perception of the high cost ofsatellite imagery and the reluctance to use lowresolution imagery, the capacity development of
national and local users in the integration of satellite
data and information into decision making processes
for DRM and response preparedness (e.g., while
several national and local instances possess GIS
capacity, only a few are able to integrate satellite dataand imagery to have a more up-to-date decision
support tool to monitor risk and plan corrective andemergency actions). Currently, no single party is able toacquire the comprehensive data and tools it needs toinform policy decision on DRR in Belt and Road,
therefore, a platform focusing on big earth data for
DRR in the Belt and Road is urgently required.
The work is in tandem with the UNISDR’s Asia level initiative for promoting science andtechnology through the Asia Science, Technology, and Academia Advisory Group (ASTAAG),
with which the DBAR Disaster group is well aligned and has an established system of
coordination and cooperation, including a number of common advisory group members.

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2. Milestones and Evolution
On March 18, 2015, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR)
was agreed at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Japan,
which is one of the landmark agreements together with the Sustainable Development Goals
and the Paris Agreement.
In Geneva in January 2016, a Science and Technology Conference was organised by the United
Nation Offices for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) together with a wide range of partners,
including Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) to further discuss a roadmap defining
the contribution of science and technology to the implementation of the Sendai Framework.
The Science and Technology Roadmap (draft) was produced by the science and technology
community as well as other stakeholders shortly thereafter.
Subsequently, the 1st Asian Science and Technology Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction(ASTCDRR) on 23-24 of August 2016 was organised by UNISDR with support from IRDR andother partners, which aims to discuss the key issues, challenges, needs and opportunities in
the application of science in policy-making and explore the way forward for promotion ofscience-policy interface for evidence-based policy-making in DRR. Finally the Asian Ministerial
Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction was held in November 2016 in New Delhi, India, witha strong political statement emerging on promotion of regional efforts on DRR, including as
Asia Plan.
The DBAR Disaster Theme Regional Research Strategy has been formulated in alignment withthese, and keeping in mind the upcoming global events of significance that include the Global
Platform for DRR and Global Science Technology Conference in 2017, and ASTCDRR and
AMCDRR in 2018 as illustrated in the accompanying timeline.

Regional Research Strategy 2016 - 2019

Page 8Box:
The 1st ASTCDRR Workshop Outcome


Following the global and regional conference, IRDR together with International
Council of Science (ICSU), the ICSU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ICSU
ROAP), the Academy of Sciences located in Taipei and IRDR International Centre of
Excellence (ICoE) Taipei organized the 1st Workshop to Strengthen Scientific
Advisory Capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction in Bangkok, Thailand, hosted by
National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). The 1st workshop aimed atstrengthening scientific advisory capacities on disaster risk management as well as
enhances the interface between IRDR and policy platforms in charge of DRR
among 12 countries, including Bangladesh, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The key outcomes
included:

Analyzed the gaps and challenges in implementing science based decision-making
in DRR among the 12 countries - review the PowerPoint presentations at:
http://www.irdrinternational.org/2016/08/30/1st-workshop-to-strengthenscientific-advisory-capacities-for-disaster-risk-reduction-was-successfully-held/

Shared the best practices of science based decision-making from China, Japan,
Thailand and UN-SPIDER - review the PowerPoint presentations at:
http://www.irdrinternational.org/2016/08/30/1st-workshop-to-strengthenscientific-advisory-capacities-for-disaster-risk-reduction-was-successfully-held/Discussed the essentials of the science technology plan for DRR in accordance withthe outcome document and briefly developed the framework of the science
technology plan for DRR - review the tentative framework of the science andtechnology plan below



Encouraged the 12 country representatives to focus on development of aframework for their respective science technology plan and then present theirplans in the 2nd workshop

The 2nd workshop will be held in January 2017 to present and further discuss the Science
Technology Plan for DRR in the respective countries, with specific targets to implement the
Sendai Framework.

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Science Technology Planning for Implementation of SFDRR
One of the very significant areas where DBAR Disaster Theme can contribute is theformulation of Science and Technology Plans for the implementation of SFDRR in the region
and in individual member countries. Following are a few issues to be kept in mind whiledeveloping such a Science and Technology Plan for SFDRR implementation:●

Multi stakeholder partnership: Science Technology Plan is not a Scientist’s plan. It
needs multi stakeholder collaboration, including science community, government,
civil society, private sector, media etc.

●

Focused approach: The plan does not need to include the hazard, vulnerability of thecountry, which is already part of the national DRR plan. More emphasis is required tofocus on the four priority areas of SFDRR, and looking through a science lens.

●Inclusive approach: The plan development should have a balanced mix of different
professions, stakeholders, age and gender. Link to different professional societies andscience academy is important.

●

Cultural calibration: Science and its influences on society and governance aredifferent in different country. Thus, there is not a single one-fit-all model for all
countries. Science technology plan needs to keep in mind the local cultural issues of
the countries, and customize accordingly.

●

Dynamic evolution: DRR is an evolving subject. The science landscape is changing
rapidly over time. The plan needs to cope with the dynamic evolution of the subject
as well as science landscape.

●Youth voices: The whole subject of DRR is very much related to its future disciplinary
evolution. Higher education plays an important role here. It is very important to
involve young scientists, professionals and practitioners in the process to make it
futuristic oriented.

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Page 10Box:
Suggested Framework of Science Technology Plan for Implementation of SFDRR
1. Background– Science technology for public policy– Evidence based decision-making– Review of application of science and technology in DRR– Linking science technology plan to the SFDRR, the Sustainable
Development Goals and the Paris agreement
2. Context of the Plan
– Summary of National Science Technology Plan (if available)● Background, rational, goal and strategies● Strategic actions● Implementation framework● Performance Monitoring and Evaluation–

Summary of National DRR Plan (if SFDRR implementation plan isavailable, please focus on that)● HFA (if the plan is before SFDRR) or SFDRR priority of actions● Role of science and technology mentioned in the DRR Plan
● Financial mechanism–

Science technology status● Countries who have conducted science technology mapping withthe status report, can refer to the key findings there

3. Purpose and key objectives– This section needs to focus on specific purposes and key objectives of the
Science and Technology Plan. The actions identified in the section 4(under SFDRR) needs to be linked to the objectives mentioned here.
4. Specific actions under SFDRR priorities– Refer to the Global Road Map of Science Technology in DRR. There are
39 specific actions and 7 outcomes of the road map.
– Refer to the Outcome document of the 1st Asia Science Technology
conference. There are 12 specific actions under the four priority areas of
SFDRR.
– Identify through a consultative process which actions are more crucial
for your country perspective, keeping in mind the national science
technology plan and DRR plan.
– Refer to the Asia Science Technology Status for Disaster Risk Reduction
White Paper, and consider the indicators under three key issues:● Science in decision-making● Investment in science and technology● Science link to people
5. Implementation framework– Institutions, networks and partnerships: This section needs to describe
the key roles and responsibilities of the institutions responsible for the
implementation of the plan. The key resource institution(s) need to be
identified along with partner organisations. A network of institutions andorganisations are required to facilitate the implementation of the science
technology plan.
6. Key challenges to overcome

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3. Goal and Objectives
Strategic Goal

Evidence based decision making, science-community link (benefits to people)

To strengthen the national science capacities under the above frameworks inselected countries along the Belt and Road

Objectives
The key objectives to this initiative are:-To undertake innovative, implementation oriented research in the field of DRR
through collaboration and partnership-To strengthen national research capacities to enable informed decision-making indifferent aspects of disaster risk reduction-

To foster the development of young professionals and researchers through training
and capacity building programs

Alignment with DBAR Science Plan Objectives
DBAR-Disaster aims to foster the use of big earth data through existing mechanisms, and tocontribute to a better and more integrated use of such technologies in DRR around the Beltand Road.
As such the themes that align the objectives of the DBAR-Disaster with the larger DBAR
Science Plan objectives are:-

To promote innovative, implementation oriented research on science and technology,
using big earth data, specifically in the field of DRR-

To facilitate the dialogue among stakeholders in Earth observation, data, and thecommunity of DRR experts and policy makers in Belt and Road, including by thecompilation and exchange of lessons learned regarding the use of such sciences andtechnologies-

To Serve as a collective source and repository of information on efforts carried out inthe Belt and Road, including guidelines and products to improve the applications ofexisting and emerging technology to reduce the risk-

To foster the development of young professionals and researchers on science andtechnology research as well as application, with specific focus on DRR-

To facilitate the use of EO and related technology to monitor progress in theimplementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Belt andRoad

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4. The Action Agenda
The 1st Asian Science and Technology Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (ASTCDRR)
generated an outcome document, which consists of twelve recommended actions aligningwith and contributing to the `Science and Technology Roadmap’. The Outcome Document hasemphasized the increasing needs to science and technology in achieving the targets andpriorities of SFDRR. Twelve actions are mentioned under four SFDRR priority areas to enhancescience and technology based DRR in Asia. The DBAR Disaster theme will support theimplementation of these priority actions through consultative and collaborative researchamong different countries in the region.

Action 1
Enhance disaster loss anddamage accounting, national
and local disaster risk
assessment andcommunication of disasterrisk

Action 2
Use space and disaster risk
mapping technologies andstrengthen the capacity

Action 3
Strengthen regional
exchange on disaster risk
information and science

Action 4
Strengthen science-policypractice nexus at all levels

Action 5
Develop inter-disciplinary
national science andtechnology plans to support
implementation of the
Sendai Framework

Action 6
Enhance collaboration
between local governments,
academia and other partners
to promote local
communities knowledge andtraditions and to sustain andreplicate many goodpractices that exist locally for
science-based decision
makingAction 7
Make DRR an area of focus
within education including
networking between
universities

Action 8
Ensure risk-sensitive
investments

Action 9
Develop young professionals
in the field of multidisciplinary disaster risk
reduction

Action 10
Promote the role of interdisciplinary science andtechnology in effective predisaster planning,
preparedness, response,
rehabilitation, recovery andreconstruction to build backbetterAction 11
Develop an efficient andeffective cooperation
among the science
community and businesssector by utilizing theadvancements of the fastdeveloping information andcommunication technology(ICT) including big data

Action 12
Research into innovative
solutions to promote thewhole-of-society
engagement

Priority 4

Priority 3

Priority 2

Priority 1

Twelve Key Actions

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Prioritising of Actions
A survey has been carried out by IRDR
across organisations and individual key
informants in the member countries
towards creating country profiles andprioritisation of actions. The survey led
to a rapid broad-brush assessment of
status across the sub themes andcountries, carried out through a selfassessment process. This is being used
as an initial indicative study, and yields
valuable inputs on the way forward.
Besides providing country specificinformation as illustrated in theexample alongside, it also gave
indication on the areas of prioritisation
as well as perceived challenges andopportunities.
Some of these,
particularly around areas such as
resource mobilisation, have been very
useful and revealing. Some of these arein contrast to often held notions around
financial resource constraints and little
that can be done within given systems
and resources.

Based on the outcomes, four key action areas as illustrated above have been identified as themost prominent ones from amongst the twelve overall priority actions identified. The
strategy is thus informed through one priority action for each of the SFDRR priorities.

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5. The Process: From Policy to Action
A fundamental premise of the Regional Research Strategy is to drive the research agenda fromglobal to regional, national and down to local levels. It lays down the approach to achieve thisthrough the following levels:
1. Regional Policy and Strategy Convergence– DBAR, Digital Earth, Future Earth, SFDRR Asia Plan
– Regional Level:
 Regional periodic Science Tech conference Recommendations into Ministerial Conference
 Periodic regional mapping Collaboration with other programs like Future Earth Decentralization, national plans, national and local capacities
2. National Level Planning– Strengthening national capacities– Pro-active participation in national platforms– National Science Technology Plan

3. Localisation and Capacity Building– Recognize Local Center of Excellence– Link local resource institute to local governments– Local multi stakeholder DRR platforms
While carrying this out, care must be taken that DRR is not purely an earth observation science,but also has elements of implementation technologies, processes, and indigenous knowledge
that are very important particularly in the DBAR region given the rich and long history andsocial elements of knowledge and experience within communities at risk. Learning from theDisaster Reduction Hyperbase experience of NIED, Japan, these three elements aremaintained as part of the guiding principles of the Regional Research Strategy, along with
Earth Observation data based approaches.

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6. Work Plan
Utilising the inputs from members of the group, and taking into account the deliberations of
the number of workshops and meetings held towards the formulation of the Regional
Research Strategy, a phased work plan has been developed as discussed below. The work
plan is formulated around the twelve priority actions identified for the theme, and is spread
across three phases – short, medium and long, extending to a period of ten years.
It is envisaged that immediate actions to be taken in the short term, extending up to three
years, are the critical ones for the current planning phase as they form the foundation of the
programme for the future, and need to include an intensive effort of reaching out and making
the membership and interest in the initiative strong across the region. During this phasevisible pilot activities also need to be carried out to test and establish the approach, and tocreate traction in the larger audience.

Phasing
Short-term(next 3 years)

Medium-term(upto 5 years)

Action 1
Enhance disaster loss anddamage accounting, national
and local disaster risk
assessment andcommunication of disaster risk

Action 2
Use space and disaster risk
mapping technologies andstrengthen the capacity

Action 9
Develop young professionals
in the field of multidisciplinary disaster risk
reduction
Action 7
Make DRR an area of focus
within education including
networking between
universities
Action 4
Strengthen science-policypractice nexus at all levels

Regional Research Strategy 2016 - 2019

Action 11
Develop an efficient andeffective cooperation among
the science community andbusiness sector by utilizing theadvancements of the fastdeveloping information andcommunication technology(ICT) including big data
Action 3
Strengthen regional exchange
on disaster risk informationand science
Action 5
Develop inter-disciplinary
national science andtechnology plans to support
implementation of the Sendai
Framework

Long-term(upto 10 years)
Action 8
Ensure risk-sensitive
investments
Action 12
Research into innovative
solutions to promote thewhole-of-society engagement
Action 10
Promote the role of interdisciplinary science andtechnology in effective predisaster planning,
preparedness, response,
rehabilitation, recovery andreconstruction to build backbetterAction 6
Enhance collaboration
between local governments,
academia and other partners
to promote local communities
knowledge and traditions andto sustain and replicate many
good practices that exist
locally for science-based
decision making

Page 17

Activities and Outputs
Planned activities and expected outputs for the short term phase of three years have beendeveloped in detail in tandem with the overall approach and phasing plan, and are illustrated
and described as below.

Year 1 (2016-17)

Year 2 (2017-18)

Year 3 (2018-19)

 Development of Regional
Research Platform Inception Consultative
Workshop Regional Research
Strategy Development
 Enhancing Capacities ofyoung researchers National Research
Strategy Development
 Second Consultative
Workshop Enhancing Capacities ofyoung researchers Specific country based
research projects

 Third Consultative
Workshop Enhancing Capacities ofyoung researchers Specific country based
research projects
 National Research
Platform

Outputs:
 DBAR Regional Research
Platform for DRR
 First Consultative
Workshop of Regional
Research Platform Regional Research
Strategy Enhanced capacities ofyoung scientists

Outputs:
 Second Consultative
Workshop of Regional
Research Platform National Research
Strategy Enhanced capacities ofyoung scientists
 Country based research
project

Outputs:
 Third Consultative
Workshop of Regional
Research Platform Enhanced capacities ofyoung scientists
 Country based research
project National researchplatform

Year 1 (August 2016 to March 2017):-

Development of Regional Research Platform: Selected eminent professionals,
practitioners and policy makers would be invited to join the DBAR-Disaster Regional
Research Platform.

-

Inception Consultative Workshop: DBAR-Disaster Regional Research Platform
members would be invited to the first consultative workshop to be in held in China.

-

Regional Research Strategy Development: Through several country consultations,regional research strategy would be developed.

-

Enhancing Capacities of young researchers: Training programs would be organized foryoung scientists and researchers. Training programs would be developed to coverdifferent priority areas of SFDRR.

Year 2 (April 2017 to March 2018)-

National Research Strategy Development: In conjunction with the members ofRegional Research Platform and trained young professionals and practitioners,
national research strategy would be formed in selected countries-

Second Consultative Workshop: Second consultative workshop of Regional Research
Platform members would be organized.

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-Enhancing Capacities of young researchers: Training programs would be organized foryoung scientists and researchers. Training programs would be developed to coverdifferent priority areas of SFDRR.

-

Specific country based research projects: Selected research projects would beselected for funding in selected countries. Research projects would be formulated in
the four priority areas of SFDRR.

Year 3 (April 2018 to March 2019)-

Third Consultative Workshop: Third consultative workshop of Regional Research
Platform members would be organized.

-

Enhancing Capacities of young researchers: Training programs would be organized foryoung scientists and researchers. Training programs would be developed to coverdifferent priority areas of SFDRR.

-

Specific country based research projects: Selected research projects would beselected for funding in selected countries. Research projects would be formulated in
the four priority areas of SFDRR.

-

National Research Platform: National research platform would be established toensure sustainability of the research projects and implementing national researchstrategies.

-

Cross-Cutting Activities
A number of cross cutting activities are also envisaged under the DBAR Disaster research
theme. These are described as follows:1.

Linkage with other parts of DBAR or other programs
Large amounts of DBAR-disaster related data exist today, they are typically dispersed
geographically and owned by various entities including government agencies,
research centers, groups and, sometimes, individuals, making them difficult to accessand utilise. To effectively apply and share the data and information, DBAR-Disasterwill connect to DBAR-Data group through the channels like CODATA LODGD.

2.

Managing Output Expectation and Deliverables
A large number of complex and interlinked activities and outputs have been planned. Inorder to manage these appropriately, the following mechanisms will be put in place: DBAR Regional Research Platform for DRR
 Serial Consultative Workshops of Regional Research Platform Implementation of Regional Research Strategy under the framework of DBAR
 Flagship capacity building program of young scientists under the framework of
DBAR

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3.

Connections/Contribution to DBAR Big Data Platform
In order to maintain a strong link with the DBAR Big Data Platform, DRR data
products in the Belt and Road for fire, flood, drought, landslide will be developed andmade available through DBAR Disaster initiative.
Some of the ongoing initiatives in the regard, that will be strengthened further, areillustrated as below.

Youth and Innovation
Co-Designing Disaster Risk Reduction Solutions
Partnership of science, Civil society, private Sector and UN

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7. Resource Prioritization and Mobilization
The survey carried out by IRDR under the Regional Research Strategy preparation process has
thrown light on the perceived challenges and resource requirements. A view of the nature ofresource requirements indicates a low dependence on financial resources vis-à-vis
government, legal, human and technical resources. This is of great significance for thefurtherance of the DBAR Disaster theme as it indicates that investment in government, legal,
human and technical resources through networking, capacity building and data based
collaboration can assist in achieving very significant gains even without very intensive financial
investments. Graded resource mobilisation and deployment strategies can therefore be
formulated subsequently in accordance with this.

Nature of Resource Requirement
Technical
Resources

Government/
legal Resources

Action 2

Action 3

Action 1

Priority 2

Action 4,
Action 5

Action 6

Priority 3

Action 7

Action 9

Priority 1

Priority 4

Action 10,
Action 11

Action 11

Human
Resources

Financial
Resources

Action 8
Action 12

Committed Resources
The DBAR Disaster theme related activities would be initially implemented jointly by CASTWAS SDIM, IRDR IPO, IRDR CHINA, ISDE, and RADI. DBAR Disaster partners will mobilise
additional resources through in-kind (expertise, equipment, travel to attend seminars andworkshops and other such support) and direct cash contributions in subsequent stages as
the work plan progresses.

Involvement of End-users, Engagement and Technology Transfer
User and stakeholder engagement is seen as a significant approach for resource mobilisation
under the strategy. As a way to achieve DBAR disaster strategic long-term objective, theworking group and implementing partners will work in close cooperation with relevant major
stakeholders, including:

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
United Nations Platform for Space‐based Information for Disaster Management andEmergency Response (UNSPIDER)

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





Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
CODATA Linked Open Data for Global Disaster Risk Research (LODGD)ICSU World Data System (WDS)The World Academy of Sciences-TYAN
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation-DATA (CSIRO-DATA)

8. Current Achievements and Next Steps
The significant achievements of the DBAR Disaster Working Group till the end of 2016 haveincluded a number of organizational and operational activities successfully completed, andthe next steps are related to the execution of the work plan, replication, and scaling up to theentire DBAR region. Some significant highlights of this are as listed below.











DBAR – Disaster (Risk) Research Working Group formed.
Integrated Digital and Social Vulnerability Research Support Programme launched in 4
countries to start with, namely Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The
programme will trigger country approaches via regional deliberations conducted in the
Working Group, and will pave the way for country science technology plans to be
developed and further taken down to sub country levels.
Regional Capacity Building Programme on Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction
launched, with 15 countries already covered towards the creation of a cadre of young
professionals. This will be extended substantially in the coming phases.
Annual Reports and event specific reports to be generated in accordance with the work
plan execution. Substantive report such as Regional Status Reports on the theme to betaken up in later stages.
Regional Research Programme to be launched on Asian Drought, covering climatechange, water, agriculture, urban water stress and such themes.
Regional coordinating capacity to be strengthened at IRDR, eventually aiming to reachout to all 60 DBAR countries.
Links with Civil Society to be strengthened immediately, to be extended withsubsequent efforts to engage with the private sector and media. Platform andfellowship exchange programme to be established, linking social sciences with theprogramme.

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Jointly Implemented by:Digital Belt and Road Initiative (DBAR)
Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR)International Programme Office (IPO)
IRDR China National Committee (IRDR CHINA)
Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI)
International Society for Digital Earth (ISDE)
CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence on Space Technology for Disaster Mitigation (SDIM)