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February news

In the beginning of February, we were all devestated by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria. EU and ASEAN colleagues exchanged information on their respective roles in the response. The LACER Team Leader updated AHA Centre staff on the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, first following Syria’s and the World Food Programme’s requests for assistance from the UCPM, which led to nine countries offering assistance of tents, blankets and other shelter items. Thereafter, based on Türkiye’s request for assistance from the UCPM, 26 countries offered 38 search and rescue teams, medical teams and thousands of tents, blankets, heaters and other shelter items. LACER Team Leader shared the daily maps and Copernicus data produced in the wake of the earthquakes.

Support information sharing tools and working methods (A3.1)

Support information management systems (A3.2)

AHA staff and ASEAN colleagues likewise provided updates on member states´ offers of assistance to the affected countries. SCDF, for instance, deployed a 68 member contingent of Disaster Assistance and Resuce Team (DART) with focus on prolonged USAR activities. Other updates emerged from teams deployed from Philippines and Thailand assisting the response.

The LACER team exchanged shared information with ASEAN counterparts on a JRC technical report which presented innovative findings on the development of locally-based Early Warning Systems (EWS) for tsunamis. The research is relevant because classical tsunami warning methodology is based on the reliable identification of earthquake location, magnitude, and depth which generally requires >7 minutes for the initial warning to disseminate to potentially affected populations. This may sound fast, however, such a warning time may still be late for some coastal locations to take timely action, particularly if the source of the tsunami is near the shoreline. Recent examples in Europe and South East Asia, such as Palu in 2018 and Samos in 2020, indicate the importance of communities in filling the gaps of local tsunami warning. This report provides a summary of the discussions of a joint JRC/DG-ECHO/UNESCO/IOC workshop organized in Ispra in October 2022, that support the development of an integrated, truly multi-hazard-oriented coastal community disaster resilience policy for Europe and beyond. It also showcases local EWS systems currently being tested, e.g. in Messina, which directly alert both population and authorities. These have clear potential to be adapted in many parts of the world subject to similar tsunami threats. For the full report, see:

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC132369

The LACER team launched the individual coaching activity through an introductory meeting with participants, consisting of five Assistant  Director level managers in AHA Centre and a representative of HR. LACER leadership and management expert Britta Ramberg walked participants through the methodology of the course and its objectives. Britta also explained the GROW coaching model which underpins her approach:

GROW Coaching Model

G – Goals (Identify goals of the participant)

R – Reality (Identify the situation at present)

O – Options (Define follow on questions and issues)

W – Way forward (what is the next step for the participant)

The activity is expected to continue throughout 2023 with regular coaching sessions.'

Development of EoC/Duty Officer function in AHA Centre and NDMOs (D1.1)

Conduct functional exercises of ERO function and evaluate (E1.1)

Joint assessment of pathway for further development of AHA Centre Training & exercise plan (F1.2)

During the reporting period, the LACER team and AHA Centre finalised the recruitment process for an expert to work with the AHA Centre on EOC development and planning the exercise cycle for AHA Centre. The selected expert, Anders Fridborg, is planning to deploy to Jakarta in March 2023 and work on specific activities including development of the EOCX series of exercises, creating a template for future exercises, supporting the ASEAN Information Management Network (AIM-Net) workshop and study visit of NDMO EOC staff to ERCC in Brussels, and contributing to disaster monitoring and analysis methods within the AHA Centre EOC.

Support development of ASEAN-ERAT training (F3.4)

The AHA Centre requested LACER technical support in developing the Level 1 Introduction Training of ASEAN-ERAT. More specifically, the AHA ERAT team identified the following areas as relevant for LACER support:

  1. Enhance all the session designs 
  2. Co facilitate facilitators meeting and after action review 
  3. Develop manual for course facilitator and co facilitator 
  4. Share recommendations for the Induction Course, including learning methods and evaluation 
  5. Provide feedback for Training Officer and M&E officers 

From 10-21 February, LACER Team Leader Charles Silva and Learning Expert Olivia Setkic engaged in the 14th iteration of the Induction Course held in Da Nang, Vietnam, including five days of coursework and three days of simulation exercise (SIMEX). A total of 31 participants joined from principally NDMOs but also ASEAN Secretariat and AHA Centre. The training was facilitated and mentored by roster members from AHA Centre and NDMOs, as well as supporting facilitators from UN OCHA, Telecoms Sans Frontieres, MapAction and LACER.

Although the After Action Review of the course will be conducted in the coming weeks, LACER experts have already been able to make a number of observations and preliminary recommendations. Overall, the course was well-designed and managed, as well as engaging to the participants. The training provided qualitative and comprehensive course material shared in an easily accessible way. It further demonstrated a strong emphasis on analysing and improving learning from ongoing sessions, which is in part due to the LACER efforts to ensure ongoing evaluation and learning during all training functions. LACER experts likewise participated in the daily feedback sessions during the Level 1 training, seeking to understand and incorporate the comments of participants into the implementation process. The course also used several innovative learning tools like quizzes and game show, which are considered much welcome additions. Finally LACER underscored the importance of the live mentoring of teams throughout the SIMEX and coursework, using more experienced ERAT members to guide the participants. Separate recommendations have been forwarded to AHA Centre on various technical and pedagogical subjects, where LACER experts felt that AHA ERAT team should consider adapting the current procedures.

Workshop on support to the ASEAN Joint Disaster Response Plan (AJDRP) on multi-stakeholder involvement in disaster response (G1.3)

Gender Advisor Olga Bezbozhna was invited to facilitate and co-lead an ASEAN Exchange

Forum on the collection and use of disaggregated data in disaster response. The event, held on 22-23 February in Vietnam, built on earlier collaboration between LACER and ASEAN in integrating PGI into the regional response plan. The aim of the Forum included:

• Generate awareness on existing regional agenda and commitments relevant to data disaggregation, as a way towards Protection, Gender and Inclusion and understanding of the importance of integrating disaggregated data into disaster management.

• Facilitate the exchange of challenges and good practises for collecting, analysing, and utilising disaggregated data by sex, age, disability, and other socio-cultural and economic characteristics to support disaster preparedness and response strategies among ASEAN Member States.

• Collect inputs from ASEAN Member States and development partners on key entry points and strategies for the formulation of a regional guidelines on disaster data disaggregation.

 

Targeted participants included NDMOs, members of the ACDM Working Group on Prevention and Mitigation, representatives of the ACDM Working Group on PGI, and staff of the AHA Centre, ASEAN Secretariat DMHA, and UNWOMEN. LACER’s role in the design and implementation of the Forum were decisive, with the Gender Advisor and Team Leader providing technical expertise and collaborating with ASEAN colleagues to establish the agenda, develop a pre survey for participants, and create interactive sharing sessions to allow member states to describe their own practices. Through a successful Exchange Forum, LACER has contributed to ASEAN realising its Regional Framework for Protection, Gender and Inclusion in Disaster Management.