BACKGROUND  Asia is the world's most disaster prone region, with loss of life and property from the natural hazards hindering sustainable, broad-based development with economic activity concentrated in rapidly-growing cities, urban areas represent a growing vulnerability to disasters. By the year 2000, half the world's population will live in urban areas, crowded into 3% of the earth's land. 17 of the world's 20 largest cities will be in developing countries. 13 of them, that are prone to natural hazards, would have a population in the 10 to 25 million range, 9 of which are in Asia. Where properly managed, however, cities also represent a critical opportunity to mitigate the damage from natural hazards. The Asian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program (AUDMP) is a six year program designed to respond to the need for safer cities being implemented by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center Foundation (ADPC) with funding from US Agency for International Development (USAID). The ultimate goal of the program is to reduce the natural disaster vulnerability of urban populations, infrastructure, lifeline facilities, and shelter in targeted cities in Asia. The program strategy takes a three-tiered approach the national demonstration projects; information and networking; and training, resource materials and continuing education. The current countries targeted by the program are the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Bangladesh. This Urban Disaster Mitigation (UDM) course, is the first in a series of 5 courses on different aspects of disaster mitigation in cities, being developed under the AUDMP. A pilot version of the course attended by 22 participants from 8 countries of the region held in October 97' was well received. AIM To provide enhanced understanding of the range of options available to urban authorities in reducing and managing risk from natural and manmade hazards, provide an appreciation of the costs and benefits of various measures and successful approaches to implementation. OBJECTIVES To gain an understanding of the practical tools for hazard and vulnerability assessment at the city level; structural mitigation measures including incorporation of hazard resistance into design of buildings, infrastructure and critical facilities; and of non-structural measures such as land-use planning, building codes, tax incentives etc. To enhance the existing planning and administrative practices of the participant countries through the utilization of techniques and by facilitating hazard mitigation measures. To provide practical insights into the building of financial, political, administrative and community support for disaster mitigation. To learn from successes and failures by the sharing of experience among participants and resource persons. COURSE CONTENTS Introduction to Concepts of Disaster Management and Mitigation. Trends in Urban Development in Asia and Challenges before Urban Administrators in Risk Reduction. Floods/Earthquakes/Cyclones/Landslides in Asia: Nature, Causes, Impacts, Interactive Implications and Occurrence. Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment: Concepts, Tools and Techniques. Interpretation and Use of Composite Risk Maps. Predisaster Mitigation and Protection of Lifelines and Critical Facilities against Natural Hazards. Use of Non Structural Measures: Land Use Planning and Zoning; Building Codes Development and Implementation. Environmental Assessment and Management at City Level. Analysis of Mitigation Options and Use of Financial Measures to Promote Adoption of Mitigation Measures. Appreciation of Emergency Preparedness Planning and Organization for Disaster Management at the City Level. Establishing and Maintaining Multi Sectoral Partnerships for Disaster Mitigation. Establishing Political and Community Support at City Level. Appreciation of Education and Training as a Tool to Promote Hazard Mitigation. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS All teaching and course materials are in English. It is essential that participants are fully conversant in English. PARTICIPANTS The targeted audience of the course is: Administrators and Officials from Provincial and City Administrations; Development and Planning Authorities. National level Ministries, Departments and Institutions dealing with Urban Planning, Development, Housing, Infrastructure, Public Works, Utilities, Telecommunication, etc. Elected Representatives from Cities and Towns Private Sector: Corporations, Builders, Infrastructure Developers and Financiers Technical Specialists (Architects, Town Planners, Civil and Structural Engineers) Emergency Response Agencies and Emergency Planners having Mitigation Responsibilities UN Agencies and International Organizations NGOs working in the field of disaster mitigation The course is open to all countries of the region. To enhance the quality and effective information exchange and communication, seats are limited to 30 participants, ordinarily with no more than 4 from a particular country, representing a cross-section of disciplines and organizations involved in the different aspects of disaster mitigation. RESOURCE PERSONS The resource persons of the course will be Experts from UN agencies, International Organizations, Educational and Research Institutions, Urban Development Authorities, Mitigation Specialists, ADPC and the AIT. REGISTRATION IN POSTGRADUATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COURSES Under a joint learning program of ADPC Swinburne University, Australia; Postgraduate (Certificate, Diploma and Masters level) courses in Emergency Management are being conducted since mid-1997. Under a special arrangement, participation in the UDM and selected ADPC courses, complemented by undertaking of prescribed readings, assignments and assessments, makes students eligible for credit transfers and some discount in fees. Further details will be provided during the course. ELECTRONIC FORUM ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB To promote pre and post course learning ADPC has established a special electronic forum on Urban Disaster Mitigation on the ADPC home page on the web at http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th /forum. This forum facilitates the pre course orientation of interested and registered participants and post course serves as an ongoing mechanism for communication between ADPC Foundation, the course participants and resource persons. FEE STRUCTURE The course fee for the course would be US$2,000 per participant. All IULA members will be charged a fee of US$ 1,600. Costs of books and materials are included in the course fee. Course fee should preferably be paid in advance by money transfer/international demand Draft (DD) or bought by DD/cash at the time of course registration. Kindly confirm your mode of payment. All participants will stay at the AIT Center during the course. The room rate is US$30-35 per night for the course. The room rate is US$ 30-35 per night for single room and US$15-20 per person for shared accommodation. Participants who would like to stay in single rooms have to inform ADPC inadvance so that booking can be made at the AIT Center. Although sponsors can allocate per-diem to their participants based on their own regulations, the minimum per-diem rate ADPC recommends is US$ 50 per day, which would cover the expenses of shared accommodation and food during the course periods. APPLICATIONS Interested persons can apply directly but, preferably be nominated by their employers, sponsoring governments, NGO and private organizations. Applicants should complete the application form or send a letter of inquiry to ADPC Foundation which should include the following Name, address, telephone, fax and email. Organizational affiliation. Resume, stating job title, present responsi bilities and past experience highlighting Disaster Management experience. A brief statement of reasons for wishing to attend UDM, and how the training relates to your profes sional responsibilities. Letter of support from employer. Confirmation regarding payment of fees by your sponsoring organization. To register fill out the form and fax it to the number given at the end of this brochure. Or alternatively, if you have access to Internet, please go to ADPC homepage at http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th/training/form.html and fill out the form on-line. On acceptance of nomination, we will keep you informed of further actions to be taken until you come and join the course.

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center Established in 1986, ADPC is the lead regional resource center dedicated to disaster reduction for safer communities and sustainable development 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 vision: disaster reduction for safer communities and sustainable development Contact Address The Training and Education Asian Disaster Preparedness Center Asian Institute of Technology P.O.Box 4 Klong Luang Pathum Thani 12120 Thailand Tel: (66 2)5245363/5245362 Fax: (66 2)5245350/5245360 E-mail: tedadpc@ait.ac.th Home Page: http://www.adpc.ait.ac.th International Union of Local Authorities (IULA) A wordwide organisation of local government, working since 1913, to strengthen and improve local governments and to promote cooperation and the flow of information between communities throughout the whole world. It has members in more than 80 countries around the world. The world wide network is made up of Regional Sections serving the interests of local governments in Africa, Asia and the Pacific (ASPAC), East Mediterranean and Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and North America. IULA- ASPAC section established in 1989 in Perth, Australia with the Secretariat in Jakarta. IULA - ASPAC has 110 members comprising National Association of local governments and individual local governments. Contact Address J.Endi Rukmo, Secretary General, IULA - ASPAC Mitra Praja Building, 2nd Floor, J1. Sunter Permai Raya No.1, Jakarta 14350, Indonesia Tel: (62-21) 640 8449 - 50 Fax: (62-21) 6408446 E-mail: iulaap@cbn.net.id