2020 Women’s Leadership: A Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction Training Programme for World Tsunami Awareness Day
The effects of both the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami remain seared into the collective memory of all nations, particularly those most at risk to tsunamis. The number of natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanoes, dry rock-falls, landslides and avalanches, floods, storms, tropical cyclones, local storms, heat/cold waves, droughts, and wildfires, taking place each year have been skyrocketing since 2000, according to the International Disaster Database, EM-DAT. The lessons learned from these tragic events can assist in not only increased preparedness for the mitigation of tsunami-related disasters but also Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in general.
The world faces challenges beyond increasing natural hazards. The current pandemic, COVID-19, has necessitated rapid shifts in many aspects of world impacting life-styles and senses of value. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the necessity to discuss DRR techniques that include planning for risk management of biological hazards, such as viruses.
Socially vulnerable populations, such as women, elderly, youth, children, physically challenged, indigenous people, refugees, migrants, and minorities become even more vulnerable in emergencies. This is due to the systemic inequities and a lack of access to shelters, information, technologies or goods and services. Because women are ofen primary caregivers to children, elderly, and the ill in many societies, it is crucial to empower women. Involving women in the decision making process around disaster risk planning, is a crucial starting point in educating vulnerable populations on how to support themselves in the case of an emergency.
The programme is designed to encourage participants to gain knowledge in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), including Sendai Framework, Sustainable Development Goals, Gender Responsive DRR, Multi-stakeholder Coalition in DRR, Community Based DRR, etc. and finally to develop an “inclusive country DRR Plan” that is contextualized for each country with consideration of both natural and biological hazards.
By the end of this training, following the completion of webinars, along with e-courses, participants should be able to:
- Develop the inclusive country DRR Plan by country group
- Describe the key principles of DRR, with a focus on being able to discuss the Sendai Framework for Action and Sustainable Development Goals
- Discuss eco-system based DRR
- Illustrate key lessons learned from Japan’s experience regarding natural hazards including the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami and 2018 West Japan Floods
- Illustrate the importance of Gender-Inclusive Leadership in the context of DRR
- Describe good practice and report on norms and challenges regarding women’s leadership in Pacific Ocean as well as in Japan
- Outline community-based DRR
- Outline the importance of multi-stakeholder coalition in DRR
- Describe key elements to reduce risks of biological hazards
The overall course is designed to encourage participants to gain knowledge in DRR, including Sendai Framework, Sustainable Development Goals, Gender Responsive DRR, Multi-stakeholder Coalition in DRR, Community Based DRR, etc. and finally to develop a group presentation that will help them to take an action to prepare for future disasters that fits within their own contexts.
Throughout the programme, participants will be exposed to Japan’s experiences and reconstruction efforts.
The programme consists of three sections of on-demand and Webinar sessions, and one final group presentation.
- Section 1: Introduction to DRR and DRR Planning in the time of COVID-19
- Section 2: Women’s Leadership and Inclusive DRR Planning
- Section 3: Preparing for Future Disasters – Multi- stakeholder Coalition, Community Based DRR, and other considerations in DRR Planning
- Final Group Presentation: Each country group will present their own “Inclusive DRR Plan” that fits within each country’s context
The training will be conducted fully online using the EdApp micro-learning platform and other online tools geared with new technologies, such as Virtual Reality (VR), etc.
UNITAR will ship a pair of VR goggles to each participant to experience the virtual study tours of the affected areas. The videos of events and recorded interviews with survivors and various stakeholders will also help to deepen the understanding of Japan’s experience with DRR initiatives.
The programme targets 100 women from or living in 14 Pacific SIDS (Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu)