Resilience Library

ASEAN Disaster Law Mapping Consultation | 8 September 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-09-08 08:30 - 17:00 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
Purpose/Overview:
The “ASEAN Disaster Law Mapping Consultation” seeks to confirm the accuracy of the research and findings endorsed by the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on the “ASEAN Peer to Peer Learning: Disaster Law and Policy Platform.” As part of the peer learning platform, it was proposed to map and analyze domestic disaster laws to create an evidence-base for assessing the institutionalization of ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) provisions in domestic legal frameworks, specially focusing on disaster preparedness and response provisions. The outputs of the mapping will be a Final Report providing a comparative regional overview and some country-level example of AADMER preparedness and response institutionalization in domestic law and policy.
The consultation is a key step in the research process as it will ground the research on actual experiences by NDMOs, Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies and other non-government stakeholders in ensuring that AADMER provisions are supported by their domestic legal frameworks.
Expected Participants:

NDMO / AADMER focal point of each ASEAN Member States
Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in ASEAN
ASEC and AHA representatives
IGO/INGO/CSO networks in SEA i.e.: UNDP ROAP, ADB, Lao PDR DRR NGOs consortium, Philippines DRR Network, Indonesia PLANAS

Objectives:

To provide an opportunity for ASEAN Member States and key stakeholders to modify and /or validate the initial findings of the draft research and Online Platform before these are finalized and presented to the full ACDM Ministerial Meeting in October 2017.
To strengthen the evidence base and shared learning opportunities on AADMER and other disaster law themes within ASEAN.

Supporting documents: Concept note | Agenda | Participant List | Links (to relevance of the consultation meeting)

IFRC Reports to ACDM Working Group Meeting | 6-7 September 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-09-06 - 2017-09-07
In September 2017, IFRC provided updates on its contribution to the AADMER Work Programme 2016-2020 through two presentations as below:

Technical working group on prevention and mitigation on 7 September 2017
Technical working group on preparedness and response on 6 September 2017

5th Southeast Asia Youth Network (SEAYN) annual meeting and Youth Empowerment in Community Programme | 4-8 September 2017 | Manila, Philippines
2017-09-04 08:00 - 2017-09-08 17:00
The 5th Southeast Asia Youth Network (SEAYN) annual meeting will be held together with the Youth Empowerment in Community programme on 4 to 8 September 2017 in the Philippines, hosted by the Philippine Red Cross.
The Youth Empowerment in Community programme will be held on 4 to 6 September, followed by SEAYN annual meeting will be held on 7 to 8 September.

Expected outcomes of these two events will be:

To engage youths into the community actions with different themes in a more meaningful way
To enhance roles and responsibilities of youth practitioners and leaders through the commitment into SEAYN action plans and in a response to the Beijing Call for Innovation.
To engage into ASEAN Strategy in a meaningful way.
To nominate and handover Coordination team to next team in a successful way and affirm the importance of regional RCRC Youth Network and “Youth-led and National Societies-owned” platforms.

Related documents:

Concept note
Agenda
Detailed program (with details of opening ceremony, closing ceremony, participant list, YEC participants and facilitator list)
SEAYN info pack for participants

Presentations from National Societies:

Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society
Cambodian Red Cross
Indonesia Red Cross Society
Lao Red Cross
Malaysian Red Crescent Society
Myanmar Red Cross Society
Philippine Red Cross Society
Singapore Red Cross Society
Thai Red Cross Society
Timor-Leste Red Cross Society
Viet Nam Red Cross Society

Outcome documents:

5th annual SEAYN meeting report
Youth Empowerment in Ccommunity (YEC) report
Terms of Reference of SEAYN 2017
Plan of Action for SEAYN 2017-2018

More information and documents will be added in due course. Read more about Southeast Asia Youth Network (SEAYN)

Grab taxi drivers training on basic First Aid | Phuket | 31 August 2017
2017-08-31 08:00 - 17:00
Phuket as one of the most popular tourist spots in Thailand, saw the Grab taxi drivers training on basic first aid in Thailand conducted on 31 August 2017 in Phuket Province with the technical support from the facilitation team of Phang Nga Red Cross Station No. 14, Thai Red Cross, Phang Nga Province.
Grab taxi drivers (male 11, female 3) participating in the first aid training. There were 6 key topics focusing on both technical and practical sessions related to standard basic first aid for 6 hours including basic first aid procedures, bandaging hands, feet, head and arms sling, the wounds, choking, stroke, heart diseases, CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and referral and transportation to hospitals which was facilitated by four first aid instructors/ specialists from Thai Red Cross, Phang Nga Red Cross Station.
This basic first aid training is the sixth training held. Grab Thailand plans to organize a total of 11 or 12 basic first aid training courses with the technical support from Thai Red Cross (Training Centre for First Aid and Health Care) and IFRC CCST Bangkok in 2017.
For more information, please contact Mr. Niwattana Assawarakse , email: niwattana.as@grabtaxi.com and Dr. Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer, email: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org

Demystifying the Global Agenda Frameworks into Practice | 29-30 August 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-08-29 08:00 - 2017-08-30 17:00
Demystifying the Global Agenda Frameworks into Practice
Significant progress has been made in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, humanitarian response, and in development under the global frameworks that guide them. However, due to their respective mandates, government agencies have been working in silos towards reducing disaster and climate risks. The evolution of the global frameworks and creation of new ones calls for a universal and more comprehensive approach, which focuses on sustainability and resiliency. These global frameworks are considered as tools to support government agencies and relevant stakeholders on their progress towards sustainability and resiliency.
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), GIZ, UNESCAP, UNDP and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) altogether in a partnership (partners), see this as an opportunity to develop a deeper knowledge on the key linkages within the global frameworks to ensure that the operationalization of these frameworks at the country- and local-level serves as a vehicle to bring about positive changes towards investment decisions and strengthened risk governance.
The partners aim to organize the event together with other partners, and bring all relevant stakeholders including governments, UN agencies, RCRC National Societies, Civil Society Organizations and the private sector to help guide an integrated and inclusive approach to building national and local resiliency capacities as an effective approach towards the implementation of global goals.
The 2-day forum aims to identify the challenges, linkages, and potential key entry points for integrating the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Agreement on Climate Change Adaptation, and the World Humanitarian Summit towards achieving a common goal of making communities resilient to disaster and climate risks in the Asia-Pacific region.

Useful links:

Outcomes of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Cancun, Mexico
The High-level Political Forum, United Nations central platform for follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, provides for the full and effective participation of all States Members of the United Nations and States members of specialized agencies.
Outcomes of the AMCDRR 2016
The Global Agenda of Local and Regional Governments
Climate and Disaster Resilience, United Nations Development Programme overview of programmes, initiatives and events.

Supporting document (more documents will be uploaded in time):

Concept note
Agenda
Practical information for participants
Participant List
Report

For more information on the proceedings and presentations, please go to this link.

Final Evaluation Meeting of Capacity Development for Thai Red Cross Volunteers – Training of Trainers (TOT) for Elderly Self Care and for Elderly Care in 12 Provinces | Cha-Am, Thailand | 23-24 August 2017
2017-08-23 08:00 - 2017-08-24 17:00
Thai Red Cross prepares for the care and the support for elderly people in communities.
The number of elderly people is growing: Thailand is currently ranked the third most rapidly ageing population in the world. In 2015, over 10 percent of the Thai population, or more than 7-8 million people, were 65 years old or older. By 2040, a projected 17 million Thais above 65 years of age will account for more than a quarter of the population.

Thai Red Cross has been piloting the two training modules: 1) Elderly Self Care implementing in 6 provinces and 2) Elderly Care by care givers implementing in 6 provinces.
There were 84 participants who received the training course on Health Ageing-Elderly Self Care and Elderly Care by Care givers by Thai Red Cross’ Training Center. In each province, 7 trainers conducted the two trainings for Red Cross Volunteers with 18 hours of training courses or 3-day training at provincial or district levels.
In January to July 2017, 12 Provincial Red Cross Chapters have been piloting / providing the TOT training on Healthy Ageing for 84 trainers (7 trainers per province). A total of 2,300 volunteers were registered into the TRC’s system, and 280 elderly patients were supported or supervised by volunteers in the communities.
The implementation of Healthy Ageing Program in 14 provinces will be scaled up in 2018 by the support from Provincial Red Cross Chapters. Moreover, volunteer recruitment in the Healthy Ageing Program will be registered into One Million Volunteers System.
The IFRC’s Healthy Ageing Training Toolkit will be applied to fit local contexts. The Health Assessment Forms of IFRC Healthy Ageing toolkits will be integrated into TRC’s healthy ageing training toolkits.
For more information, please contact Miss Darunee Poosanasuwansri; Senior Instructor, Training Center for First Aid and Health Care, Thai Red Cross, email: d_poosana@yahoo.com; Dr.Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer, email: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org

Cross-Border Contingency Planning: Enhancing Cooperation between Red Cross National Societies of Thailand and Lao PDR | 15-17 August 2017 | Nongkhai, Thailand
2017-08-15 - 2017-08-17
Neighbours across the Mekong river, both Lao PDR and Thailand frequently experience floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves and other meteorological events that can have a devastating impact on the most vulnerable populations and their livelihoods.
To better respond to future disasters, almost hundred participants from the Red Cross National Societies of Laos and Thailand as well as the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and Department of Health from both sides of the river came together to discuss about common and potential risks, scenarios and the development of contingency plans.
During the workshop, the participants discussed the ways to minimize the impact of disasters through coordinated scenarios as well as response and preparedness plans.
“This workshop helps us to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses as well as the opportunities to work together in the most sustainable way. Thai Red Cross would like to build on this and further replicate with other neighbouring countries in the future”, said Mr. Sawanit Kongsiri, Assistant to Secretary General of the Thai Red Cross Society.
“This is also a golden opportunity for our branches to exchange their direct contacts and coordinate at branch level to effectively mobilise resources to respond to future challenges”, added Mr. Thongphachanh Sonenasin, Vice President of Lao Red Cross Society.

Based on the existing information collected before and during the workshop, three different disaster scenarios were developed. Supported by range of facilitators, the participants then discussed contingency planning in regards of those scenarios, aiming to prepare both National Societies at various levels to better respond by making decisions in advance about the management of human and financial resources, coordination and communications procedures, and being aware of a range of technical and logistical responses.
“As the role of Red Cross is to support government during disaster, it was a good practice to bring various stakeholders to discuss these plans. It is important to have good coordination mechanisms between Red Cross Chapter and government agencies”, said Ms. Naowarat Akepapan, Uttaradit Red Cross Chapter President, Thai Red Cross Society.
Concluding the workshop, both Red Cross National Societies agreed to encourage and support cross-border cooperation at branch level through exchange visits and capacity building for effective disaster response and preparedness as well as health and care. It was also agreed that among several branches from both sides, pilot initiatives will be started to build a model for future replication.
A total of 74 respondents completed the final evaluation where it captured their feedback and comments. Figure 1 shows that most of participants had a positive feedback about the contingency plan workshop with overall satisfaction at 81.08% and contributed in improving their knowledge at 81.08%. 74.32% said that the technical and practical aspects planned well. In fact, 80 % felt that the team of facilitators was qualified. For quality of working group, management and logistics and hotel facilities, the respondents were satisfied at 81.08%, 78.38%, and 81.76% respectively.

Related documents: Agenda, concept note and report

Southeast Asia Gender and Diversity Network Meeting and Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) Training | 31 July - 4 August 2017 | Manila, Philippines
2017-07-31 08:00 - 2017-08-04 17:00
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a life-threatening, global health and human rights issue. In December 2015, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement adopted the joint Resolution on Sexual and Gender Based Violence: Joint Action on Prevention and Response. The Resolution outlines specific responsibilities for States, National Societies, IFRC and the ICRC in prevention and response to SGBV. One of the key elements of the resolution is to strengthen the capacity of Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers to prevent, mitigate and respond to SGBV in emergencies. Subsequently, the IFRC has developed a global training module on SGBV that will be rolled-out in the Asia-Pacific region during 2017. Before the training in Southeast Asia, this training has been pilot tested with the South Asia network in May 2017 and with the Pacific network in July 2017 and feedback incorporated to enhance the training modules.

The objectives of the Southeast Asia Gender and Diversity Network meeting and Training are:

To provide professional development training for all network members, (and for additional Southeast Asia National Society staff) on IFRC’s Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Emergencies training module to build staff capacities and to allow participants to facilitate training in their respective NS for management, staff and volunteers.
To bring together members of the Southeast Asia Gender and Diversity network to share experiences, update knowledge, discuss issues/problems and identify solutions. A key outcome of this network meeting will be to prepare annual Gender and Diversity action plans for promoting and institutionalizing gender and diversity work in their respective National Societies as well as a sustainability plan for the network itself.

Supporting documents: Concept note | Agenda | Joint Action on SGBV Prevention | Meeting Report

Presentations and other resources:

Training Skills – Participant’s Handbook
Day 1 presentations which include:

Session 1 : Introduction
Session 2: Key concepts on gender-based violence (GBV) and what the Red Cross Red Crescent can offer to support survivors of SGBV
Session 3: Completing a situational analysis

Day 2 presentations which include:

Session 4: Review and discussion
Session 5: GBV mitigation and response – with a focus on psychosocial support/health and the IFRC minimum standards
Session 6: Basic monitoring of SGBV approaches

Day 3 presentations which include:

Session 7: Internal protection systems
Session 8: Basic staff care

Day 4 presentations which include:

Session 9: Action planning
Session 10: SGBV training
Session 11: Evaluation and next steps

A story of this training is available from ifrc.org at this link.

Lao Red Cross Youth in School Safety Facilitators Training | 25-28 July 2017 | Vientiane, Lao PDR
2017-07-25 08:00 - 2017-07-28 17:00
With the collaboration of Thai Red Cross Society Youth Bureau and IFRC Bangkok CCST, the first ever Youth in School Safety Facilitators Training was held in July 25-28 in Vientiane, Lao PDR to support the Lao Red Cross Youth in School Safety programme, under the Building Urban Resilience in Southeast Asia project.
A total of 20 participants attended the training. They had a two-day practice and conducted one-day programme in five schools targeted within Building Urban Resilience in Southeast project.
The main outcome of the programme was the action plans from each school youth and each individual facilitator’s commitment for the expansion of Youth for School Safety programme.
Supporting documents:

Training report will be uploaded soon.
The training used Youth in School Safety (YSS) Facilitator’s Guide

Migration Lessons Learnt Workshop for Mindanao Returnees operation | 19-20 July 2017 | Manila, Philippines
2017-07-19 08:00 - 2017-07-20 17:00
The Philippine Red Cross organized Migration Lessons Learnt Workshop for Mindanao Returnees operation from 19-20 July 2017 in Manila, the Philippines with the support of IFRC. It was attended by 31 participants (15 females, 16 males), consisting of Philippine Red Cross National Headquarters and chapter staff and volunteers, Partner National Societies and the IFRC.
Background
Since 15 February 2017, there has been a rapid increase in the number of Filipino returnees from the state of Sabah in Malaysia arriving in Zamboanga City, Mindanao. While repatriations were procedural and common prior to the increase, the sinking of a vessel that previously transported the returnees prompted suspension of the exercise in September 2016. The suspension of repatriations led to a backlog of approximately 7,000 undocumented Filipino migrants in Sabah.
As of 31 May, a total of 2,382 returnees have arrived since the exercise started on 15 February. More returnees are expected to arrive in the city over the next weeks in line with an agreement reached by Philippine and Malaysian governments in November 2016 to clear the backlog.
The PRC has been complementing the efforts and assistance being provided by the public authorities. PRC is providing services to support returnees in terms of improving their health, safety and welfare. The support by PRC is being provided on one-off basis in view of the scale of returnees’ needs following the backlog of repatriations. Under normal circumstance, the National Society does not engage in providing welfare services to returnees in routine repatriations.
Specific Objectives:

To present the progress of the Returnee Operation in – Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
To share good practices or strategies undertaken by different chapters in resolving context specific challenges.
To understand migration in Asia and the Pacific and changing face of migration in the Philippines.
To acknowledge achievements and discuss key challenges faced during response coordination in the affected areas (Zamboanga etc.)
To generate recommendations to improve current systems and response mechanisms depending on the context.
To learn from other similar operations (e.g. from Myanmar), strengthen existing partnerships and develop new partnerships.
To have better preparedness in relation to address specific needs of migrants in relation to Health, Gender, Protection etc.

Expected Outcome/Results/Deliveries:

Workshop proceedings/ documentation report
Documented case studies
Overview of the operations – highlighting the key strengths and weaknesses
Identifying capacity development areas based on lesson learned
Agree on priority recommendations from the lesson learned
Importance of Operational and Coordination Support
Cross-cutting Issues

The agenda and proceedings are available in the report.

Gender and Diversity Organizational Assessment Workshop | 17-18 July 2017 | Manila, Philippines
2017-07-17 08:00 - 2017-07-18 17:00
Gender and Diversity Organizational Assessment Workshop conducted by Philippine Red Cross
Following its mandate of reaching and providing humanitarian service to the most vulnerable, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), with the support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Australian Red Cross, held a Gender and Diversity (GAD) Organizational Assessment Workshop on 17-18 July 2017 at the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Multipurpose Hall. The two-day activity seeks to come-up with valuable strategies to integrate GAD in the operations and services of the PRC.
Gender and Diversity
GAD is one of the cross cutting thematic issues that the IFRC has identified to affect the implementation of a project especially in a humanitarian organization such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The IFRC developed a GAD Strategic Framework to ensure that Red Cross programs are not gender biased i.e. having equal allocation of resources, opportunities and services to everyone, as well as, encouraging equity in decision making across diverse groups.
GAD Mainstreaming in the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)
Currently, Ms. Norwina Eclarinal—Officer in Charge Manager of International Relations and Strategic Partnerships Office (IRSPO)—is the lead advocate and the designated GAD focal person in various PRC projects. Since last year, Eclarinal spearheaded activities toward GAD integration such as facilitating awareness session on GAD, involving and consulting PRC staff in GAD mainstreaming initiative, and just recently conducted an assessment on the perception of the PRC staff and volunteers to determine the presence and extent of GAD in the organization.
The said assessment was conducted to selected PRC Chapters implementing various programs and was assisted by IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Office.
Gender and Diversity Organizational Assessment Workshop conducted by Philippine Red Cross
Some of the highlights of the recommendations made by the committee were involving the PRC Board of Governors in this initiative, strengthening awareness campaigns about GAD, working with the human resource department in implementing GAD sensitive policies for the staff, and linking with Community Engagement and Accountability to establish multiple avenues of feedback from our beneficiaries.
Through the current efforts for GAD, the technical working group envisions PRC as an organization which respects and response to the GAD needs of the staff, volunteers and beneficiaries.
For more information, please contact Maryjoy.evalarosa@ifrc.org

Sub-National Dissemination Workshops on Disaster Management Law | 12 July - 10 August 2017 | Pursat, Kampot, Kratie Provinces, Cambodia
2017-07-12 08:00 - 2017-08-10 17:00
Following the National Dissemination Workshop on Disaster Management Law held last February, three sub-national dissemination workshops on Disaster Management Law were held in 3 different provinces in Cambodia: Pursat, Kampot and Kratie.
The three sub-national dissemination workshops (and the National level workshop) seeks to strengthen public awareness on the new disaster management law and increase understanding and cooperation in the implementation of the law and its relevant components. This includes implementation and cooperation in relation to risk reduction (also in accordance with Cambodia’s National Strategic Plan for DRR), preparedness for response and recovery as well as the awareness on climate change adaptation at national and sub-national levels. The dissemination workshops will familiarize participants with the most relevant components of the 2015 Disaster Management Law, especially with regard to roles, rights and responsibilities. The dissemination will also serve to reinforce and highlight the role of Cambodia Red Cross as a key community-based actor and partner of NCDM and the PCDMs.

The expected result of the national and subsequent sub-national workshops are to:

Promote how the importance of the Disaster Management Law and how it can support the emergency
services, the Cambodian Red Cross, humanitarian agencies and the communities that they serve.
Strengthen relations between government institutions, UN agencies, Cambodian Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies.
Promote and raise awareness of the Disaster Management Law to key focal persons at national, provincial and Red Cross branches to carry out relief operations on time, and to improve accountability and effectiveness.
To highlight links between the disaster management law and the national strategy for disaster risk reduction

The details of the sub national dissemination workshop location, participants and the outreach areas are:

In Pursat Province on 12 July 2017, with 42 participants coming from Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Pailin, Banteay Mean Chey, Battambang, Oddor Mean Chey, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.
In Kampot Province on 26 July 2017, with 50 participants coming from Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Takeo, Kep, Kandal, Kampong Speu, Prey Veng, Kampot and Svay Rieng.
In Kratie Province on 10 August 2017, with 45 participants coming from Kratie, Tbong Khmum, Rattanakiri, Mondulkiri, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom.

Supporting Documents:

Agenda and concept note
Pamphlet – Cambodia Disaster Management Framework [English] [Cambodian/Khmer]
Pamphlet – Know your Rights, Roles and Responsibility in Disaster Management [English] [Cambodian/Khmer]
Powerpoint Presentation – Cambodia National Dissemination Workshop on Disaster Management Law [English] [Cambodian/Khmer]
Walk-Through Scenario – Flooding in 8 Provinces in Mekong Region [English] [Cambodian/Khmer]
Report

See also:

National Dissemination Workshop on Disaster Management Law held last February in Cambodia
Disaster Law

Audio-visual storytelling workshop | 10-13 July 2017 | Metro Manila, the Philippines
2017-07-10 08:00 - 2017-07-13 17:00
Between 10 and 13 July in Metro Manila, staff and volunteers from different departments and chapters of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) joined a participatory video workshop facilitated by IFRC’s audio-visual experts. This workshop aimed at enhancing the audio-visual storytelling skills and capacities of the participants, allowing them to better advocate on behalf of the communities the Red Cross supports.

Over the course of four intensive days, participants familiarised themselves with theories and practices of audio-visual storytelling and participatory video techniques as useful tools in addressing key vulnerability issues. Through several hands-on assignments and group work, participants explored different ways of telling powerful stories, showcasing the impact of the Red Cross support and making community voices heard by the decision makers. During a field visit to one of the vulnerable communities the PRC supports, participants engaged and made videos with the community members, bringing people together and enabling them to “show and tell” their own situation, challenges and achievements.

Following the workshop, participants will be able to create films to showcase community voices, share this knowledge with their peers and inspire others on humanitarian work.
For more information, contact Mirva Helenius of IFRC at mirva.helenius@ifrc.org

Healthy Ageing Training for Cambodian Red Cross Volunteers | 4-12 July 2017 | various provinces in Cambodia
2017-07-04 08:00 - 2017-07-12 17:00
A two-day training in Healthy Ageing for Cambodian Red Cross volunteers was held by Cambodian Red Cross, IFRC and Pfizer Inc., respectively in :

Prey Veng Province, 4-5 July 2017
Svay Rieng Province, 6-7 July 2017
Kampot Province, 11-12 July 2017

The main objective of this training course is to provide knowledge and skills for Cambodian Red Cross volunteers so that they are able to provided education to target community on healthy ageing.

Achievements of the training sessions:

Healthy Ageing is one of the main agendas or key priorities of Provincial Red Cross Branches.
The outcomes and results from the training on healthy ageing for volunteers will be summarized and presented to Red Cross Committee.
The commitment and the leadership roles from Cambodian Red Cross National Head Quarters and Provincial Red Cross Branches are the key achievements of these three training courses.
The training toolkit has been translated into Khmer local language which proofreading and validating by the team of health experts from central and provincial levels.
IEC materials and health education brochures have been addressed and encouraged by Mme. Pum Chantinie, Secretary General, to develop it and to simplify it to use by volunteers in communities.

See also:

Related programme: Healthy Ageing Programme by Cambodian Red Cross
Report of this workshop | Report of the outreach sessions conducted after this workshop
Healthy Ageing Training of Trainers Workshop held before this workshop

See related resources:

Healthy Ageing Toolkit for facilitators, volunteers and community, available in both English and Cambodian/Khmer versions
Healthy Ageing Facilitator Guide for teaching community volunteers, available in both English and Cambodian/Khmer versions
Healthy Ageing Volunteer Guide for empowering communities, available in both English and Cambodian/Khmer versions

Asia Pacific Youth Network (APYN) Meeting | 3-6 July 2017 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017-07-03 08:00 - 2017-07-06 17:00
The APYN Meeting was held in IFRC AP office from July 3-6 aiming to review the APYN Plan of Action for 2015-2016 and to develop the Plan of Action for 2017-2018, taking into account the existing policy, strategy, and commitments such as Youth Policy (2011), Youth Engagement Strategy (2013), Beijing Call for Innovation and Beijing Youth Commitment (the regional declarations adopted during the 9th Asia Pacific Regional Conference in 2014) with the attendance of youth members from sub regional network.
Outcomes of meeting

Identify sub regional network strength and weakness, challenges and issues, and hold an open discussion on collaboration and cooperation between four regions such as South Asia, Pacific, Southeast Asia and East Asia.
Consolidate the APYN plan of action 2017-2018 in aligned with the sub regional plan of action.
Identify key youth regional agenda through the discussion, presentation and attendance of briefing from each unit of APRO and consolidate key thematic agenda which Youth can play a leading role such as migration, innovation and social inclusion with non-violence and peace.

For more information, contact Kumju.ho@ifrc.org

Fifth Youth Camp organized by Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste | 30 June - 2 July 2017 | Baucau, Timor-Leste
2017-06-30 08:00 - 2017-07-02 17:00
Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL or Timor-Leste Red Cross) held the fifth Youth Camp event to ignite the spirit of volunteerism among young volunteers from 30 June to 2 July in Baucau, Timor-Leste. Around 44 young volunteers (aged 12 to 25 years old) participated in this gathering to share experiences, learn new skills and build future youth programming.
The involvement of young volunteers at Timor-Leste Red Cross is crucial to ensure that the services run at the community level. To date, youth programme covers health promotion, HIV/ AIDS campaign and first aid respectively. The volunteers play a pivotal role in educating their peers to practise healthy lifestyle as well as in disseminating disaster risk reduction issues in areas prone to natural disaster.
During the Youth Camp gathering, the volunteers evaluated their programmes and developed new interventions to help more people in need. One new agenda identified is to reach out to vulnerable groups including elderly, children and disabled people in their respective communities. Timor-Leste Red Cross hopes that by targeting vulnerable groups it will strengthen the community based programmes across the country.

Pre-Disaster Season Meeting 2017 | 28 June 2017 | Hanoi, Vietnam
2017-06-28 08:00 - 17:00
Pre-Disaster Season Meeting 2017 – Vietnam Red Cross Society 27 June 2017

On 28 June 2017, the Viet Nam Red Cross Society headquarters organized the Pre-disaster Season Meeting 2017. The event was attended by representatives from the Viet Nam Red Cross departments, disaster-prone chapters, Central Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, National Meteorological and Hydrological Forecast Center, the Disaster Management Center, Red Cross and Red Crescent Movements and international organizations including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), UNICEF, UNDP and USAID.
The meeting included forecast of natural disaster trend in 2017, mapping of resources and capacity of Movement partners in emergency response, reviewing of the 2012-2017 framework agreement in disaster preparedness and response among Movement partners, and sharing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Viet Nam Red Cross Society and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, which was signed in March 2017. This agreement forms the basis for further cooperation agreements between the Red Cross and Departments of of Agriculture and Rural Development at the provincial level.
In addition to enhancing cooperation with the government at headquarters and local levels, the Viet Nam Red Cross Society is also reviewing its existing response teams and looking into setting up new response teams at provincial and commune levels, as well as developing the disaster preparedness plan for 2017 to allow for more coordinated response.

See the supporting documents:

Agenda
Participation list
Press release
Presentation: Overview of pre-disaster agreement between Vietnam Red Cross, IFRC and Partners National Societies in Vietnam in 2012-2017 [in ENGLISH]
Presentation: Vietnam Red Cross Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Response 2017 [in VIETNAMESE]
Presentation: Vietnam Red Cross and United Nations 2017 [in VIETNAMESE]

Celebration of the World Blood Donor Day | Bangkok | 14 June 2017
2017-06-14 08:00 - 17:00
The National Blood Centre of Thai Red Cross organized the World Blood Donor Day on 11 June 2017 with the theme and campaign of “What can you do? Give Blood, Give now, Give often”.
Globally, the IFRC plays a significant role in advocating and promoting regular voluntary non-remunerated blood donation (VNRBD) and Youth clubs which are also known as the International Club 25. Every year on 14 June, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The event, established in 2004, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products, and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood. This year, the global event will be organized in Hanoi Vietnam to celebrate the same theme.
The lives and health of millions of people are affected by emergencies every year. In the last decade, disasters have caused more than 1 million deaths, with more than 250 million people being affected by emergencies every year. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and storms create considerable needs for emergency health care, while at the same time, often destroying vital health facilities as well. Man-made disasters such as road accidents and armed conflicts also generate substantial health care demands and the need for front-line treatment.
Blood transfusion is an essential component of emergency health care. Emergencies increase the demand for blood transfusion and make its delivery challenging and complex. Adequate supply of blood during emergencies requires a well-organized blood service, and this can only be ensured by engaging the entire community and a blood donor population committed to voluntary unpaid blood donation throughout the year.
This year, the Thai Red Cross plays a leadership role in giving a 8-bed mobile service bus to Lao Red Cross to contribute to saving the lives of more 6.5 million people in Lao PDR. Thai Red Cross also committed and provided technical support in increasing the capacity of National Blood Center of Lao Red Cross to develop the blood campaigns, communication materials, and other blood service supply and equipment.
Additionally, Thai Red Cross Society and all key stakeholders are moving toward in promoting safe and sustainable blood programmes in Thailand for those in needed to save their lives. This is to make sure that Thai Red Cross could provide blood about 1,500-3,000 units a day in average for the patients and the requests from all of the hospitals in Thailand .
For more information, contact: Miss Unchalee Pochailert , Communications Officer, National Blood Centre, Thai Red Cross, email: aunchaleeoil22@gmail.com and Dr. Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer, email: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org

Training of Trainers of Healthy Ageing | 13-15 June 2017 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia
2017-06-13 08:00 - 2017-06-15 17:00
The first roll out of Healthy Ageing Programme in ASEAN: Cambodian Red Cross prepares for an ageing society and promotes Community Based Healthy Ageing in 25 provinces and pilot projects in three provinces, supported by IFRC in partnership with Pfizer Inc. in 2017.
There are 34 participants (Male 14, Female 20) from 25 provincial red cross branches and two Thai Red Cross representatives participating in this training course. The peer-to-peer facilitation team consists of two specialists from Bulgarian & Mongolian Red Cross National Societies with the technical support from IFRC Bangkok and Geneva.
Cambodian Red Cross National Society is the third country in the world to show the leadership and the commitment in implementing “Community Based Healthy Ageing Programme” after Montenegro, and India. IFRC supports National Societies to play a key role in promoting healthy ageing which contributes to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global strategy and action plan on ageing and health , which focuses on five strategic objectives:
1). commitment to action on healthy ageing in every country;
2). developing age-friendly environments;
3). aligning health systems to the needs of older populations;
4). developing sustainable and equitable systems for providing long-term care (home, communities, institutions);
5). improving measurement, monitoring and research on healthy ageing.
This 3-day training of trainers (TOT) held in Phnom Penh highlights the life course approach, healthy ageing determinants and evidence-based behaviour change theories. The toolkit includes content on noncommunicable diseases, risk factors such as falls and social isolation, healthy eating, physical activity, lifelong learning and plan of action as well as tools which provide guidance and activities to help people pursue healthier lives and enable active ageing with dignity and a better quality of life.
After this TOT training, the pilot projects in three targeted provinces – Kampot, Svay Rieng and Prey Veng will be implemented the project activities to improve the quality of life of Cambodia elderly people in rural community about 500 persons. Moreover, 90-100 Red Cross volunteers will be trained on Healthy Ageing, 18 outreach education sessions on NCD and health promotion in targeted communities at Buddhist pagodas will be conducted by trained volunteers, 3,000 healthy ageing booklets will be produced, and at least 2 case studies and stories and project review and lessons learnt reports will be developed.
See also the Cambodian Red Cross website link, IFRC website link and the report of the event.

See related resources:

Healthy Ageing Toolkit for facilitators, volunteers and community, available in both English and Cambodian/Khmer versions
Healthy Ageing Facilitator Guide for teaching community volunteers, available in both English and Cambodian/Khmer versions
Healthy Ageing Volunteer Guide for empowering communities, available in both English and Cambodian/Khmer versions

See also:

Related programme: Healthy Ageing Programme by Cambodian Red Cross
Training workshop on Healthy Ageing for Cambodian Red Cross volunteers | 4-12 July 2017 | various provinces in Cambodia

2nd National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) training | 12-16 June 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-06-12 - 2017-06-16
In the past 2 years, the Thai Red Cross Society (TRC) has been conducting the National Disaster Response Team (NDRT), and the participants were from Red Cross Chapters, Red Cross health stations and relevant networks. A total of 149 TRC’s staffs from different regions of Thailand have been trained and are ready to be deployed for disaster responses.
With the NDRT training, TRC would expand the knowledge of disaster response to new-comer staff, in order to deploy them for disaster reliefs and responses both at the national and regional levels.
TRC has 3 minimum standards to assist victims when disasters occur as follow:
1. The relief kit items will be distributed to the victims after 6 hours that a disaster has happened
2. TRC will set up the tent to assist the victims within 4 hours after a disaster strikes
3. The victims will receive food and beverage within 4 hours after a disaster strikes
Key outcomes
• Participants gained the knowledge of disaster response and understood the TRC’s disaster response mechanism
• Participants understood the assessment cycle and can identify the plan of action
• Participants understood the coordination and communication during disaster
See also: the 1st NDRT Training conducted on 15-17 March 2017

Supporting documents

Agenda of 2nd NDRT training
Participant list

Presentations
Day 1:

Introduction to IFRC global response tools [ in Thai] by IFRC
Disaster management in Thailand [in Thai] by Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) of Thailand
Safer access framework [in Thai], Safety and security [in Thai] by ICRC
Restoring Family Links [in Thai] by ICRC

Day 2:

Thai Red Cross Disaster Response Mechanism [in Thai], by Thai Red Cross Society
Information and Communication system during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Media – dealing with media during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Communication during emergency [in Thai], Communication channel matrix [in Thai], by IFRC
Thai Red Cross Disaster Relief Management [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society

Day 3:

Psychosocial support (PSS) during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
SPHERE standards [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Health in Emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Shelter during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Watsan during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Sanitation during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society

Day 4:

Plan of Action [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Needs Assessment [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society
Logistics during emergency [in Thai] by Thai Red Cross Society

IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Meeting: Health and Care for Migrants and Displaced Persons: Strengthening Humanitarian Action | 6-7 June 2017 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017-06-06 08:00 - 2017-06-07 17:00
Building on last year’s Mobilising the Movement: Humanitarian Responses to Migration, this year’s regional migration event focused on Health and Care for Migrants, and was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 6-7 June 2017. The event aimed to highlight the work of National Societies (NS) in this area, including providing basic and emergency health care, referral pathways, first aid, and psychosocial support.
The Regional Meeting brought together 71 participants, from 26 National Societies, including 18 National Societies from the Asia Pacific region. The Meeting also brought together a number of migration and health experts from external partner organisations, including from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the Secretariat of ASEAN, the European Union and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The Meeting was also supported by the technical expertise of IFRC and ICRC colleagues from across the Asia Pacific region, and from Geneva.
The Regional Meeting provided the first opportunity for Red Cross Red Crescent practitioners and experts from the fields of migration and health to come together, to share experiences, best practices, challenges and to chart a common way forward for addressing the critical health needs of migrants and displaced persons across the region.
The aims of the Regional Meeting included:

To share best practices from National Societies from across the Asia Pacific region in addressing the health needs of vulnerable migrants;
To understand the perspectives of Partner organisations, including perspectives on emerging trends and how best to work together;
To develop effective humanitarian diplomacy skills, particularly relevant to discussions around health and care for migrants and displaced persons;
To raise awareness of existing tools and initiatives to support National Societies to address the health needs of migrants; and
To discuss the challenges and opportunities around Red Cross Red Crescent action and programmes to address the health needs of migrants.

The meeting was organised by the IFRC Asia Pacific Regional office in Kuala Lumpur with support from the Asia Pacific Migration Network (APMN) and Swedish Red Cross. At the workshop, IFRC confirmed that migration and health is a key priority for the Asia Pacific, and the APMN agreed to establish a migration and health working group to follow up with this work.

See related Agenda and Report
See also the presentation on potential Regional Cross Border Cooperation Project (Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR) on improving access to ARV among migrants living in Thailand by Asian Red Cross and Red Crescent HIV/AIDS Network (ART)
Read more about Migration and Health.

GRAB Taxi First Aid Training | 6 June 2017 | Chiangmai
2017-06-06 08:00 - 17:00
This was the fifth Garb taxi drivers training on basic first aid in Thailand conducted on 6 June 2017 in Chiangmai Province. There were 25 Grab taxi drivers (male 20, female 5) participating in the first aid training.
There were 6 key topics focusing on both theory and practical sessions related to basic standard first aid for the wounds, choking, stroke, heart diseases, CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and referral and transportation to hospitals which were facilitated by four first aid instructors/ specialists from Thai Red Cross Chapter 3 Chiangmai Province.
All of participants were received the certificates after completing their attendance of the training course for six hours. In 2017, Grab Thailand is planning to organize about 11-12 basic first aid training courses with the technical support from Thai Red Cross (Training Centre for First Aid and Health Care) and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies CCST Bangkok. It is expected that over 300 -350 Grab drivers will be equipped and capable to help the victims on the road and to save lives for those in need, said Mr. Niwattana Assawarakse, Grab Thailand coordinator.
For more information, please contact Mr. Niwattana Assawarakse , email: niwattana.as@grabtaxi.com and Dr. Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer, email: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org

Lao Red Cross Youth Empowerment in Social Inclusion Programme | 24-26 May 2017 | Lao PDR
2017-06-06 08:00 - 17:00
First drama: violence can not be an excuse for any emotional actions, nor a solution to any issues.

Second drama: Be educator for parents.

The programme started with the preparation of Youth as Agents of Behavioral Change (YABC) peer educators as facilitators. Those facilitators held a small forum with 20 core group of youth using the Youth Empowerment in Community (YEC) guide. Those core-group youth prepared two theatre dramas addressing the issue of violence in communities and children in the Vientiane-Ho Chi Minh Friendship High School’s school hall for 150 school youth and teachers.
Active listening skill first!
This was the answer from the audience students in the feedback session after enjoying the first drama: violence can not be an excuse for any emotional action nor a solution to any issue.
Family violence
Families are not same but can be happy all the same if they talk and behave with love and warm care. How? Children’s role is the most important. Be educators for parents. Educate the parents that children will follow them in future as role models. This was the feedback to the second drama. Isn’t it inspirational? Do peer-to-peer as well as be peer-educators to parents.

First Aid Training for Grab Taxi Drivers | May 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-05-30
There were two basic First Aid training courses conducted for 32 Grab taxi drivers in Chiang Mai and in Bangkok in May 2017. In Chiang Mai Province, there were 18 Grab car drivers participating in the first aid training organized on 16 May 2017 (male 16 , female 2). Meanwhile, in Bangkok, there were 14 Grab taxies, Grab cars , and Grab bikes attending the said basic first aid training on 30 May 2017 (male 13, female 1). There were 6 key topics focusing on both theory and practical sessions related to basic standard first aid for wounds, choking , stroke, heart diseases, CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation and referral and transportation to hospitals by three first aid instructors/ specialists from Training Centre of First Aid and Health Care, Thai Red Cross Society and hosted by GRAB Thailand.
In this year 2017, there will be 11-12 basic first aid training courses as planned. “It is expected that over 300-350 Grab drivers will be equipped and capable to help the victims on the road and to save lives for those in need”, said Mr. Niwattana Assawarakse, Grab Thailand coordinator. For more information, please contact Mr. Niwattana Assawarakse, email: niwattana.as@grabtaxi.com and Dr. Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer, email: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org.

Communicating with Disaster-Affected Communities (CDAC) Forum | 22-23 May 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-05-22 - 2017-05-23
The Communicating with Disaster-Affected Communities (CDAC) global forum on ‘The authenticity challenge to the Participation Revolution’ was held on 22-23 May 2017, back-to-back with the Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) training (taking place 18-21 May).
The CDAC Network is a growing platform of more than 30 humanitarian, media development, social innovation, technology, and telecommunication organisations, dedicated to saving lives and making aid more effective through communication, information exchange and community engagement.
The forum allowed IFRC and National Societies to be present and showcase some of the most innovative approaches.
See the agenda and resource Authenticity and ‘Participation Revolution’

Gender and Diversity approaches to Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) field school | 21-26 May 2017 | Ayutthaya, Thailand
2017-05-21 - 2017-05-26
A six-day Field School on Gender and Diversity in Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments was co-organized by the IFRC Bangkok Country Cluster Support team and Thai Red Cross Society between 21-26th May. This Field School is part of a wider, global effort to ensure the integration of gender and diversity in Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction process for National Societies. The training was held in Ayutthaya and Sing Buri province in Thailand and was attended by six National Societies including Thai Red Cross Society, Lao Red Cross, Cambodian Red Cross, Philippine Red Cross, Malaysian Red Crescent, Nepal Red Cross, three Partner National Society representatives from American Red Cross (Vietnam), French Red Cross (Vietnam) and Australian Red Cross (Philippines), and the IFRC. The Field School was structured around in-class training and field visits to a nearby community. The community chosen experiences recurring flooding every year between August and November and have been working with the Thai Red Cross through their Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, to identify and reduce risk, and enhance coping strategies for all in their community.
Through a series of interactive sessions and participatory-based information gathering in the field, participants to the Field School addressed the importance of gender and diversity in VCA approaches, considering the differences of needs and priorities, vulnerabilities and capacities from different groups to ensure we ‘leave no one behind’ during our planning and assessment processes. The ultimate goal, to achieve greater individual and community resilience . Mrs. Dujdao Pengpak, 42, Village Head said “It was a good experience to exchange knowledge on the areas such as disaster prevention and I learned a lot especially in improving our old ways [of dealing with disasters] and making our community more resilient.”
Click here to read “Helping villages in Thailand improve their old ways” – a story on this VCA field school, on IFRC website
Supporting Documents
» Agenda of the field school
» Concept Note
» Participant List
» Guidance Note: Gender and Diversity-Sensitive VCA
Supporting Resources
» Case Study: Mainstreaming Gender and Diversity in Disaster Risk Reduction Initiatives
» IFRC Strategic framework on gender and diversity – 2013 to 2020
» Infographic: A call to action: Preventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence (GBV) in disasters
» Minimum standard commitments to gender and diversity in emergency programming
» Snapshot: Focus on Gender and Diversity in Disaster Risk Reduction
» Unseen, Unheard: Gender-based Violence in Disasters – Asia-Pacific case studies
Outcome Documents
» Report
» Pre- and Post-Test results
» Trees as results of the brainstorming session
» For more information on VCA, go to VCA webpage at IFRC’s online library
» For more information on community resilience, go to:
» YouTube video: Roadmap to Community Resilience by IFRC
» Publication: Roadmap to Community Resilience: A step-by-step guidance on how to operationalize the IFRC’s Framework for Community Resilience (FCR).
Presentations
Day 1 and 2
» Introduction to Community Resilience and VCA Approach
» Gender and Diversity in VCA
» [Quiz Handout] Gender, Diversity and Violence
Day 3
» Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) by Thai Red Cross Society

Community Engagement and Accountability training | 18-21 May | Bangkok
2017-05-18 08:00 - 2017-05-21 17:00
First Community Engagement and Accountability training organized in Asia Pacific

Between 18 and 21 May 2017, the IFRC and ICRC jointly organized the first Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) training in Asia Pacific for National Society, partner National Societies IFRC and ICRC staff in the region. This was the first training to utilize the pilot CEA guide which was finalized in February 2017, CEA toolkit and training package.
Over the course of the four intensive days, participants familiarized themselves with the theory and the practice of how to integrate CEA within the Red Cross and Red Crescent programme cycle during emergency operations, longer-term protracted crisis, both in contexts of natural disasters and armed conflict, as well as development programs.
Following the training, some participants also attended the global forum by the Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities network. The event was attended by over 100 representatives from NGOs and iNGOs, government, donor and the private sector.

Resources from the training:

CEA Guide
CEA Toolkit
National Society’s CEA work:

Community Engagement and Accountability Minimum Standards: formulation and integration into the work of the Myanmar Red Cross
Myanmar Red Cross (MRCS): Community Engagement and Accountability Minimum Standards & Key Actions

For more information on the CEA training, please visit the training website: https://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/meetings-and-events/cea-meeting/
Please visit the following link to read the CDAC Policy Paper on Collective Models: http://www.cdacnetwork.org/tools-and-resources/i/20170531072915-3fs0r
The participants of the Red Cross and Red Crescent CEA Facebook Group are encouraged to continue the knowledge exchange through: https://www.facebook.com/groups/587239731349669/

Asia Pacific Disaster Law Programme Participates in Oxfam Peer to Peer (P2P) Journey Learning Conference | 17-18 May 2017
2017-05-17 08:00 - 2017-05-18 17:00
Asia Pacific Disaster Law Programme Participates in Oxfam Peer to Peer (P2P) Journey Learning Conference
The IFRC Disaster Law Programme participated in ASEAN-OXFAM’s P2P Journey Learning Conference last May 17-18 to share some of its experiences in peer learning activities, as part of its core function as a network of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The Learning Conference is the culmination of the project’s mapping of DRM peer to peer platforms in ASEAN and a showcase of peer learning case studies implemented in Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar. Peer learning activities fall under the AADMER (see AADMER Work Programme) Priority Programme 3 “Advance”, which ensures that “robust and accountable information sharing platforms and their interoperability across different tiers of government and communities, together with traditional and non- traditional platforms, will be in place.”
Oxfam had invited the IFRC Disaster Law Programme to present on the Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI), focusing on RRI’s disaster law component and how it has helped bring the voice of the community to the decision-making table. The presentation highlighted that the IFRC and Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies have been doing peer to peer learning activities for a long time as it is how the Movement is built – through our wide network in different countries. IFRC also facilitated group sessions to discuss the importance of law and policy in achieving resilience goals.
Read more about on this link (to ifrc.org)

Steering Committee Meeting for the Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI) | 17 May 2017 | Jakarta, Indonesia
2017-05-17 08:00 - 17:00
The annual Steering Committee Meeting for the Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI) was held in Jakarta on 17 May 2017. The objective of the meeting was to review the second year of implementation of the initiative and to discuss among partners the proposed Work Plan for the fourth year of the project. | See agenda and participant list | Minutes of the meeting

Below are presentations delivered during the meeting:

Overview of project achievements from annual work plan year 3 – April 2016 to March 2017
Overview of the fourth annual work plan (year 4) – April 2017 to March 2018

The meeting approved the below four technical Work Plans covering the period April 2017 to March 2018:

Humanitarian Diplomacy and Communications
Disaster Law
Gender and Diversity
Community Safety and Resilience

The documents were produced based on the in-country plans received from 9 National Societies in Southeast Asia as well as technical dialogue between related IFRC and National Societies’ focal points.

About Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI)

Supported by the Canadian Government and Canadian Red Cross, the Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI) seeks to further contribute to reducing the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities in Southeast Asia. The four-year initiative (2014-2018) is supporting the 11 Red Cross / Red Crescent Societies in the region. The focus is on enhancing the skills and capacities of National Societies so they can advocate more strongly at a national and regional level for the needs of communities in disaster risk reduction. This is complemented by the strengthening of regional partnerships, both within our networks and with key partners such as the ASEAN Secretariat and other bodies.

IFRC as panelist in Asia-Pacific Youth, Peace and Security Consultation Forum
2017-05-16 - 2017-05-19
40 youth from 20 countries joined the Asia-Pacific Youth, Peace and Security Consultation Forum, hosted by UNDP and UNFPA, on 16-19 May 2017, to engage in deep discussion on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015) for the first time in Asia-Pacific region. Over 20 partners ranging from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs), UN Agencies and donor governments came to learn more and interact with the 2250 agenda through the youth’s perspectives.
IFRC’s Youth and Volunteering Officer, Ms. Kum Jo Ho, was one of the panelists in the Asia-Pacific Youth, Peace, Security Consultation Forum as a panelist by presenting IFRC’s activities on youth engagement into peace-building actions.
The youth, as the key panelists, received introductory substantive Insider Mediation Training through Clingendael Institute and IFRC and also joined a Facebook live discussion which has received around 75,000 views, 425 likes and 80 shares raising awareness of the importance of youth agents in peace and security. View the Facebook live discussion here. More importantly youth needs and how youth could work with them to ensure that youth are a part of our peace and security plans in Asia-Pacific region are heard. After this event, UNDP invited IFRC to be a panelist in the South-South Exchange Volunteerism Forum to be held on 20-23 June 2017.
To read more:

Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security [link to external site]
Asia-Pacific Youth, Peace, Security – A Regional Consultation Terms of Reference
Asia-Pacific Youth, Peace, Security – A Regional Consultation Agenda
