Modernization of Hydrometeorological Services and Early Warning Systems

Session 3: Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific – 2011 Series

Thursday, July 28, 2011, Time: 10:00-13:00 (JST)

Major advances in observation, analysis and prediction of high-impact weather and climate events have been achieved by some countries and are available to all. Effective Early Warning Systems (EWS) building on such information have substantially reduced deaths and injuries from severe weather events. National Meteorological Systems in many developing countries lack the capacity to access recent scientific and technical advances. Such agencies have limited observation networks, little experience in using numerical weather prediction, few opportunities for training, and have recurrent difficulty retaining their best-qualified staff. These circumstances weaken service delivery. The poor weather information services provided in these countries often make early warnings impossible, and lack of warning in turn leads to economic damage and loss of life that could have been avoided.

The objective of this session is to share knowledge and experiences on hydromet modernization initiatives for developing countries.

Partners

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2011 Series

Session 5: Urban Flood Risk Management: Experiences of Cities

Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific – 2010 Distance Learning Seminar Series

December 15, 18:00-21:00 (JST)

Urban flooding poses a significant hazard and causes damage on infrastructure and the economy in cities. Urban poor populations are likely to be the hardest hit. Cities have tackled with it but there are still challenges in cities that have different characteristics.
The overall objective of this session is to disseminate good practice and approaches to flood and drainage management, and address issues and challenges of urban flooding prevention.  In this session, speakers from Senegal and Vietnam will be invited that would be a good opportunity for cross-regional knowledge exchange on urban flooding and drainage.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2010 Series

Session 4: It Is Not Too Late: Preparing for East Asia’s Next Big Earthquake

Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific – 2010 Distance Learning Seminar Series

October 25, 14:30-17:30 (JST)

The overall objective of this session is impart knowledge on reducing earthquake risk through promotion of safer construction, dissemination of good practice for new and existing infrastructure, and increasing the level of preparedness.
In this session, Peter Yanev, Senior Earthquake Specialist, Yanev Associates and Senior Consultant to the World Bank, one of the world’s top seismologists, to do a policy-note on preparing for East Asia’s next big earthquake. We will release the note during the upcoming Asian Ministerial Conference on DRR in Korea. Yanev is collaborating with local one local expert in China, Philippines and Indonesia. Another top seismologist , Professor T. C. Pan, Dean of NTU’s College of Engineering and Director of the Protective Technology Research Center, will speak on various aspects of seismic vulnerability reduction. 

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2010 Series

Microinsurance and its application in disaster risk management programs

Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific – 2010 Distance Learning Seminar Series　

September 16, 2010 13:00-16:00 (JST)

The poor, with their limited assets and resources, are often excluded from formal insurance instruments. In many developing countries, the poor have resorted to other instruments – credits, grain banks, remittances, savings, etc – to tide them over during times of hardship. Microinsurance is thus seen as an effective instrument to protect the poor from the increasing impacts of disasters. It is flexible enough to suit the particular needs of the clients and to accommodate non-traditional institutional arrangements.
This session will highlight the various innovations on the application of microinsurance in DRM and the experiences and insights of practitioners.

Partners

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2010 Series

Conducting multi-hazard risk assessments

Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific – 2010 Distance Learning Seminar Series

June 30 (Wed), 2010, 13:00-16:00 (JST)

The Risk Assessment shows the likelihood of an extreme hazard event and its impacts to vulnerable communities.  Disaster risk is a function of the characteristics and frequency of hazards experienced in a specified location, the nature of the elements at risk, and their inherent degree of vulnerability or resilience (which can include capacity). Effective risk reduction requires a multi-hazard risk assessment in order to determine which areas are at highest risk of experiencing a disaster and why, so that appropriate and cost-effective mitigation measures can be identified, adopted, and implemented. This session will also incorporate discussion on the effects and implications of climate change.

Partners

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2010 Series

Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific - 2010 Series

Beginning April 1st, 2010 and continuing through the year

Natural disasters are a main source of risk for the poor, present a serious obstacle to achieving sustainable social and economic development. Disasters affect the poor most severely thus, measures taken to manage hazards and reduce their impact provide an effective vehicle to make substantial advances in fight against poverty. The countries of East Asia and the Pacific are among the most vulnerable in the world to effects caused by disasters.

Partners

See also:

• Conducting Post-disaster Damage and Needs Assessments (PDNAs)
• Conducting multi-hazard risk assessments
• Microinsurance and its application in disaster risk management programs
• Session 4: It Is Not Too Late: Preparing for East Asia’s Next Big Earthquake
• Session 5: Urban Flood Risk Management: Experiences of Cities
• Session 6:  Open-source risk vs. Proprietary risk models

Capacity Building for Climate & Disaster Resilience

program duration: February - April 2010
City-level implementation and monitoring will continue for years after formal program completion

Disaster in Mumbai, India Photo courtesy of CITYNET

Climate change is happening.

The Asia Pacific has experienced repeated destruction and loss of lives due to climate-induced and hydro-meteorological disasters. To avoid being struck unprepared, appropriate measures need to be taken.

This capacity-building program helps local governments manage current and potential risks,

CITYNET Yokohama Congress 2009 Kicks Off

September 10, 2009

CITYNET, an international network connecting over 100 cities and organizations, officially opened CITYNET Yokohama Congress 2009 on Tuesday in Yokohama, currently celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of its port.

Participants assembled from various parts of the Asia Pacific region and beyond at the waterfront Pacifico Yokohama convention complex, southwest of Tokyo. Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi, also CITYNET President, welcomed attendants to the opening session, followed by remarks from CITYNET First Vice President, Mumbai Mayor Shubha Raul and Bangkok Deputy Governor and CITYNET Second Vice President Chirakit Prakob as the four-day event kicked off.

Strengthening Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific Session 5

Community-based Disaster Risk Management

June 26, 2009 16:00-19:00 (Japan time)

The World Bank East Asia and Pacific Disaster Risk Management team, in collaboration with the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), has started a learning and knowledge sharing seminar series on post-disaster recovery planning, risk financing, and disaster risk management from December 2008. Session 5 was held on June 26 2009 with focus on community-based disaster risk management.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Strengthening Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific

Strengthening Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific Session 4

Natural Disasters – Sharing Experiences for Reconstruction

April 28, 2009 16:00-19:00 (Japan time)

The World Bank East Asia and Pacific Disaster Risk Management team, in collaboration with the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), has started a learning and knowledge sharing seminar series on post-disaster recovery planning, risk financing, and disaster risk management from December 2008. Session 4 was held on April 28 2009 with focus on housing and community reconstruction after natural disasters.

This session is part of a larger program. For more information see Strengthening Disaster Risk Management in East Asia and the Pacific