The 19th Meeting of the AHA Centre Governing Board was held on 10 October 2023 as part of the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) and related meetings in.

During the meeting, the AHA Centre briefed the meeting on the implementation progress of the AHA Centre’s 2023 Work Plan. As of September 2023, the Centre had completed 87% of the main activities planned for 2023 and was projected to achieve a 97% completion rate by the end of the year.

The activities reported to the Governing Board within the period of May to September 2023 include Disaster Monitoring and Analysis and dissemination of disaster information products, the 3rd AHA Centre Information Management Network (AIM-Net) meeting, the ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Exercise (ARDEX-23), the 3rd Workshop on the ASEAN Joint Disaster Response Plan (AJDRP), and the Workshop on the Presentation of Initial Findings of the ASEAN Capacity Building Impact Study and Transition to the Roadmap Development Plan, and the ASEAN Disaster Management Week.

Within the ASCEND project framework, the AHA Centre reported the successful organisation of several key activities, namely the Training of ASCEND Master Assessors, Review of ASCEND Competency Standards, 2nd Benchmarking Visit to the Republic of Korea, and Review of the ASCEND Framework.

The AHA Centre reported 2 (two) disaster responses conducted during the reporting period: first, the response to Tropical Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar from May to June 2023, and second, the response to the Combined Effects of the Southwest Monsoon, Tropical Cyclone Doksuri and Tropical Cyclone Khanun in the Philippines in July 2023.

Furthermore, from May to September 2023 the AHA Centre had organised a total of 30 (thirty) events and knowledge exchanges, in addition to 7 (seven) exercises and training courses focused on disaster management.

The AHA Centre expresses its deepest gratitude to the Governing Board for its invaluable guidance and support, which have been essential in achieving the objectives set for the year. The AHA Centre reaffirms its commitment to supporting the enhancement of ASEAN’s disaster management capacity, underscoring its dedication to advancing the region’s resilience and preparedness against disasters.

Written by: Gladys Respati | Photos by: AHA Centre

The 4th One ASEAN One Response Roadshow (OAOR) was held in Penang, Malaysia on 4 September 2023, with more than 150 participants involved. The roadshow is a platform for the exchange of related questions and the challenges on the adoption of the OAOR vision with relevant stakeholders, particularly in Malaysia.

It is important to raise awareness of the operationalisation of One ASEAN One Response among the stakeholders in the ASEAN region as they must have a firm grasp of the regional mechanisms and their respective roles. By having the same understanding, this will help enable seamless coordination, resource optimisation, and effective response strategies across different levels.

The Executive Director of the AHA Centre Mr. Lee Yam Ming emphasised that OAOR is designed as a knowledge sharing among the stakeholders from the national, regional and international levels. Understanding that during the emergency responses, good coordination from different sectors is essential. “One ASEAN One Response envisions to foster a strong bond of humanitarians and stakeholders from different sectors, to respond to disasters as One with increased speed, scale, and solidarity,” he added during the opening speech.

One ASEAN One Response itself is an open and inclusive platform using ASEAN’s mechanisms at its core. Therefore, having divers and different stakeholders involved in this spirit will help increase the effectiveness of humanitarian response, particularly in the region.

Mr. Lee Yam Ming added that one of the tangible actions in operationalising One ASEAN One Response is during the conduct of ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Exercise (ARDEX) 2023 held in Yogyakarta in August 2023. More than 180 players from the ASEAN Member States and over 500 national and local players joined the regional exercise to test the harmony of national, regional, and international mechanisms, including the ASEAN SASOP. “Malaysia also participated in the ARDEX-23 exercise and showcased not only their understanding of the regional mechanism but also their technical expertise in Search and Rescue operations,” he added.

Supported by the European Union Mission to ASEAN, One ASEAN One Response Roadshow in Malaysia was attended by various stakeholders, including partners from the United Nations. During the session, AHA Centre, ASEAN Secretariat, UN OCHA, and National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) of Malaysia had the opportunity to present their roles and mechanisms during the emergency situation.

One ASEAN One Response Roadshow is a regular event co-organised by AHA Centre and ASEAN Member States as a platform for knowledge sharing from different actors and stakeholders as well as familiarising the ASEAN mechanism during emergencies.

Written by: Moch Syifa | Photos by: NADMA Malaysia, Penang State Government

On 14 May 2023, Tropical Cyclone MOCHA made landfall in the state of Rakhine, Myanmar, boasting wind speeds of up to 250km/h equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. In its aftermath, a total of 17 townships in Rakhine and an additional 4 in Chin state were designated as Natural Disaster-affected areas, with damages to buildings, roads, and bridges estimated to be worth USD 1.5 million¹.

To support the people of Myanmar affected by Tropical Cyclone MOCHA, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) facilitated the deployment of the ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) to conduct a rapid needs assessment and facilitate the delivery of relief items to communities in need.

From their assessment of the regions of Sittwe, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun, and Kyauktaw, the ASEAN-ERAT pinpointed three sectors as top priorities for humanitarian needs: Food, Shelter and Non-food items, and Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH).
As of 28 June 2023, the AHA Centre has mobilised more than USD 1.6 million worth of relief items from the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) warehouse in Subang, Malaysia, in the form of jerry cans, shelter repair kits, toolkit shelters, tarpaulins, family tents, kitchen sets, water filtration devices, mosquito nets, family kits, and hygiene kits. These provisions are set to be distributed by Myanmar authorities to the communities most affected by Tropical Cyclone MOCHA.

The mobilisation of ASEAN relief items and ASEAN-ERAT represent the tangible solidarity of the people of ASEAN for the people of Myanmar affected by Tropical Cyclone MOCHA. AHA Centre’s steadfast response also underscores ASEAN’s commitment to regional solidarity in the spirit of ‘One ASEAN One Response’, ensuring that no Member State faces hardship alone.

¹SITUATION UPDATE No. 9 – TROPICAL CYCLONE MOCHA, Myanmar – 30 May 2023,
https://ahacentre.org/situation-update/situation-update-no-9-tropical-cyclone-mocha-myanmar-30-may-2023/

Written by: Gladys Respati | Photo by: AHA Centre

Hundreds of disaster management and humanitarian actors from 10 ASEAN Member States and other countries gathered in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, to witness the biggest disaster emergency response simulation exercise in the region, namely ARDEX.

ARDEX is the only regional exercise platform that tests and validates disaster management tools to improve preparedness and readiness for One ASEAN One Response. The results of the 3-day exercise acted as the catalyst for improvements and changes to many of these processes, including updating and refining the Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP). ARDEX-23 also presented the opportunity to engage bodies from both outside the direct disaster management scope, as well as outside the region, to further understand and increase implementation capacity of ASEAN disaster management process and practice, a particularly important element for efficient responses to large-scale disasters.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community H.E. Ekkaphab Phanthavong highlighted three important points aspects of ARDEX. First, ARDEX is crucial as it showcases that ASEAN is ablilitye to operate collectively as one in the event of a large-scale disaster in the region. Second, ARDEX is also vital for to testing all the components and elements in the ASEAN SOPs, including the role of the ASEAN Secretary-General of ASEAN as the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator or SG-AHAC. “Lastly, ARDEX is indeed useful in demonstrating the ASEAN solidarity to our global partners. It offers our partners the opportunity to witness the ASEAN collective response as well as to understand the ASEAN disaster management mechanism,” he said during the opening ceremony of ARDEX-23.

The Special Region of Yogyakarta was chosen as the location of ARDEX-23 as this region previously experienced a 6.5M earthquake in 2006 caused by the Opak Fault. By having ARDEX-23 in Yogyakarta, it is expected to also enhance the local and national capacity in the preparedness and response in case of a large-scale disaster hit in the area. “Yogyakarta also has its local wisdoms and experiences in managing disasters. This [ARDEX] will be a good opportunity to share these experiences with the ASEAN Member States,” added Head of the Indonesian National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto in his opening speech.

Through ARDEX, he added, Indonesia and the ASEAN Member States is able to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and good practices on disaster management. It is also expected to build a foster coordination between civil and military entities in responding to disasters and to build solidarity under the spirit of One ASEAN One Response.

ARDEX-23 was conducted on 1-3 August 2023 with a combination of both strategic and tactical components, with the simulation exercise including indoor tabletop exercise (TTX) discussions between decision makers, in parallel with outdoor command post exercises (CPX) and joint field training exercises (FTX) for humanitarian responders. The scenario of ARDEX-23 is a 6.6 magnitude earthquake with the epicentre in Bantul, Yogyakarta. Over 180 players, planners, referees, and observers from 10 ASEAN Member States and partners of the AHA Centre participated, and with more than 500 participants from local and national levels involved in the exercise.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia H.E. Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Effendi, Head of BNPB Indonesia Lieutenant General TNI Suharyanto, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community H.E. Ekkaphab Phantavhong, representatives from the 10 ASEAN Member States, partners, and participants from local and national levels.

ARDEX-23

•  Held in Yogyakarta, 1-3 August 2023
•  Scenario of M6.6 Bantul earthquake
•  180 participants from ASEAN Member States and partners of the AHA Centre
•  500+ participants from local and nantional levels
•  Second ARDEX hosted by Indonesia after ARDEX-18 in Cilegon, Banten 2018

Written by: Moch Syifa, Gladys Respati | Photo by: AHA Centre

The Final Exercise Planning Team (EPT) Meeting and Referee Training for the ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise 2023 (ARDEX-23) recently took place from 8 to 11 May 2023 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Hosted by the National Disaster Management Authority of Indonesia (BNPB) and the AHA Centre, as co-organisers, the Final EPT Meeting served as a continuation of the First EPT Meeting held in February 2023. During this gathering, the ASEAN Member States, BNPB Indonesia, AHA Centre, ASEAN Secretariat, and other stakeholders convened to solidify the Master Scenario Events List (MSEL), determine the level of participation from ASEAN Member States, establish the exercise control team structure, and make necessary logistics arrangements. These crucial elements are vital to ensuring the success of ARDEX-23, as they lay the foundation for effective coordination and response during the exercise. Held on 8-9 May 2023, the Meeting was officially opened by Deputy Minister of Logistics and Equipment of BNPB Indonesia Dr. Lilik Kurniawan, ST., M.Si.

Following the EPT Meeting, on 10-11 May a Referee Training session was conducted to define the roles and responsibilities of referees, and to standardise the evaluation process, and equip Referees with the necessary tools and provided with guidance to fulfil their tasks effectively, guaranteeing a seamless exercise. The Referees will play a crucial role during ARDEX-23, closely observing the exercise at both the Strategic and Operational Levels in order to gain insights that will serve as valuable references and planning parameters for future ARDEX exercises.

With the goal of testing and evaluating ASEAN’s emergency response and disaster management mechanisms, ARDEX is a full-scale simulation exercise that aims to enhance regional coordination and strengthen disaster resilience. The event, scheduled to be held from 31 July to 4 August 2023 at the Sultan Agung Stadium in Bantul, is expected to mark another significant milestone in the ASEAN calendar. Supported by the European Union through EU-SAHA, ARDEX-23 is poised to reinforce national and regional preparedness while facilitating a collaborative response to disaster emergencies.

ARDEX-23 holds significant importance in strengthening national, regional, and international coordination to achieve disaster resilience. Through the comprehensive testing, practising, reviewing, and evaluating of ASEAN’s emergency response and disaster management mechanisms, including the SOPs for the Coordination of EMTs, MNCC, and the ASEAN Militaries Ready Group on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (AMRG on HADR), this regional exercise aims to enhance coordination capacity and preparedness. ARDEX exercises, which are conducted regularly every two years, have become key events in the ASEAN calendar and continue to contribute to the region’s disaster resilience efforts.

With ARDEX-23 on the horizon, the AHA Centre, BNPB Indonesia, ASEAN Member States, and stakeholders are gearing up to prepare for this vital regional exercise. As ARDEX continues to evolve, it reinforces the importance of preparedness and collaboration in effectively handling disaster emergencies in the ASEAN region and beyond.

Written by: Moch Syifa, Gladys Respati | Photo credits: AHA Centre

Every year, disasters triggered by natural and non-natural hazards affect millions of people globally. As one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world, ASEAN is particularly vulnerable. From 2015 to 2021, 104.2 million people¹, or about one in four people in the region, were affected by disasters. Meanwhile, the total economic loss suffered by ASEAN Member States during this period reached a staggering US$11.1 billion.

However, the impact of these disasters can be lessened through systematic efforts to identify, assess, and reduce the causal factors of disasters. This is known as Disaster Risk Reduction or DRR in short. Disaster Risk Reduction itself is part of Disaster Management, which the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) defines as “the organisation, planning and application of measures preparing for, responding to and recovering from disasters².”

The complexity of disasters and their wide-ranging effects mean that the cooperation of multiple stakeholders is vital to disaster management. Over the years, ASEAN and the AHA Centre have had the privilege of partnering with a wide range of governments, institutions, and organisations. These partnerships have played valuable roles, ranging from direct financial support, bringing in skilled professionals to provide key technical inputs, to partnerships based on knowledge sharing and capacity building.

To sustain these partnerships and enhance awareness of national and regional activities related to disaster management and risk reduction, the ASEAN Ministers responsible for disaster management designated 13 October as the ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (ADDM), which is observed jointly with the UN’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).

This year’s ADDM celebration took place on 20 October in Bangkok at the margins of the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) and 10th COP to AADMER. The theme of ADDM 2022, “Stronger Together in Balancing Action to Enhance Localisation for Disaster Resilience,” dovetails with target G of the Sendai Framework that aims to increase access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people.

In his remarks, AMMDM Chair General Anupong Paochinda emphasised that “the themes of ADDM and IDDRR this year call for collaboration and support from all sectors in making our local communities resilient by equipping them with disaster risk information, early warning system, and means of disaster preparedness.’’

The AHA Centre supports ASEAN Member States in this endeavour through one of its core functions, namely disaster information management. Utilising the ASEAN Disaster Monitoring and Response System (DMRS), the Centre works with Member States to monitor hazards, collect, analyse, and disseminate key relevant information to support disaster management.

The AHA Centre also disseminates information on a regular basis to the public, through Flash Updates and Situation Updates during emergency times, as well as Weekly Disaster Updates and the Monthly Disaster Outlook and Review in non-emergency times. Additionally, in May 2022, ASEAN launched the Framework on Anticipatory Action in disaster management, that will guides the ASEAN Member States in implementing anticipatory action in disaster risk management (DRM) at the regional, national, and local scale through joint regional efforts.

To become a truly disaster-resilient region, going forward, it will become increasingly important for ASEAN and its partners to synergise regional and global efforts in disaster management that not only target institutions, but also communities and individuals at the local level.

¹  Based on ADINet records from reports from NDMOs and official information sources.
²  https://www.undrr.org/terminology/disaster-management

Written by: Gladys Respati | Photo credits: DDPM Thailand, AHA Centre

On 16 December 2021, Typhoon Rai (known as Odette in the Philippines) made landfall on Siargao Island in southeastern Philippines, leaving a devastating trail of debris and human casualties in its wake. More than 3 million persons were affected by the disaster, resulting in the over 250 deaths while another 568 persons were injured and 47 reported missing.

The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) immediately responded to the crisis by mobilising ASEAN relief items stockpiled at the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA) Satellite Warehouse in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, the Philippines. This mobilisation aimed to augment the government’s ongoing efforts to help people affected by Typhoon Rai (Odette) in the Philippines.

A total of 541 shelter repair kits, 275 family tents, 5,000 family kits, 1,000 rolls of tarpaulin, 5,000 personal hygiene kits, and 1,000 kitchen sets were delivered with the support of the Government of Japan through the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and Direct Relief. Facilitated by the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) of the Philippines, the ASEAN relief items were transported to the regions severely affected by Typhoon Rai (Odette), namely the provinces of Surigao, Cebu, and Bohol.

In the Letter of Condolences sent to Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines, Secretary-General (SG) of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi highlighted that the ASEAN stood ready to support the on-going humanitarian and disaster-relief efforts. SG Dato Lim stated that “I have strong confidence in the leadership of the Government of Philippines and the people’s resilience to bring about normalcy in the affected areas”.

Mr. Lee Yam Ming, Executive Director of the AHA Centre, conveyed the Centre’s deepest sympathies to those who had been affected by the disaster. “The AHA Centre has been monitoring the disaster situation in the Philippines since the last two weeks when several weather disturbances were first identified” he said. The Centre activates the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) when receiving and gathering information about the potential impacts caused by weather disturbances.

He stated that the mobilisation of ASEAN relief items represented tangible ASEAN solidarity in the spirit of ‘One ASEAN, One Response’. The ASEAN relief items, he continued, demonstrated the tangible support from the ASEAN Member States to the typhoon-affected people in the Philippines.

The AHA Centre worked closely with the Office of Civil Defense of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (OCD – NDRRMC) in the Philippines, as well as ASEAN countries and partners in monitoring the situation and identifying potential regional support. An In-Country Liaison Team (ICLT) was also deployed to closely work with the Philippine government. “The AHA Centre will be closely monitoring the situation in the Philippines with the relevant stakeholders and be ready to provide necessary support,” he concluded.

Written by : Gladys Respati | Photo Credit: AHA Centre

This year, still in the midst of the pandemic, the AHA Centre turned 10. A young age, but the Centre has gone through challenges in the past decade and transformed into a strong ASEAN regional organisation. To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the Centre hosted a virtual Partnership Forum on 26 November 2021. This event was designed to celebrate the partnership that has been forged over the years and to express appreciation to all partners and stakeholders for their support for the Centre and the region.

Attended by 195 participants from national disaster management organisations (NDMOs), Dialogue and Development Partners and partners of the AHA Centre, the Forum also provided an opportunity to the participants to learn more about the outcomes of their support through an exhibition of the AHA Centre Work Plan 2025.

Secretary-General of ASEAN H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi highlighted several significant achievements of the AHA Centre in the past 10 years, including the establishment of the ASEAN-Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT), the Disaster Emergency Logistics System of ASEAN (DELSA), and the ASEAN Village in Palu, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. “I also appreciate our close collaboration in responding to several major disasters, especially in helping alleviate the difficulties faced by the people of ASEAN through effective coordination with internal and external stakeholders,” said Dato Lim Jock Ho, who is also the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator (AHAC), during his opening remarks.

He also particularly acknowledged the role of the AHA Centre in the implementation of Point Four of the Five-Point Consensus agreed by the ASEAN Leaders Summit in April this year. Through the stewardship of and collaboration with the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) on the ground, medical supplies and ASEAN relief items have been distributed to the People of Myanmar. “This is testament to the AHA Centre’s successful and transformative role beyond its usual mandate,” he added.

Chairman of the Governing Board of the AHA Centre, Commissioner Eric Yap from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), mentioned that most recently the AHA Centre had also supported several ASEAN Member States in their COVID-19 response through the delivery of relief items from the ASEAN stockpile and donations from partners. “Partnerships play a vital role in the success of the AHA Centre. Cooperation with the ASEAN Dialogue Partners and international organisations has strengthened the operational function of the AHA Centre,” he emphasised.

The main item on the agenda of the Partnership Forum was the AHA Centre’s workplan exhibition. During this activity, the participants were directed into several breakout rooms, designed based on Priority Programmes (PPs), and had the opportunity to interact and comment through online tool Padlet. Each breakout room was facilitated by designated AHA Centre staff.

Executive Director of the AHA Centre Mr. Lee Yam Ming highlighted that the Partnership Forum was a platform to communicate with all partners who have been supporting the Centre, as well as potential new partners. “We’ve hosted this [Partnership Forum] as we regard our partners as important stakeholders in our efforts to achieve regional resiliency against disasters,” he said during his opening remarks. This year’s Partnership Forum, said Mr. Yam Ming, took on an additional important meaning as the AHA Centre turned 10 years old.

The establishment of the AHA Centre, he continued, reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to counter natural disasters through the mechanisms of regional cooperation under the guidance of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM). “The Centre has achieved a lot of things through provision of assistance, the development of systems and mechanisms that have contributed to the further enhancement of disaster resiliency in the region, and facilitating learning and knowledge exchange,” he concluded.

During the Partnership Forum, the AHA Centre also launched the Story of the AHA Centre video, which captured the journey of the Centre from the inception stage to the current era of transformation. Greeting videos from the ACDM, dialogue and development partners, and partners of the AHA Centre were also played during the event.

BREAKOUT ROOM

1)  PP 1 on Risk Assessment and Monitoring and PP 2 on Prevention and Mitigation

• Under these priorities several participants expressed their interest in supporting forecasting and monitoring capacity for climate-related hazards, especially slow-onset disasters such as drought and the strengthening through partnership with relevant institutions of regional tsunami early-warning capacity.

2)  PP 3 on Preparedness and Response and PP 4 on Resilient Recovery

• Participants provided their comments on and interest in the issues of human-induced crises, joint action plans with NGOs, civil society organisations and private sector entities for inclusion into standby arrangements under the AJDRP, as well as the development of ASEAN-ERAT.

3)  PP 5 on Global Leadership

• Under this priority, participants discussed potential projects, including development programmes aimed at disaster management leaders and practitioners in ASEAN.

4)  PP 6 on Corporate Governance

• In this breakout room, the discussion focused on open collaboration between partners and the AHA Centre by offering an approach to smarter, green, more effective and efficient organisation of the AHA Centre.

Written by : Yuniarti Wahyuningtyas, Moch Syifa | Photo Credit: AHA Centree

To “hack” means to crack a problem or discover its solution. In information technology, it has the connotation of breaking into security systems. Hackathons are competitions designed to do the first. Some hackathons are hardware-based, like designing a new product, some are software-based, but there are hackathons that are really about exploring new solutions to old problems in the traditional non-tech-based sense – that is looking at business processes (in our case, development processes) and how these can be more appropriate, more responsive, more impactful.

Risdianto Irawan and I had a simple programme for the AHAckathon when we started to plan the event. The idea was to set the rules and parameters, launch the clock, check-in with the teams, then wait 48 hours to complete and collect the final entries. The game changer was when HELP Logistics introduced us to Impact Week and launchlabs. That changed the way we organised the AHAckathon for the better.

Impact Week is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship skill development in developing and emerging economies by using Design Thinking to develop sustainable growth solutions. Meanwhile, launchlabs Berlin supports start-ups and teams in applying design thinking and other agile approaches to optimise the process of innovation to benefit organisations.

Michael Koegel of Impact Week designed the three-day event using the Design Thinking process. He brought in 10 professional Design Thinking coaches to guide the AHAckathon teams from problem sensing to ideation, prototyping, validation and pitch preparation. The coaches were start-uppers themselves or had a rich experience coaching other start-ups. If I were competing in AHAckathon, just the opportunity to learn about the Design Thinking process and go through it with an expert coach would already be a win in itself!

If you came to witness how through AHAckathon, more than 50 students and professionals who knew nothing about humanitarian logistics, came together, some of them meeting for the first time, and within 48 hours came up with apps to solve our six HELiX design challenges, you would be as amazed as I was at how that was achieved within a very short period of time. You might think the apps were not impressive or groundbreaking but to me they were, and that is because I know that the hackers put their heart and soul into what they were doing to help the humanitarian community and disaster-at-risk communities to have the tools accessible to them to make better decisions and to be more resilient.

The problem-solving process would not have been a success without the mentors and experts who shared their knowledge and experience in humanitarian logistics. Part of the Design Thinking process is to interview users and experts. This subgroup in AHAckathon included those experts on the topics that the teams were working on as well as community leaders, decision-makers and user groups – those who have experienced disasters and/or are the target users of the apps themselves. Organising the technical experts was the much easier part – with thanks to our partners who were always rolling up their sleeves for the AHA Centre: the United Nations Humanitarian Resource Depot (UNHRD) and World Food Programme, and our DELSA Satellite Warehouse hosts, Office of the Civil Defense of the Philippines and the Thailand Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. I would also like to thank a good friend and colleague of mine who agreed to be a mentor at the last minute, Shirley Bolanos who wears many hats such as decision-maker (as part of the regional DRRM council), victim (she lives in the most disaster-prone region in the Philippines) and as a humanitarian worker who has responded to many disasters in the country.

And finally, kudos to the seven teams who devoted their time, energy, creativity and experience, you were the protagonists and main ingredients in the success of AHAckathon!

RECIPE FOR INNOVATION IN HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS

INGREDIENTS:

• ▸ On-point statement of the problem (user perspective is best)
• ▸ Overflow of ideas (no measuring cup required)
• ▸ New pairs of lenses for looking at the same problem
• ▸ Indomitable spirit of discovery
• ▸ “So what if, then what?” mindset
• ▸ There-must-be-a-better-way-to-do-this attitude

STEPS:

• ▸ Try on new pairs of lenses to look at the problem then ask, “So what if? Then what?”. Talk to different stakeholders who will use, support or oppose your idea. Repeat using your indomitable spirit of discovery.
• ▸ State the problem using the different lenses you have discovered. Be a child, be a victim, be a decision-maker, be a pregnant woman lining up for your service. What is preventing them from getting the most out of your service or idea?
• ▸ Brainstorm ideas, do not sift, pound nor crush. Let ideas run wild and overflow.
• ▸ Use what is left of your indomitable spirit of discovery to try out the solutions. Repeat the process until you feel you have nailed a human-centred solution. It should taste sweet, not leaving a bad taste in the process.
• ▸ Never give up. Just keep pushing forward.
• ▸When you find the right solution, go back to step 1 to see how you can further improve your solution.

Written by : Gaynor Tanyang | Photo Credit: AHA Centre

In a virtual ceremony held on 15 September, USD 1.1 million worth of medical supplies and equipment were handed over to the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) in support of that nation’s COVID-19 response. Contributing to the implementation of the “Five Point Consensus” on Myanmar agreed at the ASEAN Leaders’ Meeting in April this year, the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar aims to address the most pressing humanitarian needs of the people of Myanmar.

The AHA Centre, as the operational lead, facilitated the delivery of the assistance, while, the MRCS, as a local partner, supported ASEAN by facilitating the request for tax-exemption and customs-clearance with the Myanmar local authorities, as well as providing temporary storage and last-mile distribution of the medical supplies and equipment to the communities in need in Myanmar.

The handover, which was attended by the Secretary-General of ASEAN H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, the Executive Director of the AHA Centre Mr. Lee Yam Ming, and representatives of ASEAN Member States and donor countries, was the first result of the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar that was previously promised at a Pledging Conference hosted by the ASEAN Secretary-General.

At the Pledging Conference held on 18 August, Dato Lim Jock Hoi had called for a strong show of support for the people of Myanmar, in the spirit of “One ASEAN, One Response”. The support subsequently handed over to the MRCS is a concrete manifestation of this spirit, provided as it was by the governments of Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey and Temasek Foundation International. The next batch is expected to be provided by Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, and Viet Nam, along with other donor countries and organisations.

Some USD 8 million in monetary pledges and in-kind contributions of medicine, medical supplies and equipment to assist Myanmar in containing the spread of the COVID-19 virus was raised at the conference. During the conference Special Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General to Myanmar Ms. Christine Schraner Burgener, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General H.E. Antonio Guterres, said,

UN humanitarian actors on the ground led by the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator will work to strengthen cooperation and seek complementarity with ASEAN’s AHA Centre.

In his remarks at the handover of the aid, Dato Lim Jock Hoi underscored the importance of extending a helping hand to the people of Myanmar in the realisation of a people-oriented, people-centred ASEAN Community. He thanked the five donor countries and Temasek Foundation International, and expressed his confidence that the assistance would alleviate the sufferings of the people of Myanmar in this critical time.

The Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar, Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, in his recorded remarks at the handover said the COVID-19 pandemic was “the common enemy” that exposed the vulnerabilities not only of our socio-economic structures, but the fragility of human life. In his remarks, he urged the international community to continue giving support and to complement ASEAN’s efforts, further highlighting that the “provision of humanitarian assistance is a true reflection of the ‘ASEAN Way’, and demonstrated our commitment to help our ASEAN family when they are in need.”

ASEAN’s operational plan led by the AHA Centre will focus firstly on life-saving measures through the provision of immediate needs towards the COVID-19 response and mitigation, and thereafter proceed to address life-sustaining priorities of broader humanitarian needs. ASEAN’s humanitarian assistance will be supported by humanitarian partners in Myanmar, including the MRCS.

Sources:
https://asean.org/asean-delivers-medical-support-to-myanmars-response-to-covid-19/
https://asean.org/close-to-usd8-million-in-pledges-raised-to-support-aseans-humanitarian-assistance-in-myanmar/

Written by : Michael Hegarty | Photo Credit: AHA Centre