Accidents, medical emergencies, and emergencies can happen at any time: at home, in the workplace, and for AHA Centre staff – during emergency response missions on the field. Realising this, the AHA Centre recognised the critical need for its staff to be adept in first aid. This led to the implementation of comprehensive First Aid and Safety Training programs, designed to empower staff members with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle medical emergencies effectively.

The Basic-Level First Aid and Safety Training was conducted on 4-5 October 2023 in Bogor, Indonesia. AHA Centre staff who had not received prior first aid training at the Centre were equipped with fundamental life support skills, including how to handle wounds, the usage of first aid kits, and procedures for Adult CPR and the utilisation of Automated External Defibrilators (AEDs). Participating staff also had the opportunity to practice workplace emergency protocols, including evacuation procedures and the usage of emergency response equipment.

For AHA Centre staff who had completed the Basic Level training in 2023, the Advanced Level course became the next step. This training proved crucial, given the often-challenging environments and situations that AHA Centre staff face during emergency response deployment. The Advanced Level training encompassed advanced techniques for managing life-threatening conditions and critical interventions, handling respiratory and circulatory emergencies, management of soft tissue injuries, head, brain, spinal injuries, abdominal injuries, fractures, and dislocations, and the usage of medical gases and advanced equipment for the transport of casualties.

The first aid and safety training courses underscore the AHA Centre’s commitment to ensuring that its staff are not just capable of carrying out disaster response but are also well-prepared to face emergencies. By investing in these trainings, the Centre also strives to enhance the capabilities, safety, and well-being of its valuable staff.

The First Aid Trainings for AHA Centre Staff are supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Written by: Gladys Respati | Photos by: AHA Centre

The AHA Centre, with the support of the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), organised a workshop on the Lessons Learned from Humanitarian Operations for the 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake in Turkiye and Syria on 18 and 19 September 2023 in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria on 6 February 2023 triggered an outpouring of international sympathy and support. A report from the United Nations News estimates that the earthquake resulted in more than 410,000 casualties, causing homelessness to 1.5 million people and more than USD 45 billion worth of damages. Considering the severity of the disaster’s impact, on 7 February 2023, the Government of Turkey announced that it would welcome international aid. As of 9 February 2023, more than 100 countries, including several ASEAN countries, i.e., Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, also mobilised their personnel and logistics support to Turkiye and Syria.

Such large-scale international humanitarian operations are infrequent. It offers a glimpse of how the global humanitarian system can work to support communities affected by disasters. Therefore, the workshop aimed, first, for ASEAN to learn first-hand the dynamics, challenges, and best practices in helping an affected state that is geographically far from the region. Second, to identify critical lessons from emergency response operations in Turkiye and Syria that can enhance ASEAN’s ability to respond as One beyond the region. This learning opportunity will shed light for ASEAN in manifesting One ASEAN One Response Declaration, which was signed in 2016 by the ASEAN Leaders, outlining ASEAN’s ambition to respond as one within and beyond the region and is also contributing to the goal of ASEAN as a global disaster management leader by 2025.

The two-day workshop brought together experts from ASEAN Dialogue Partners, such as Japan, Australia, India, the United States of America, and New Zealand, to share learning points from their humanitarian operations in Turkiye and Syria. In addition, the workshop also brought representatives from the ASEAN Member States (AMSs) who deployed humanitarian teams to Turkiye and Syria, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

The workshop’s first day focused on bringing participants to understand the common operational picture, challenges, and best practices of the response through a keynote speaker from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presentations from ASEAN Dialogue Partners and partner organisations, and panel discussions. The panel discussions were divided into lessons learned and coordination at the strategic and tactical/field levels. Discussion on the strategic level was shaped around crucial decision points in sending assistance, collaboration and coordination with the affected government and other assisting governments, and resource allocation.

Meanwhile, the tactical/field level scope discussed operational challenges to mobilise resources, mainly the deployment and operationalisation of the USAR and Disaster Response teams and coordination among the teams from different countries on the ground.

On the second day of the workshop, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the AMS and ASEAN Dialogue Partners and partner organisations, respectively, took place in parallel, focusing on how ASEAN can realise the vision of responding beyond the region. The AMS group, comprising representatives of the NDMOs and national USAR agencies, focused on identifying current capacities and mechanisms of ASEAN and its AMS that can be used to advance the OAOR vision. The FGD with AMS continued with a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) exercise, which guided the Group in identifying the strengths and weaknesses and broader opportunities and threats of realising ASEAN’s mission beyond the region.

In parallel, the second Group with ASEAN Dialogue Partners and partner organisations focused on identifying possible support that the partners can provide should ASEAN extend its humanitarian assistance to other regions. This perspective is expected to complement the discussion in Group 1 so that ASEAN can have a balanced understanding of what needs to be prepared moving forward.

The workshop resulted in several strategic and technical recommendations for ASEAN to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for ASEAN responding beyond the region. It further recommended exploring the development of a roadmap as part of the study for ASEAN to transform its capabilities for providing humanitarian support following a disaster outside the ASEAN region.

Written by: Grace Endina & Dipo Summa | Photos by: AHA Centre

The 18th Meeting of the AHA Centre Governing Board was held on 14 June 2023 in Da Nang, Viet Nam, as part of the 42nd Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM). Attended by the ACDM as Governing Board of the AHA Centre, the Meeting discussed the Centre’s progress and achievements in the period of October 2022 to May 2023.

During this period, the AHA Centre carried out emergency responses to Tropical Cyclone Nalgae in the Philippines, supported the Thailand Department of Disaster Prevention & Mitigation (DDPM) in conducting a drought assessment in four provinces in the Northeast Regions of Thailand, and provided humanitarian support to the people affected by Tropical Cyclone Mocha that made landfall in Myanmar.

As of May 2023, the AHA Centre had completed almost 50% of its annual plan for 2023. Key achievements made by the Centre during this period include enhancement of the ASEAN Disaster Information Laboratory (ADILab) and ASEAN Disaster Information Network (ADINet) platforms, the completion of the 14th ASEAN-ERAT Induction Course and ASEAN-ERAT Level 2 Courses on Humanitarian Logistics and Civil Military Coordination, and the release of the ‘At the Crossroads’ Podcast Season 2 in April 2023.

The AHA Centre also presented updates on completed and ongoing projects. The DELSA Phase III Project, which is supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) was completed in March 2023. Meanwhile, the ASEAN Standards and Certification for Experts in Disaster Management (ASCEND) project had successfully conducted the ASCEND Trial Simulation in November 2022 with the support of the Republic of Korea through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF).

The Meeting also included updates on the ongoing activities of the Integrated Programme in Enhancing the Capacity of AHA Centre and ASEAN Emergency Response Mechanisms (EU-SAHA) project, the project ‘Improving ASEAN’s Humanitarian Assistance Capacity in Multi Hazard’ funded by Global Affairs Canada, the Strengthening AHA Centre’s Capability to Respond Effectively to Human-Induced Crises Project (AHA -Australia) project, and the Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the AHA Centre for ASEAN Disaster Capacity Building Programme (SICAP) project supported by New Zealand.

The Meeting of the Governing Board of the AHA Centre holds great significance as it provides a platform for comprehensive discussions and assessments of the Centre’s progress and accomplishments. The AHA Centre is deeply appreciative of the guidance and support offered by the Governing Board in steering its efforts towards achieving its objectives. The AHA Centre is fully dedicated to furthering its mission and looks forward to continuing its efforts in supporting the ASEAN region’s disaster management efforts.

Written by: Gladys Respati | Photo by: VDDMA

One of the important exercise players during the ASEAN Regional Disaster Response Simulation Exercise (ARDEX-23) is the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT). As one of the region’s humanitarian actors, ASEAN-ERAT plays a significant role in supporting affected Member States during an emergency situation or in the event of a large-scale disaster.

In preparation for the deployment of ASEAN-ERAT to ARDEX-23, the AHA Centre organised the ASEAN-ERAT Refresher Course on 29-30 July 2023, with the aim to refresh knowledge and enhance the preparedness of ASEAN-ERAT members who will be deployed in the regional exercise. This 2-day course saw participation from ASEAN-ERAT members representing all 10 ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the AHA Centre.

In preparation for the deployment of ASEAN-ERAT to ARDEX-23, the AHA Centre organised the ASEAN-ERAT Refresher Course on 29-30 July 2023, with the aim to refresh knowledge and enhance the preparedness of ASEAN-ERAT members who will be deployed in the regional exercise. This 2-day course saw participation from ASEAN-ERAT members representing all 10 ASEAN Member States, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the AHA Centre.

Executive Director of the AHA Centre Mr. Lee Yam Ming highlighted the importance of the participation of ASEAN-ERAT members in ARDEX-23. It offers an invaluable opportunity for the Team to gain hands-on experience and learn in an environment that closely simulates real-life scenarios. “The course will also update ASEAN-ERAT members with the latest development of ASEAN disaster emergency response mechanism, tools, and recent deployment,” said Mr. Lee Yam Ming during the opening ceremony of the course.

Furthermore, Mr. Lee Yam Ming mentioned that during the refresher course, ASEAN-ERAT members will also have the opportunity to interact with the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC), enabling them to learn about the interoperability between ASEAN-ERAT and UNDAC. In many disaster situations on the ground, ASEAN-ERAT and UNDAC frequently work together to provide support to the affected country. “This course will strengthen the common understanding that will contribute towards better interoperability between these organisations when working together within the region,” he added.

With the support from Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and European Union Mission to ASEAN, this ASEAN-ERAT Refresher Course is designed with 20% theory and 80% hands-on learning, to enhance the capacities of ASEAN-ERAT Members in performing tasks, especially during the Table-top Exercise (TTX), Command Post Exercise (CPX) and Field Training/Simulation Exercise (FTX) in ARDEX-23. On 3 August 2023, ASEAN-ERAT members participated in the real CPX with the scenario of a 6.6 magnitude earthquake in Bantul, together with other exercise players of ARDEX-23.

Written by: Moch Syifa

Equipping Leaders for Effective Emergency Response

The ASEAN-ERAT Level 3 (Team Leader) Pilot Course was held in Bogor, Indonesia, from 8 to 15 May 2023 with the support of the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). Hosted by the Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB), the Pilot Course was attended by 11 experienced ASEAN-ERAT Members from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Viet Nam, and the AHA Centre.

Strengthening the ASEAN-ERAT System for Disaster Response

Since its establishment in 2008, the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) has been deployed to numerous emergency response missions across seven countries in the region. The team has played a pivotal role in providing leadership and coordination services during emergencies, contributing to ASEAN centrality in times of crisis.

In order to strengthen the ASEAN-ERAT system for disaster preparedness and response in line with the ASEAN Vision 2025, the ASEAN-ERAT personnel capacity-building has been focused at three levels: In-Country Team (Level 1), Specialist (Level 2), and Team Leader (Level 3). To achieve this, the AHA Centre has conducted several advanced courses, including rapid needs assessment, information management, humanitarian logistics, humanitarian civil-military coordination, and early recovery assessment.

The ASEAN-ERAT Level 3 (Team Leader) Pilot Course marks a significant milestone in the continuous strengthening of ASEAN-ERAT. As the frequency and severity of natural disasters in the region increase, the need for a well-trained and capable response team becomes ever more crucial. Thus, the ASEAN-ERAT Level 3 course aimed to develop experienced humanitarian response leaders with strong leadership skills who can assume authority and lead ASEAN response operations on the ground.

A customised course curriculum for Team Leaders was developed to address the specific needs and context of the ASEAN-ERAT. The curriculum focuses on teaching nine essential leadership traits, including Command and Control, Knowledge in Disaster Management, Negotiation Skills, Presentation Skills, Communication, Coordination, Reporting to the AHA Centre, and Financial Management.

Building Skills and Testing Leadership

At the Closing Ceremony of the ASEAN-ERAT Level 3 Pilot Course, Executive Director of the AHA Centre Mr. Lee Yam Ming congratulated the participants for being the first batch of ASEAN-ERAT Members to be trained as future Team Leaders. He expressed his hope that participants would continue to lend their strength to the ASEAN-ERAT within and beyond the ASEAN region. “Not only by responding to the call for deployment and leading ASEAN-ERAT in the field, but by also guiding and nurturing future ERAT Team Leaders and Members as role models and mentors,” he added.

Participants of the ASEAN-ERAT Level 3 (Team Leader) Pilot Course themselves found the course to be a great opportunity to gain new skills and prepare for the realities of leading a team on the field. “The best thing is that there is a lot of emphasis and focus on the soft skills element of leadership,” said Ihsan Fauzano, an ASEAN-ERAT Member from Indonesia who participated in the Pilot Course. “We learned communication, negotiation, decision making, team dynamics, delegating. And for the last 3 days, we learned stress management and time management during the Simulation Exercise.”

Dr. Janaki Rani, an ASEAN-ERAT Batch 8 member from Malaysia, added that the training of ASEAN-ERAT Team Leaders is crucial to ensure a successful mission. “The outcome of the mission would be better when we train leaders who are capable of handling the entire team, produce good reports, and can give good information that helps the AHA Centre and affected Member States to make good decisions, leading to an effective disaster response,” said Dr. Janaki.

The ASEAN-ERAT Level 3 (Team Leader) Pilot Course represents a significant step in strengthening the ASEAN-ERAT’s ability to respond effectively to natural disasters. By developing competent and experienced team leaders, ASEAN-ERAT aims to enhance its coordination and leadership services during emergencies. The course not only equips participants with essential skills and knowledge but also fosters a network of capable leaders who will guide and nurture future ASEAN-ERAT team members. With continued support from partners and a commitment to continuous improvement, ASEAN-ERAT is well-positioned to meet the challenges posed by the increasing occurrence of natural disasters in the region.

Written by: Gladys Respati, Madiatri Silalahi, Anggaripeni Mustikasiwi | Photo credit: AHA Centre

On 12-14 September 2022, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) organised the 2nd Meeting and Workshop of the AHA Centre Information Management Network (AIM-Net) in Jakarta, Indonesia. Twenty-three (23) representatives of the National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) of the ASEAN Member States (AMS) took part in the workshop, which was facilitated by the AHA Centre, Leveraging ASEAN Capacities for Emergency Response (LACER) Project, and Pacific Disaster Center (PDC).

Following up on the 1st AIM-Net Meeting held in February 2021, the 2nd AIM-Net Meeting and Workshop aimed to review the prioritised objectives of the AIM-Net Work Plan, familiarise participants with the AHA Centre Work Plan and the ICT Roadmap and their connection with the AIM-Net Work Plan, and finalise the AIM-Net Work Plan 2025 for Disaster Information Management (DIM) and Information Systems Interoperability (ISI).

AIM-Net is supported by the European Union through the EU-ASEAN Integrated Programme in Enhancing the Capacity of AHA Centre and ASEAN Emergency Response Mechanisms, known as EU-SAHA.

Representing the European Union Mission to ASEAN, Program Manager for Climate Change, Mr. Muammar Vebry, conveyed his optimism that the workshop could serve as a platform to coordinate and strengthen Disaster Information Management capabilities and Information Systems Interoperability between the ASEAN Member States, and strengthen the ties between the EU and ASEAN. “EU-SAHA, in a way, has managed to bring our two regions closer – conceptually, in terms of our approach, and in terms of our collaboration,“ he added.

At the meeting’s opening session, Executive Director of the AHA Centre Mr. Lee Yam Ming highlighted the importance of information management in disaster response. “Data and information are the bases of decisions that enable effective and efficient disaster management and facilitate appropriate and timely emergency response,” said Mr. Yam Ming. “In order to ensure well-informed and prompt decision-making, such data and information must be available, of quality, and accessible.”

However, among the ASEAN NDMOs there is a wide spectrum of technical capacities and capabilities on Disaster Information Management (DIM) and Information Systems Interoperability (ISI). Hence, ensuring the availability, quality, and accessibility of core datasets for disaster management and emergency response remains a challenge for ASEAN.

Against this backdrop, the AIM-Net was established to be a regional forum where the Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) of NDMOs and the AHA Centre can coordinate and cooperate in strengthening capacities, capabilities, and practices on Disaster Information Management and Information Systems Interoperability.

“There is definitely homework to create and ensure the sustainability of disaster information management in our beloved ASEAN region,” said Dr. Raditya Jati, Deputy Minister of System and Strategy of the National Disaster Management Authority of Indonesia (Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana – BNPB) and AIM-Net Co-Chair, “and that homework is to accomplish better together as One Community, One ASEAN, and One Response.”

During the workshop, AIM-Net Focal Points worked on refining the Network’s Work Plan, including its objectives, list of activities, timeline, and resources required, both in Disaster Information Management and Information Systems Interoperability. From this point, the AHA Centre will consolidate all inputs, refine the draft, and finally circulate the Work Plan to the ASEAN Committee for Disaster Management (ACDM) for finalisation and approval.

The workshop also marked the end of Indonesia and the Philippines’ Co-Chairmanship of AIM-Net, who had successfully led the Network through the 1st and 2nd AIM-Net Meetings and left the Network with the legacy of the AIM-Net Terms of Reference (ToR), ASEAN Disaster Information Management Strategic Framework, and the AIM-Net Work Plan. The Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF) and NDMO Lao PDR will now assume leadership of AIM-Net until 2023.

Mrs. Deniece Krizia Manding-Ballesteros, AIM-Net Co-Chair from the Philippines National Risk Reduction and Management Council – Office of Civil Defense (NDRRMC-OCD), commended the participants for the fruitful workshop and expressed her hopes for the future of AIM-Net. “With the success of this activity, I hope we will keep the same energy, commitment, enthusiasm, and level of participation for the next activities of AIM-Net until 2025 or further. I have confidence that the next AIM-Net co-chairs, NDMO Lao PDR and SCDF Singapore will guide the network for the realisation of these goals and activities,” she said.

The three-day event concluded with a visit to the Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) of BNPB and the AHA Centre, which facilitated the sharing of knowledge and experience in disaster information management. The 3rd AIM-Net Meeting is targeted to be held in 2023, and will include a workshop on DIM and ISI, training needs assessment, and study visit of the host country’s EOC.

Written by: Gladys Respati | Photo credit: AHA Centre

In July 2019, I was instructed by my internship supervisor at the time to visit the AHA Centre office at the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) Headquarters in Jakarta. I had never heard about the AHA Centre and didn’t know much about the disaster management field beforehand. I was impressed by the big screens lining up on the wall in a room, which I learned was the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) room at the AHA Centre office. Nevertheless, learning about the AHA Centre’s roles and functions sparked my enthusiasm for disaster management and humanitarian assistance works. As I was leaving the AHA Centre office, I said to myself that: “One day, I will work here”. And so, that was how it started.

My name is Alifia Putri Rahmadewi (Fia). I majored in International Relations at Padjadjaran University, Bandung, Indonesia. After my unforgettable visit to the AHA Centre, I finished my previous internship to continue my studies. A few days after I graduated, I joined the AHA Centre as an intern. For me, joining the AHA Centre internship programme was the best decision as it was a very fruitful experience and provided a positive contribution towards my self-development journey.

I was selected to be part of the ASEAN Standards and Certification for Experts in Disaster Management (ASCEND) Project Management Team (PMT), joining Andrew Mardanugraha as the Project Coordinator, Ririn Haryani as the Project Officer and Haura Mayang as Project Assistant. The ASCEND project focuses on developing disaster management standards and certification for disaster management professions in the ASEAN region. Although I had a basic knowledge of disaster management in ASEAN before, I had less understanding of the professional certification process in this field of work. Luckily, the ASCEND project team members were always willing to share any subject matters related to the Project and their experiences working as humanitarian workers that I was keen to learn.

One of my primary tasks was to develop a pre-departure handbook for the Benchmark Study to South Korea that is planned to take place in 2022. The team always encouraged me to challenge myself to elevate my skills and open up my knowledge horizon. Indeed I was challenged, but on the other hand, I was also given the freedom to develop the handbook’s contents and take care of the design. Not only did this task teach me the difference between disaster management in ASEAN and the Republic of Korea, but it also sharpened my skills in writing and layouting a publication, and I even gained new design software skills. With full support from the ASCEND PMT, I was able to finish the handbook with a satisfactory outcome by the end of my internship this early February 2022.

The ASCEND team always included me in official meetings, workshops, and other events. From there, I learned a lot about ASEAN, starting from its administrative system, bureaucratic system, and practices that I didn’t get in college. Because the Project is still in its early stage, I had a chance to learn a lot about project management, from planning, implementation to evaluation, as my team always included me in Project activities.

I was also included in training and courses held for the staff of the AHA Center. I remember having disaster management and humanitarian assistance courses with the AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme participants. They are all experienced in their field, and sharing the same platform was an honour. I also participated in content writing training which enhanced my writing skill and is beneficial for my future career development.

Overall, an internship at the AHA Centre is an excellent experience. The working environment was positive and supportive towards the intern’s self-development and growth. Interns have many opportunities to channel their capabilities while gaining new ones. For me, a fresh graduate who is interested in the disaster management and humanitarian assistance line of work, an internship at the AHA Centre was very inspiring and now can become a gateway to many opportunities for my future endeavours.

Written by: Alifia Putri Rahmadewi | Photo Credit: doc. Alifia Putri Rahmadewi

The online learning component for Batch Seven of the ACE Programme will soon come to an end, having covered a vast range of disaster management-related skills and information. Before I share more about the highlights of the course thus far, let me introduce myself. I am Sheedy Bin Sies, Staff Officer for Operations Resources in the Logistics Department of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to be part of the ACE Programme.

When we first began this journey with the ACE Programme in July 2021, the four-month online learning phase seemed absolutely daunting to all of us. Due to the ongoing global pandemic that prevented us from attending the course face-to-face in Jakarta, we had to adapt to the “new normal” of learning in the online environment. It was difficult to get excited about the prospect of staring at a computer screen for many hours of lessons. Little did we think how quickly time would pass during the programme. With the highly engaging and interactive lessons, and the creative activities conducted by our course administrators, the months flew by and now we are approaching the final days of the online learning component.

Overall, the ACE Programme has broadened my views on disaster management. For example, I am now more aware of sustainability, gender and inclusivity, and other cross-cutting issues to consider when implementing emergency plans or responses. These are several of the aspects to which I will pay more attention in local SCDF operations, as well as in the context of the regional response. I have also improved my communications skills during this programme. Being exposed to people with different backgrounds, areas of specialty and communication styles, has emphasized the need to speak clearly, using terminology that will be easily understood by everyone.

One of the courses that I found to be very enlightening was System and Design Thinking in Disaster Management, which was presented in partnership with the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies. This course emphasized the importance of fully analysing the situation before proposing solutions, especially when faced with novel challenges. Through the use of Causal Loop development, we learnt to determine the relationships between the various components in a problem and to visualise how they affect one another.

Another course that I thought was highly applicable to us was the Project Management and Proposal Writing course facilitated by RedR Australia. This course equipped us with the tools needed to fully analyse a problem, identify suitable objectives of the project, and create a logical framework to lay out the project design in a systematic way. A key aspect of this course was the group project proposal assignment. This assignment gave us the experience of developing a full project proposal based on a case study, with the valuable guidance of our facilitators. This helped us to refine our thought process in developing a project proposal such that the project will be results-focused and consider accountability, sustainability, protection and inclusion. The lessons learnt in this course will certainly be valuable to us, as a good project proposal is essential in getting buy-in from our stakeholders to approve and support any of our future projects.

The courses that we have undertaken during the online learning phase have indeed been well planned and designed to help us build the foundations that we need to become effective future leaders in disaster management. However, above all, one aspect that I have appreciated the most is the valuable contributions of my fellow ACE Programme participants. During the numerous discussions throughout the programme, they have openly shared their past experiences in various areas of disaster management. These have given me valuable insights into the challenges faced by the various countries, as well as the best practices in overcoming them. I have also been impressed by the wealth of ideas they have presented during the many activities and presentations that we had during the programme. The ACE Programme participants have made me realise that our dedicated pool of disaster-management practitioners is the best asset that we have in building a disaster-ready and disaster-resilient ASEAN.

Written by: Muhammad Sheedy bin Sies, ACE Programme Batch Seven – Singapore|  Photo Credit : Muhammad Sheedy bin Sies

As Mattie Stepanek once said, “Unity is strength. When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved”. This is the perfect quote that I think of when we talk about this year’s AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme. Being chosen to join this programme was truly an honor, not only for me but for all the participants. Not everyone working in the field of disaster management gets to be part of this rare opportunity to learn and collaborate with some of the greatest minds in the field, and for that I am very privileged and thankful.

Though the methodology is quite different from previous batches, the AHA Centre still manages to deliver a comprehensive and effective training package for the ACE Programme’s Batch Seven. Aside from all relevant knowledge and information taught to us about disaster management in general, the programme has also introduced us to a variety of new online platforms that make the programme more exciting and interesting.

The ACE Programme is very important for me not only in terms of courses and learning but also in terms of collaboration. It has helped strengthen the partnership of all ASEAN member states to understand the vision of “One ASEAN, One Response” which was thoroughly discussed during our ASEAN Disaster Management Mechanism Course. The course further deepened our knowledge of the ASEAN Charter Principles, how the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response reflects its operational strategy, the core functions of the AHA Centre, and the different regional coordination tools. It also familiarized us with the interoperability or alignment between the AHA Centre disaster-management mechanisms and the various national mechanisms.

True to the ACE Programme theme of “Preparing Future ASEAN Leaders in Disaster Management”, our lectures and courses prepare us not only to become effective leaders in disaster management but also to be contributors and key players in our respective countries’ disaster-resiliency initiatives. The Project Management Course with the learning objective to build and strengthen our competency to design, plan and monitor projects, helped us to enhance our project-management skills that will be very useful for us. Our individual project proposals, as one of our major requirements to finish the programme, will enable us to push ourselves to the best of our limits. This will serve as the application of what we have learned from our previous courses and information sharing. Through the project proposal, the ACE Programme allows us to practice one of the most important roles of a disaster-management leader, to be a project manager who can plan, propose and implement.

Moreover, I really liked the fact that we all get to share our best practices, knowledge, skills and experiences with one another. From the interactive and thought-provoking sessions to the simple discussions and sharing of experiences, I can say that so far this has been a great learning experience and I believe that all of it will help me in my career as a disaster-management professional. I also feel fortunate to have met friends and professionals like me who share the same passion for disaster management.

And as we continue in our ACE Programme journey for the next couple of months, we will undertake all the remaining courses of the programme. Certainly, there will be heaps of future challenges, new experiences and things to learn. I know it will not be easy, but I know that these courses will help us attain the four core competencies that we need to embody as ACE Programme graduates namely, expertise in humanitarian assistance; collaboration in humanitarian assistance; being result-oriented; and effective leadership. With the continued support and encouragement of the AHA Centre, especially the ACE Programme organisers, I know all Batch Seven participants will continue to strive to be the best. We will continue soaring high and dreaming big as a result of the positive results and outcomes of this programme. We know all our hard work and sacrifices will somehow contribute to the disaster resiliency not only of our respective countries but also for the whole of the ASEAN region.

Written by: Nova Eloiza, ACE Programme Batch Seven – the Philippines |  Photo Credit : Nova Eloiza Ybañez

I have been working as a paramedic since 2012 with the Emergency Medical Ambulance Services, the Ministry of Health, Brunei Darussalam. In 2015, I was selected as an ambulance commander to lead the emergency-response teams during Brunei’s 33rd National Day. I was then promoted to paramedic training officer and professional development in 2018 and was given greater responsibility to take care of all the paramedics nationwide in terms of their training and competency levels. On top of that, I have worked in high-pressure environments in life-threatening emergency situations, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, I have also collaborated and worked closely with academic institutions and agencies in Brunei to expand and promote learning opportunities in paramedic education for our future generations. I hope to deliver my very best virtually in the ACE Programme in the context of capacity building and adopting best practices in disaster management.

When I was told about joining Batch Seven of the ACE Programme, I honestly did not know what it was all about until emails began to arrive in my inbox. I was told it was a good opportunity for me to learn about leadership in disaster management in ASEAN countries but I was still uncertain about it. Good thoughts came later and I asked myself “why not?” To me, the ACE Programme is a selective and prestigious programme that any future leader should appreciate. As a result of the training, I am able to maximise my understanding into becoming an effective future leader.

We are now in our eighth week of the ACE Programme and let me tell you, it has been a roller coaster ride for all of us since Day One. So far, we have covered lessons/modules on English communication in disaster management (ECDM); critical incident leadership (CIL); gender, resilience, inclusion and diversity (GRID); the international humanitarian system and ASEAN disaster mechanisms and there is lots more to come. The learning approach is different in comparison with previous ACE Programmes due to the pandemic and there has not been any physical contact yet among us.

So far, it has been a successful and exciting journey as we are using adult learning methodologies in a safe learning environment and utilising online techniques to maximise our learning capacity despite the challenges faced along the way. This blended learning practice is equally as engaging as face-to-face sessions. We have learnt so much from disaster experts and we have yet to find ourselves and to create our own leadership identity through this programme. On top of that, we are also learning through real life experiences from colleagues in other ASEAN Member States who are in the same boat as we are. Indeed, experience is a great teacher.

I am very grateful to everyone who has been involved in the ACE Programme, and it is very true that this is a golden experience for the future leaders of tomorrow in disaster management. Following up on what I have said, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the ACE Programme partners, JAIF as the main funder of this programme, as well as the support from the New Zealand Government, United States Government, United Nations partners, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, GNS Science, AADMER Partnership Group, RedR Australia, the United States Forest Service, academic institutions: MIIS, AIM and APCSS. And most importantly, the AHA Centre for making this happen and possible in preparing us to master various aspects of disaster management.

We still have to soldier on until April 2022. I really hope that travel may be permitted in the near future and I will be able meet my fellow ACE family members face-to-face to continue learning and supporting each other. I am also looking forward to building and strengthening my networks and collaborating with other people from different backgrounds in disaster management.

To me, this is just the beginning and every day is a learning experience. I wish all the best to the other warriors! And I hope the COVID-19 pandemic will be over soon so we can meet each other in the near future. Cheers!

Written by: Noor Hazmah Rosli, ACE Programme Batch Seven- Brunei Darussalam  |  Photo Credit : Noor Hazmah Rosli