The Asia Pacific Gateway for Disaster Risk Reduction and Development has
been proposed as a regional hub that:
• provides quick and easy access to networks and organizations doing work
in disaster management and specifically disaster risk reduction in Asia Pacific.
• promotes mainstreaming DRR into development planning
• identifies disaster management services available to governments in the
region
• facilitates value-added regional level analysis, networking and information
sharing
• supports and encourages multilingual submissions and information
sharing.
• provides a number of online services that supports existing networks in
their work
PRIMARY USERS
National Disaster Management Authorities play a pivotal role in disaster management
and disaster risk reduction. Among other responsibilities, they are tasked with:
• developing National Disaster Management strategies, plans, and guidelines,
• building Disaster Management and DRR capacities with line ministries as well as
with provincial and sometimes local authorities,
• acting as national focal points for international initiatives like the Hugo Framework
for Action
As a result the Gateway will focus on NDMA/Os as the primary user group for the
information and services provided. Other groups will also find the information useful.
Regionally aggregated data and information will be of interest to academic and
research institutions. Line Ministries interested in mainstreaming disaster risk
reduction with their work will find relevant information and support. NGOs doing
work in the field will find resources available on the site that will support their work.
While the Gateway will be available to the general, members that log on will have
access to online discussions and functions not available to the public.
BUILDING ON EXISTING RESOURCES
As a Gateway this initiative will profile and build upon existing online resources.
Examples of networks that the Gateway will work with include: (i) the DRR Project
Portal for Asia and the Pacific (ADB, ISDR ADPC) , PreventionWeb (ISDR) , Pacific
Disaster Net (Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network, SOPAC, UNDP,
OCHA, International Federation Red Cross), etc. Types of information that can be
aggregated at the regional level from these networks include:
• DM Policies, Legislation, Strategies and Plans
• Roles and Responsibilities of NDMA/Os
• Publications + Training Material
• Events and News consolidated in a regional calendar
• Contacts
• Disaster Management Services available to member states in the region (like
DALA, Help Desk for Integrated Flood Management, etc.)
• Resources and services will be more targeted as feedback is received from users.
CONTRIBUTING TO THE GATEWAY
ESCAP welcomes contributions from member states and development organizations
that support compilation of materials. These contributions can include:
• publications/documents and training materials
• case studies
• contacts of who's who
• list of relevant services available from donors, etc to member states
• moderators for online discussions on topics of interest
• assistance with regional level analytical work done with materials brought
together by the Gateway Initiative
• identification of useful websites and networks that can be profiled on the
Gateway
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Preminda Fernando
Information and Communications Technology
and Disaster Risk Reduction Division, Economic
and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Tel: +66 2288-2862
[email protected]