ASEAN WORKSHOP
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAPACITY BUILDING ROADMAP ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Since the inception of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) in 2009, the ASEAN region has been dedicated to enhancing its disaster management capacity. This commitment was further demonstrated at the ASEAN Workshop on the Development of the Capacity Building Roadmap on 24-27 October 2023 in Singapore.
Hosted by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the event was attended by 20 (twenty) representatives from the ASEAN Member States (AMS), UNOCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), and the AHA Centre, who gathered to develop preliminary Roadmap Strategies and define strategic pillars for ASEAN capacity building.
The Workshop opened with an overview of the Strengthening Institutional Capacity of AHA Centre Project (SICAP). This 2-year initiative implemented by the AHA Centre and supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of the AHA Centre, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) of the AMS to enhance regional disaster management and emergency response coordination.
Participants were then stimulated with a visioning exercise, where they shared the visions and strategic directions of their respective countries and organisations, a step that proved crucial in aligning regional goals and strategies. This continued with a mapping exercise that listed the available training and capacity building initiatives undertaken in each country over the past five years, providing an overview of the region’s capabilities and needs. The day then ended with a visit the SCDF’s Civil Defence Academy (CDA), where they gained insight into the CDA’s simulation exercises as well as an overview of its capacity building strategies and techniques.
On Day 2 of the Workshop, Consultant for the SICAP project Management for Development Foundation (MDF) presented the main findings of the Impact Study on past capacity building efforts, that was then discussed in groups for feedback. As a follow up to this, on Day 3 participants brainstormed to identify the capacity building needs of ASEAN to build a resilient community.
The 4-day Workshop culminated in the identification and concurrence of four (4) strategic pillars that will shape the way forward for capacity building in ASEAN by participants. These include the enhancement of coordination for capacity building, enhanced access to knowledge and information, enhanced professionalism through standards, standardisation and (re-) certification, and individual and organisational impact of capacity building.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Krishna Putra Tanaja, Deputy Executive Director of the AHA Centre, emphasised the importance of drawing upon the knowledge and experiences of the AMS and stakeholders to map a strategic direction for ASEAN capacity building. “The support of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), along with our partners, has been instrumental in our progress,” he added.
The ASEAN Workshop on the Development of the Capacity Building Roadmap on Disaster Management will help make significant strides in advancing the ASEAN region’s disaster management capabilities. Through collaborative analysis and strategic planning, the workshop has laid down a comprehensive preliminary roadmap for enhancing ASEAN preparedness in the years to come. The Capacity Building Roadmap on Disaster Management is targeted to be completed by February 2024.
Written by: Gladys Respati | Photos by: AHA Centre
