2007 OCTOBER-DECEMBER

ADPC conducted assessment of Indonesia's disaster risk management policy and institutional framework

ADPC, together with a USAID consultant, conducted an assessment of Indonesia's disaster risk management policy and institutional framework from October 2-13, 2006. The assessment identified gaps and possible interventions through the US Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS) program. This activity followed the review of existing resources on policies and institutional arrangements in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand and was based on a framework developed by ADPC in collaboration with USAID. The results of the study, encapsulated in a paper entitled, "Review of Policies and Institutional Capacity for Early Warning and Disaster Management in Indonesia" will be shared to relevant national authorities.

CCOP-ADPC-NGI planning meeting for preparation of proposal on
tsunami risk assessment and mitigation

The Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programs in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP), ADPC, and Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) convened a meeting from October 4-5, 2006 and detailed the proposal on Tsunami Risk Assessment and Mitigation - Phase 2, for submission to the Royal Norwegian Embassy. The meeting was participated by delegates from Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The project proposal is a follow-on to the project implemented by CCOP, NGI, and Thailand's Department of Mineral Resources in 2005 on Tsunami Risk Reduction Measures with Focus on Land Use and Rehabilitation.

Ambassadors Meeting on the Establishment of the End-to-End Multi-Hazard Early Warning System in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia

ADPC convened a meeting of Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Maldives, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam on October 9, 2006 as follow-on to the meeting of early warning national focal points of these countries on regional cooperation on multi-hazard early warning, held in July 2006 in Bangkok. The meeting sought guidance for the implementation of the regional program approved by national focal points in the July 2006 meeting; sought policy support to the recommendations of the July2006 meeting, in particular to obtain funding support from the UN Regional Tsunami Trust Fund for phase 1 program implementation; and requested Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide periodic program status reports to UNESCO/Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

ADPC facilitated national workshop on Coastal Community Resilience
(CCR) in Sri Lanka

ADPC was on mission to Colombo to facilitate a Coastal Community Resilience (CCR) workshop on October 9-10, 2006. The workshop aimed to make the participants aware of the CCR initiative under the US Indian Ocean Tsunami Early Warning System (IOTWS) program, establish a network for future CCR outreach activities, and get feedback on the CCR guidebook which is being developed by USAID, ADPC, and other partners. ADPC, the Program Integrator for the IOTWS program, was involved in the coordination of the event. Over 40 government and non-government agencies working in the field of disaster management and coastal management participated in the workshop, including the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights, Disaster Management Center, Coast Conservation Department, International Conservation Union, International Federation of the Red Cross, United Nations Development Program, and various USAID projects.
 

ADPC carried out Coastal Community Resilience (CCR) reconnaissance
field visit and guidebook field testing in Tamil Nadu, India

ADPC team members were on mission to Tamil Nadu, India on October 19-24 to conduct field testing of the recently developed CCR Guidebook and a reconnaissance field visit to find out the challenges, gaps and needs of coastal community resilience. The team worked on reviewing institutional arrangements, assessing current status, identifying gaps, and challenges in developing overall resilience for the coastal communities. The team has carried out discussions with government and nongovernmental organization representatives at state, district and village levels. Discussions were also held with panchayet leaders, local agency representatives, and coastal communities on relevant issues. The mission has identified gaps and initiatives needed for developing a comprehensive program on coastal resilience at community level.

ADPC facilitated First Table Top Simulation Exercise for Tsunami Alert
Rapid Notification System (TARNS) workshop

ADPC, in collaboration the US Forest Service (USFS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), facilitated the First Table Top Simulation Exercise for the Tsunami Alert Rapid Notification System (TARNS) workshop from October 23-25, 2006 at the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) in Thailand. The objective of the meeting was to prepare simulation scenarios for the TARNS workshop in January 2007. The simulation focused on the process of disseminating tsunami warning from tsunami warning providers to national institutions down to the community level.

ADPC and US agencies conducted trainings on applying Incident
Command System (ICS) in disaster management in Sri Lanka

ADPC, together with the US Department of Agriculture and US Forest Service, conducted a series of trainings for Sri Lankan officials on applying the Incident Command System (ICS) in disaster response from November 7-18, 2006. The training courses were conducted under the auspices of the United States Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS) program. Around 25 senior government officials from 20 government agencies participated in the training courses, namely ICS Finance/ Admin Section Chief Course, ICS Logistic Section Chief Course, ICS Operation Section Chief Course, ICS Incident Commander Course. The Disaster Management Center (DMC) developed a strategic plan to tap into the expertise of ICS resource persons in forming national and district-level ICS teams for emergency response.

ADPC and US IOTWS team members carried out field practicum
assessment of the Coastal Community Resilience (CCR) Guidebook in
Ranong, Thailand

A team comprising of ADPC, University of Rhode Island, and the US Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning Program (IOTWS) carried out a field testing of the Coastal Community Resilience (CCR) Guidebook in Thailand and developed a community level rapid assessment using the CCR framework and benchmarks. This activity was carried out on December 10-16, 2006 in the tsunami-affected province of Ranong, Thailand, in collaboration with USAID's Post-tsunami Sustainable Livelihoods program. Based on the results, the team will refine the guidebook and assessment methodology, which will be used for country-level training on assessing resilience and developing local action plans. The testing included consultations and interviews with local people, key informants, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations in the Kamphuan sub-district of Ranong.

ADPC participated in ITU/ESCAP regional workshop on disaster communications

ADPC participated in a regional workshop on disaster communications sponsored jointly by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the UN Environmental and Social Commission in the Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) from December 12-15, 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand. ADPC shared its regional experience on emergency communication system and in helping institutionalize the Tsunami Alert Rapid Notification System (TARNS) in Thailand through the US Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System Program (IOTWS). The workshop was attended by 135 participants from government, non-governmental organizations, and private corporations from 32 countries. The meeting adopted seven recommendations for strengthening emergency communication for disaster management.

ADPC convened a local working group in Cambodia for Enhancing
Community Resilience to Natural Disasters project

ADPC was on mission to Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, Cambodia from October 10 to 17 to convene a local working group for the "Enhancing Community Resilience to Natural Disaster" project. The terms of reference of the working group as well as the project's work plan was discussed and finalized with stakeholders during the meeting. ADPC also conducted site visits to do a profiling of Sihanoukville, the pilot province for this project. During the mission, a pilot site at the commune level was also selected. Additional partners for implementation of the project were identified and areas for collaboration are being worked out.

Technical experts meeting worked out details of regional research
support to national meteorological and hydrological agencies on severe weather forecasting

Technical experts from the India Institute Technology-Delhi and ADPC met from 24-28 October 2006 in Bangkok to discuss the work plan to establish the regional research center in severe weather forecasting at ADPC. This meeting is a follow-on to the meeting of early warning national focal points of Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Maldives, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam on regional cooperation on multi-hazard early warning, held in July 2006 in Bangkok. The regional research support in severe weather forecasting, initially supported by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), aims at increasing the lead time and confidence of severe weather forecasts.
 

ADPC convened workshop on "Enhancing Coastal Community Resilience
to Natural Disasters in Vietnam"

Under the Enhancing Community Resilience to Natural Disasters in Southeast Asia project, ADPC convened a workshop in Nam Dinh Province on November 26-28. The workshop: 1) presented information on proposed demonstration sites and the impacts, lessons learned from the last episode of typhoons & floods; 2) identified key activities for the implementation plan based on the experiences of the last major occurrence of coastal disaster, 3); discussed the different components of the project implementation plan; and 4) elicited strategic project implementation guidance from the key stakeholders. Vietnam's National Hydrometeorological Service (NHMS) is the primary partner for this workshop. The project is funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). A compilation of papers presented at the workshop is available in ADPC library.

ADPC on mission to pilot sites in Vietnam for 'Enhancing coastal
community Resilience to natural disasters" project

ADPC was on Nam Dinh province and other project sites in Vietnam between November 29- December 6, 2006 under the "Enhancing Community Resilience to Natural Disasters in Southeast Asia" project, which is funded by the Danish Agency for International Development (DANIDA). Site profiling and training needs assessment were carried out during the mission. The mission also led to the identification of potential collaboration with coastal zone management activities of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

ADPC and the US IOTWS team carry cut a round table discussion and meetings on CCR in Jakarta, Indonesia

A delegation from the US Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS) Project and ADPC, along with Indonesian project partners, met with various local partners of Coastal Community Resilience (CCR) initiatives in Jakarta on December 18, 2006. Major Indonesian agencies such International Federation of Red Cross (PMI Indonesia), Mercy Corporation, Save the Children, Islamic Relief, UNESCO Indonesia, IDEP and others also attended the meeting. The team also met with CARE Indonesia and various USAID-funded programs. ADPC presented the status and progress of CCR, discussed the latest workplan and discussed how the CCR initiative can be carried out in the future. The agencies have shown interest in the CCR framework and discussed scopes of incorporating the CCR framework in their activities in the future. Indonesian agencies are interested in participating in the upcoming CCR training in Indonesia and in the follow up regional workshop in late 2007.

2007 Monthly Activities

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• FEBRUARY

2006 Monthly Activities

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• APR-JUN
• JUL-SEP
• OCT-DEC