An earthquake can be a frightening and destructive natural event. With increasing population and the potential encroachment of urban development into areas susceptible to earthquakes, vulnerability to earthquakes could intensify. However, we have begun to challenge the premise that earthquakes present an uncontrollable and unpredictable hazard to life and property. With greater understanding of the causes and effects of earthquakes, we may be able to reduce damage and loss of life from these destructive events. The course on Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction has been designed to achieve this goal. With healthy experiences in providing similar courses for natural disaster mitigation within the Asian Region, ADPC provide a model training experience in this latest course by integrating well compiled study material, case studies, audio visual enhancement and interactive adult learning strategies.

The course builds on past and enduring endeavors such as Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative (EMI), UN, IDNDR, ISDR initiative for Risk Assessment Tools for Diagnosis or Urban Areas against Seismic Disasters (RADIUS) and Global Earthquake Safety Initiative (GESI) launched by UNCRD , the Geo-Hazard International and from the rich lessons learnt and experiences from the Kathmandu Valley Earthquake Risk Management Project (KVERMP) and Indonesian Urban Disaster Mitigation Project (IUDMP) under the Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program (AUDMP) of ADPC implemented with local partner organization National Security for Earthquake Technology (NSET), Nepal and Institute of Technology- Bandung (ITB), Indonesia.

The course aspires to provide

1. Training on earthquake vulnerability reduction strategies
2. Know-how for the development of organized approaches for earthquake vulnerability reduction
3. Knowledge and skills for implementation of mitigation initiatives
4. Appreciation of risk communication
5. Analysis of the need to develop multi-sectoral partnerships for successful implementation of mitigation measures
6. Field exposure to ongoing mitigation work

This course is particularly useful for those engaged with reduction of vulnerabilities to earthquake in the urban areas. It is open to all countries; however priorities will be given to the participants from the Asia-Pacific region.

The targeted audiences of the course are:

1. Administrators and officials from provincial and city administration, development and planning authorities

2. National level ministries, departments and institutions dealing with urban planning development, housing, infrastructure, public works, utilities, waterworks, drainage, etc.

3. Private sector corporations, builders, infrastructure developers, insurance companies and others

4. Elected representatives from cities and towns

5. Emergency response agencies and emergency planners

6. Relief and rehabilitation agencies

7. UN agencies and international organizations

8. NGOs working on disaster mitigation, especially on earthquake mitigation

9. Advocacy and public awareness campaigners, etc.

All teaching and course materials are in English. It is essential that participants are fully conversant in English.

International experienced practitioners and experts from different organizations will complement ADPC's in-house expertise to conduct and facilitate the course.

If you are unable to attend, a substitute applicant from your organization is welcome. Cancellation of attendance should be notified 3 weeks prior to course commencement; in which case, 85% of course fee will be reimbursed. No reimbursements will be made for cancellations within 3 weeks prior to course commencement.

The outcome of Asia’s high rate of urbanization has been the expansion of urban populations in geographic areas which are prone to disaster impact. The result is an increased vulnerability of populations and infrastructure. Disaster mitigation measures such as:

1. Earthquake, tsunami and cyclone-resistance building and infrastructure
2. flood and landslide control measures
3. incorporation of disaster vulnerability into land use planning
4. introduction of regulatory measures in industrialized zones

have rarely been attempted in most Asian countries. Activities undertaken by the Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program (AUDMP) over a period of ten years, have demonstrated the effectiveness of mitigation measures in reducing natural disaster vulnerability. Demonstration projects in ten countries, information dissemination and networking activities, and the regional training courses on Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction, Flood Risk Mitigation, Technological Risk Reduction and Urban Disaster Mitigation have convincingly brought to light the opportunities for high impact interventions. Local officials in selected cities have positively responded to the initial project activities by the way of funding and incorporating disaster vulnerability considerations to their buildings and zoning regulations.

Currently, a significant high demand is apparent for Urban Disaster Risk Management (UDRM) in all the countries of the region. This demand for expansion of UDRM activities has been set to improve response, preparedness capacities to reduce the vulnerability.

As ADPC has been implementing and linking diverse activities through out the region, it has recognized the importance of enhancing the scope of Urban Disaster Risk Management. This has become a permanent focus area of ADPC. UDRM will continue to facilitate interventions for promotion of local and traditional practices, research and technology transfer, replication of best practices, promotion of innovative solutions, and development of information products to capture experiences for their dissemination as well as training and capacity building.

Established in 1986, ADPC is the lead regional resource center dedicated to disaster reduction in Asia and the Pacific. ADPC works with governments, NGOs and communities of the Asia and Pacific region to strengthen their capacities in disaster preparedness, mitigation and response through professional training, technical assistance, regional program management and information and research.

ADPC library has over 7,000 entries, including 500 videos on disaster management. Participants can feel free to access these resources.