Bangkok, Thailand — The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), in collaboration with the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), Ministry of Interior of the Royal Thai Government, convened the 18th Meeting of the Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) centered on the theme “Sustainable Anticipatory Actions for Resilient Development Goals.”

During the two-day meeting, RCC members highlighted the importance of systemic risk governance, risk analytics, and preparedness actions to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). The deliberations also focused on accelerating existing national strategies for RCC member countries to access finance and enhance investments to support the implementation of priority actions of the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction (SFDRR) and the major international frameworks such as Agenda 2030, Paris Climate Accord, World Humanitarian Summit.

Established in 2000, the RCC is part of the ADPC’s broader governance structure at the strategic level to provide key inputs and guidance from member countries. It helps identify its members’ needs and priorities, promote regional and subregional cooperation, and develop regional action strategies and programs for disaster risk reduction and climate resiliency.

Group photo with Sabida Thaiseth, Deputy Minister of Interior of Thailand (center) at the RCC18.

During the first day, participants discussed the technical aspects of advancing risk reduction through technology and innovative solutions, supporting the localization of priority actions, and exploring options for mobilizing disaster and climate financing from global, regional, and national mechanisms.

The second day commenced with the 5th Brian Ward Memorial Lecture, which served as a platform for reflecting on the vital role of water security and resilience in disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. The lecture highlighted innovative practices and cross-sectoral collaboration to address water-related challenges exacerbated by climate change.

Following the Brian Ward Memorial Lecture, the ADPC Development Partners Forum 2025 convened key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and align efforts toward achieving resilient development goals. The forum facilitated constructive dialogue on enhancing synergies among ADPC member states and development partners to promote a unified approach to disaster and climate resilience.

“ADPC is a long-standing and committed international organization, working tirelessly for disaster risk reduction, climate resilience and disaster preparedness across Asia and the Pacific. Over the past four decades, ADPC has steadfastly supported countries and communities in their endeavor to deal with disasters. We are guided by the priorities identified by ADPC’s Regional Consultative Committee, the identified needs of RCC member countries, and beyond, through engagement with other international/regional organizations. This inclusive approach ensures that all stakeholders have a voice in shaping the 2030 Strategy,” underlines Aslam Perwaiz, Executive Director of ADPC

Aslam Perwaiz, Executive Director of ADPC, highlights 25 years of regional cooperation.

“In 2022, the Philippines had an honor to host the 17th Meeting of the Regional Consultative Committee in Manila. During that meeting, our discussions were focused on data governance, gender-equal & rights-based approaches to DRR and climate resilience as well as the transboundary South-South cooperation,” said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Philippines.

Millicent Cruz-Paredes, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of the Philippines, delivers opening remarks.

“During the meeting in Manila, we also explored innovative financing solutions and the establishment of the Trust Fund mechanism to provide flexible and transparent financing for the priority actions. Those discussions during RCC17 led to the adoption of the Manila Statement. This year’s RCC theme builds on the progress of earlier deliberations in the Philippines. Hence, we are confident that the outcomes of this year’s RCC meeting will lead to a more resilient and sustainable region,” she underlined.

During RCC opening, Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand emphasized that “Asia-Pacific is the most disaster-prone region and RCC has been instrumental in shaping the disaster risk reduction agenda by linking together technical experts and government officials to share knowledge, develop action strategies and strengthen regional cooperation. The contributions of RCC extended far beyond Asia, serving as a hub for showcasing the best practices and aligning efforts to implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Agenda 2030. Consequently, ADPC has a significant role in organizing RCC meetings that serve as a valuable platform for reviewing the advancement of the Roadmap 2030 and identifying the next steps by the Member countries and others.”

Paisan Rupanichkij, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, emphasizes ADPC’s role in disaster risk reduction and climate resilience.

The 18th Meeting of the RCC on Disaster Management served as a significant milestone in advancing the shared vision of a resilient and sustainable Asia-Pacific region. Under ADPC’s leadership, the meeting highlighted the urgency of transforming discussions into actionable strategies that prioritize the needs of vulnerable communities while promoting innovation and inclusivity. Reinforcing its role as a regional leader in disaster risk reduction, ADPC remains committed to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange across the region.

Background:

ADPC facilitates the Regional Consultative Committee as one of its main institutional organs. It enables the management and operation of the mechanism, in addition to following up on the statements issued by member countries after each RCC meeting. The RCC is part of the ADPC’s wider engagement and is defined in the ADPC Charter, providing the organization with key inputs and guidance from RCC member countries. To date, 25 countries are members of the RCC mechanism. Country membership is renewed on a three-year basis. The list of Member countries can be found here.