Message from the Executive Director

ADPC’s work during the past three years of autonomy has greatly expanded in substance, partnerships and personnel. New training programs, such as Flood Risk Mitigation, Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction for Cities, and Public Health and Emergency Management in Asia and the Pacific, have been introduced. We have been able to increase ties with existing partners and develop new partnerships with a number of organizations in the region and internationally. We have also grown in number from around 30 staff in 1999 to over 60 now. I have worked with several academic, governmental and United Nations organizations, and I am happy to say that these three years at ADPC have been the most challenging and stimulating years of my life. I am also happy to note that our work is being appreciated by governments in the region. This is evident from the recent citation ADPC received from the Republic of the Philippines, in recognition of its “significant contribution in capacity building programs and project development efforts of the National and Local Disaster Coordinating Council in the country through the provision of technical and skills development, search and rescue (SAR) training, funding and resource generation, and the series of Disaster Management Courses for Filipino professionals and disaster practioners.”

We have been keeping abreast of the latest developments and good practices in disaster management and are constantly updating our training courses with a strong focus on the requirements of the region. In the last quarter, ADPC held a highly successful workshop with the World Bank on Reconstruction Needs Analysis, Planning and Implementation, which contributed to a dialogue between the Latin American and Asian regions in experiences of post-disaster assessment. We also worked closely with the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Member Countries in assisting the development of the ASEAN Regional Program on Disaster Management. I am glad to continue to work with all our partners in the region and internationally in the critical area of promoting disaster reduction in the region.

Dr Suvit Yodmani
Executive Director