41st Regional training course on disaster management

This course was rescheduled due to severe flood situation in Bangkok. Previous date: 07 Nov 2011 to 25 Nov 2011.

Course overview

The Asia Pacific region faces heavy human and economic losses from disasters, whose frequency and intensity is increasing drastically in recent years. The evidence from the Indonesian Tsunami , Kashmir and China earthquakes, Cyclone Nargis, Pakistan Flood, Afghanistan blizzard, and other events happening in the region and around the world undoubtedly reflect the level of devastation that disasters can bring.

To reduce the impact of disastrous events on communities and support development sustainability, the DMC course aims to provide necessary and useful fundamental knowledge and skills of disaster management to enhance the capabilities of managers who have key disaster management responsibilities. The subjects covered in the DMC-41 are multi-hazard, multi-level, multi-agency, and multi-disciplinary, and address both event-related activities as well as those activities which need to be undertaken on a day-to-day basis prior to the occurrence of events. The course is designed to enable professionals working in disaster management, development and donor agencies to effectively integrate disaster management into their programs and policies. Participants will be encouraged to develop key skills and adopt proactive attitudes through participation in interactive lectures and reflection on a range of key issues raised during discussions and practical activities.

Course objectives

By completing the course, participants should gain a sound grasp of disaster management processes and be able to apply this knowledge to:

- Identify and assess disaster risks using a risk management approach
- Plan and develop effective strategies and systems for disaster risk reduction
- Develop effective processes for preparedness planning in order to improve disaster response and recovery activities
- Effectively and efficiently set up and utilize an emergency coordination center to manage disaster events
- Address and assess key implementation issues and requirements in disaster management

Course contents

Module 1: Introduction to Disaster Management
- Global disaster risk situation
- Basic concepts and terminologies used in disaster management
- Overview of Disaster Management

Module 2: Disaster Risk Identification and Assessment
- Introduction to disaster risk management processes
- Introduction to hazards
- Hazard, vulnerability, capacity and risk assessment

Module 3: Disaster Risk Reduction
- Disaster and development
- Prevention and Mitigation framework
- Mainstreaming DRR in development planning
- Disaster risk reduction practices

Module 4: Disaster Preparedness Planning
- Overview of preparedness planning processes and concepts
- Preparedness planning processes in key areas

Module 5: Emergency Response
- Emergency response management principles and concepts
- Key response implementation considerations
- Use of emergency coordination centers
- ICT in emergency responses

Module 6: Disaster Recovery
- Disaster recovery and reconstruction: concepts, practice and guidelines
- Damage and loss estimation in recovery planning

Module 7: Making Disaster Management Work
- Cross-cutting considerations
- Working with multi-agency teams
- Policy, legal and institutional frameworks
- Public communication
- Media in disaster management

Module 8: Re-entering the Real World: Making a Difference