SEA National RCRC Societies – IFRC Engagement with ASEAN | 4 September 2024 | Bali, Indonesia
Background and Rationale
On 25 May 2022, ASEAN and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Strengthening of Community Resilience in Southeast Asia, which outlined the scope and main areas of cooperation between ASEAN and IFRC on matters of mutual interest in supporting the strengthening of community resilience at regional, national and local levels in the ASEAN region.
The MOU lists areas of collaboration related to disaster management, disaster risk reduction, disaster law, health in emergencies, disaster relief and emergency response, gender, youth, and climate change. Investments in these critical areas will provide structural foundations in buttressing the ASEAN region against new, emerging and long-term disaster risks. The MoU also highlighted that ASEAN and IFRC would endeavor to convene joint consultations once a year to evaluate the activities agreed by both Participants and explore ways to further and deepen cooperation in the future.
Since the signing of the MoU in 2022, ASEAN institutions, Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (NSs), and IFRC have actively collaborated in the fields of disaster preparedness, response, youth and volunteer initiatives, trainings, and joint mapping exercises, all in accordance with the provisions of the signed MoU and respective role/mandates of NSs within their countries.
On 22 September 2023, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN (SG), attended and delivered keynote speech at the 20th Southeast Asia (SEA) Red Cross and Red Crescent Leaders Meeting, in Phnom Penh. SG Dr. Kao highlighted the important role of the IFRC in disaster management in the ASEAN region, elaborated on ASEAN’s efforts in strengthening community resilience in the implementation of the MoU, and encouraged the IFRC and the National Societies in the region to work collaboratively with ASEAN in disaster management.
Objectives
The event is proposed to be divided into two main parts, which includes dialogue and knowledge sharing/learning session.
- Part 1. The Dialogue session – aims to provide a venue for dialogue between the IFRC, NSs of SEA Region, and ASEAN to: Explore and evaluate activities, ways, priorities, and collaborative opportunities (including funding opportunities) to strengthen the partnership in the future; and, stipulate directions for implementation of the MoU.
- Part 2. Learning and sharing session – aims to provide a venue for learning and knowledge sharing with a wider audience based on past and current collaborations, as well as an analysis of needs and trends/forecasts for disaster preparedness and response, and the roles of volunteers. It is intended to provide inputs related to the progress of collaborations, priorities for the next year, and other relevant recommendations.
Related Documents:
Session A – Strengthening collaboration in disaster management in the ASEAN region
- Session A Overview
- Presentations:
Session B – Learning from response to disasters in SEA region: Enhancing Preparedness and
Response to Heightened Risks of Climate Change
- Session B Overview
- Presentations:
Photos:
AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme 2018 Red Cross Red Crescent Induction | 20-24 August 2018 | Jakarta, Indonesia
Introduction
The AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme was established as part of the AHA Centre’s ambition to build a disaster-resilient region, through the vision of the ‘One ASEAN One Response’. Since it was launched in 2014, 62 officers from the ten ASEAN Member States have been trained. After graduating from ACE, the ACE alumni continue to engage in various roles in the area of disaster management as well as in responding to emergencies in the ASEAN region. Some graduates have been promoted into higher leadership positions within their respective National Disaster Management Organisations. Considering the ACE Programme’s effectiveness and relevance to support the vision, the AHA Centre continues to invite talented individuals from the ASEAN Member States to join ACE, in order to improve ASEAN’s speed, scale and solidarity in responding to crises and emergencies.
ACE Programme Description
The ACE Programme aims at developing the future leaders of ASEAN. The programme will strengthen the operationalisation of One ASEAN One Response commitment through building the capacities of the participants in the areas of disaster management and humanitarian assistance operations. It is is designed as a training development continuum, with long-term emphasis on building the four ACE Professional Qualities:
- ACE Professional Quality 1. ACE graduate is sought as an expert in humanitarian assistance, both nationally and in the ASEAN region.
- ACE Professional Quality 2. ACE graduate is committed to support the ASEAN’s coordination mechanisms and operationalise One ASEAN One Response through involvement of various relevant stakeholders.
- ACE Professional Quality 3. ACE graduate is result oriented
- ACE Professional Quality 4. ACE graduate is an effective leader
The learning programme combines various adult learning methodologies: online courses, classroom sessions, experiential challenges, case study analysis, individual and team projects, and real-life simulations. The participants are also expected to allocate two hours a day for reading the materials prior to joining the session on the following day, over the 18-week programme duration. In addition, the participants will engage throughout the programme by sharing tasks related to class arrangement, such as: ice breaking, meal/travel arrangement, etc.
Supporting documents:
Go to this link for more interactive information and to view the reading list
32nd Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management | 26-28 June 2018 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Leaders from ASEAN National Disaster Management Organizations discussed, among others, about setting priorities for women in disaster management during the 32nd Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) held on 26-28 June in Kuala Lumpur.
The meeting was convened in conjunction with the 8th Governing Board Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre), 9th Joint Task Force Meeting to Promote Synergy with Other Relevant ASEAN Bodies on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (JTF on HADR), and 5th ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) Partnership Conference.
Click here for a full report on the 32nd ACDM meeting.
Presentations by IFRC:
IFRC Contribution Towards Resilient Communities for a Resilient ASEAN
IFRC Presentation to 5th AADMER Partnership Conference