Editorial Dear Readers, The e-update for the month of March, covering ADPC events, activities, announcements comes to you as ADPC organizes the first ever regional training course on climate risk management: science, institutions, and society from the 21 April – 2 May 2008 at Bangkok, Thailand. For the past two decades ADPC has developed and field tested various approaches and strategies of strengthening institutional and professional capacities to skillfully integrate climate risk information into critical decision making process. These experiences are shared with 30 participants, globally. In the month of March, ADPC conducted its 37th Disaster Management Course (DMC). The widely acclaimed and popular course spans over three weeks. The next DMC is scheduled for Nov 2008.   ADPC, acting as the secretariat of the Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) for Disaster Management is organizing its 7th meeting from the 8-10 May 2008 at Colombo, Sri Lanka. The event is being co-hosted with the Government of Sri Lanka with support from the Government of Australia.   The special theme of the 7th RCC meeting will be on rights based, community led disaster risk management. The meeting will also have sessions on lessons learnt from recent disasters, progress made on the implementation of the RCC Program on Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into development (RCC MDRD), the ongoing global campaign on Hospitals Safe from Disasters and on progress on implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) in Asia in light of the Delhi Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia, adopted at the Second Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, New Delhi, October 2007. I am further pleased to invite you to browse through our website www.adpc.net for more ADPC news updates, publications, events and training calendar for 2008. On that note, I now inform you about our activities for the month of March 2008.   Dr. Bhichit Rattakul Executive Director Asian Disaster Preparedness Center  Building Partnerships Dr. Eddie Bernard, Director, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) visited ADPC on 18 Mar. ADPC made presentations on the Integrated Early Warning Systems for Indian Ocean and South East Asia for tsunami and other hazards. Dr. Bernard has kindly accepted ADPC’s invitation to become a member of the Regional Technical Committee. ADPC in action Climate Change Screening, Nepal ADPC took part in the Climate Change Screening of DANIDA development cooperation portfolio in Nepal, where ADPC is sub-contracted to provide inputs on climate risks, vulnerability and change. A draft report has been presented to the Embassy of Denmark in Kathmandu, for review. The screening has identified some recommendations for consideration by the Embassy of Denmark in Kathmandu, relating to its development programme and for future projects.  Under the Danida funded ‘Enhancing Community Resilience to Natural Disasters in South East Asia’ Project, ADPC participated and organized the National Consultative Meeting on Coastal Community Resilience (CCR) in collaboration with Department of Meteorology (DoM) Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MoWRAM), National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM). The CCR tools were presented and well-received by the participants which included 16 technical specialists / experts from government department and NGO partners in Cambodia. As a next step, NCDM will refine the terminologies used in tool kit (Khmer version) and share with the stakeholders who attended the meeting. Subsequently, a team of experts will be formed to carry out the assessment in two places (Tuek Lak and in another coastal province) to assess the community resilience and the assessment results will be shared with the national level experts. Country project events from the Program for Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Mitigation in Secondary Cities in Asia (PROMISE), Feb-Mar: BANGLADESH – Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Center (BDPC) organized a three day community-based emergency response course (C-BERC) from 2-4 Mar at Kapashgola Road, Chowk Bazar, Chittagong.  The training supported the emergency response structure at city level as well as promoted skill enhancement of community volunteers.  The training was facilitated by ADPC with Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.  A total of 28 participants attended –20 Change Agents (two from each Ward), two representatives each from Chittagong City Corporation, the Fire Service and Civil Defence, school teachers, and PROMISE-Bangladesh project staff. A formal meeting was held on 16 Mar between the Chittagong City Corporation, Ward Commissioners and PROMISE-BD team to provide an update on the progress of PROMISE-Bangladesh. INDONESIA - The newest country project, PROMISE-Indonesia became operational with a technical scoping/project orientation workshop on 15 Feb.  The workshop was held at the Regional Planning Board (Bapeda) of the Jakarta Provincial Government-JPG (DKI) and was attended by 40 officials of JPG and stakeholders; Mr. Yusak Oppusunggu of USAID-Jakarta; Tuty Kusumawaty, Secretary of Bapeda DKI; and Harkunti P. Rahayu, Project Coordinator for PROMISE Indonesia. The workshop was officially opened and inaugurated by the Secretary of Bapeda DKI and informed the stakeholders about PROMISE- Indonesia.  PHILIPPINES – The Department of the Interior and Local Government - Government of the Philippines (DILG) organized the 1st National Conference on Mainstreaming DRR in Local Governance in Makati City from 4-6 Mar. It was attended by representatives of different local Government units (Dagupan City, Makati City, Leyte, Province of Albay), International organizations (EMI, DKKV German Committee for Risk Reduction part  of ISDR, ADPC), Government agencies (Phivolcs, OCD) and local NGO’s (Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) and others).  Mayor Fernandez presented the PROMISE-Philippines project emphasizing mainstreaming DRR into local governance. PROMISE-Philippines participated in DILG’s newly elected officials training for Dagupan City’s barangays from 10-13 Mar.  This training aimed to equip the newly elected officials in their service for the barangays.  TWG member Rhoderick Dawis coordinated with the DILG to incorporate CBDRM by showing the Project PROMISE experience as an example during the NEO training.  Ms. Emma Molina, TWG focal person, and Ms. Luneta gave the CBDRM orientation. SRI LANKA – Sarvodaya conducted a workshop on City Level Risk Reduction Plan Development on 20 Mar at Panadura with the patronage of Hon. Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights, City Mayor- Kalutara, Mr. Al-Haj Mubarak, and Deputy Mayor Mr. Jauffer.  Participants developed outlines for risk reduction in their respective areas.  ADPC gave briefings on the progress of the PROMISE program in their different country sites (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam).  VIETNAM – PROMISE-Vietnam participated in a contest on “Women with CBDRM” on 8 Mar, International Women’s Day.  The contest was initiated by Hoa Xuan ward.  More than 200 women from 11 sections participated in the contest on CBDRM knowledge. Training and Learning Symposium on Regional Disaster Management Support System, 19-21 Mar, Thailand ADPC participated in the Regional Symposium on Regional Disaster Management Support System  – Satellite Information Access Mechanism in Bangkok,  organized by UNESCAP  under “Towards Improved Capacity in Disaster Management Using Satellite-based and Spatial Information System in Asia and the Pacific” project which is supported by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).   Workshop on Development of Contingency Plan, 17 Mar, Bangladesh Day long workshop on Development of Contingency Plan for Major Cities in Bangladesh was held at Dhaka. The workshop, under the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) had representatives from 12 different organizations, providing technical inputs regarding the present situation in hazard management.   ADPC Website Resources ADPC’s Program for Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Mitigation in Secondary Cities in Asia (PROMISE) has demonstration projects on Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into Local Governance in the Philippines and Sri Lanka.  To read more about the projects, visit the following links: Philippines: click here Sri Lanka:     click here  New Publications Disaster Mitigation in Asia (Issue No. 57) Climate Variability and Change: Adaptation to Drought in Bangladesh: A Resource Book and Training Guide Livelihood Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change in Drought-Prone areas of Bangladesh: A Case Study Impacts of Disasters on the Education Sector in Cambodia Impacts of Disasters on the Education Sector in Philippines  Impacts of Disasters in the Education Sector in Lao PDR  CBDRR NL-Vol4no3 Safer Cities 20: Community Based Early Warning System and Evacuation: Planning, Development and Testing. ADPC newsletter, Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into Education Sector, Sep- Dec 2007 Visit http://www.adpc.net/v2007/IKM/ONLINE%20DOCUMENTS/Default-DOCUMENTS.asp for online versions of the above publications. Forthcoming Activities Training project on Urban Disaster Mitigation,  21-25 Apr UDRM developed a training project for Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) on Urban Disaster Mitigation.  The training will be held from, to benefit 35 technical staff members that are involved in post-disaster housing repair and reconstruction in South Asia and Southeast Asia.  HFHI is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.  As of December 2006, HFHI has built and rehabilitated more than 45,700 homes and served nearly 230,000 people around the Asia-Pacific region alone, and more than 225,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. In addition, up to 30,000 families are expected to benefit from Habitat programs to help victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami.