• UNITAR Division for Prosperity will hold the final workshop of the 2023 Cycle “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction Training Programme for World Tsunami Awareness Day” from 5 to 11 March 2024 in Nuku’alofa, Tonga.
• The programme empowers women leaders in the Pacific and other small islands developing states and Asian countries with practical expertise and insights to spearhead disaster risk reduction management initiatives that are both gender-inclusive and oriented to the whole of the community.
• The top 20 learners selected from more than 200 learners who participated in the first phase of the training programme will join the in-person workshop in Tonga.

The UNITAR Women’s Leadership in Disaster Risk Reduction Training Programme aims to empower women in small islands developing states, especially in the Pacific, and Asian countries with practical expertise and insights necessary for spearheading disaster risk reduction management initiatives that are both gender-inclusive and oriented to the whole of the community.

The 2023 round of the programme started in July 2023 with participants from 10 Pacific and other small island developing states and Asian countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Tokelau and Tonga.

In this final phase of the programme’s 2023 round, the selected participants will join immersive study tours in Tonga. They will visit key sites such as Ha’atafu Beach, Vakaloa Beach and Otuhaka Beach. These tours will offer firsthand exposure to Tonga’s disaster risk reduction strategies, particularly those devised in response to the 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami, and give participants invaluable insights into how to effectively tackle the complex challenges presented by disasters in the Pacific region.

The final workshop will end with group presentations, where participants will present their Disaster Risk Reduction plan to empower women and vulnerable populations to build resilience against disasters in their communities and islands.

Major Topics of the Tonga Workshop

1. Natural disaster science
2. Leadership and management
3. Gender and inclusivity in disaster risk reduction
4. Ecosystem-based and community-based disaster risk reduction
5. Media and communications
6. Mental health and wellness

The UNITAR Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction Training Programme for World Tsunami Awareness Day is run with the generous support of the Government and People of Japan. The programme is dedicated to advancing disaster preparedness and resilience and is inspired by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030). The framework prioritizes inclusivity in disaster risk reduction and involves diverse perspectives and communities to address risks and build resilience. 

In the first phase, participants learn the fundamental principles of disaster risk reduction and gender and inclusivity through interactive sessions with field experts, group work and online learning. Built on the disaster experiences of Japan as well as of the Pacific and Southeast Asia, the programme helps participants understand the impact of disasters and climate change on their communities and the need to integrate gender and inclusivity in disaster risk management strategies. 

The second and final phase delves deeper into applying these principles and learning about leadership and management in the post-disaster response and recovery. The programme seeks to ensure that participants are not only well-versed in theoretical concepts but are also prepared to implement practical solutions and lead initiatives to address the challenges faced by their communities.