Partnership for Disaster Reduction
in South East Asia Phase 4
Development of PDR-SEA Phase 1 - 3
The Partnership for Disaster Reduction - Southeast Asia (PDR-SEA) is a multi-phased project being implemented in Southeast Asian countries since 2000 which aims to promote Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) in the region through the tripartite partnership of three organizations, European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (DIPECHO), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC).
PDR SEA program focuses primarily on building resilient communities to disasters in Southeast Asian region through the development and application of strategic plan and management approach for disaster risk management and the enhancement of capacity of disaster management officials across all levels: regional, national and sub-national. The PDR SEA Phase 4 is and is expected to finish by the end of April 2008
In PDR-SEA phase 1, the emphasis was upon developing the technical capacity of the practitioners and partner organizations in basic aspects of Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM).
The phase 2 focused on consolidation and further enhancement of skills, knowledge and development of frameworks and tools. This phase included designing four new courses on: 1) participatory planning, monitoring and evaluation, 2) disaster risk communication at the community level, 3) participatory disaster risk assessment, 4) the development of CBDRM Field Practitioners' Handbook.
The phase 3 initiated to explore the concept of institutionalizing CBDRM in government policy, planning based upon the accomplishments in the previous two phases in close collaboration with the National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs), local government departments and other key ministries and departments. The project assisted government agencies in developing strategies and action plans to support community action for disaster risk management.
The primary goal of this project is to enhance national capacity on CBDRM for effective implementation of Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) through promoting ownership of CBDRM programmes, enhancing the role of local authorities in integrating CBDRM into local planning and programming in the project countries in Southeast Asia, and consolidating the achievements on CBDRM of the first three phases.
(1) PDR-SEA Phase 1
PDR-SEA 1 had been implemented solely by ADPC from February 2001 to April 2002. With financial support from DIPECHO, ADPC started PDR-SEA 1 in six DIPECHO partner countries- Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. The major achievement within the first phase was putting CBDRM on the agenda of both the government and non-government organizations involved in disaster management in the project countries. PDR-SEA 1 achieved its objectives in terms of the following:
Promoting CBDRM concept among DIPECHO partners and other organizations, which culminated in a two-week intensive CBDRM training of key leaders of project partners aiming to mobilize commitments to CBDRM and to develop CBDRM advocates within respective organizations;
Providing technical assistance to ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management, then called ASEAN Expert Group on Disaster Management (AEGDM), for developing ASEAN Regional Programme on Disaster Management
Facilitating information exchange on best practices and lessons learned through face-to-face meetings and written materials among the partners within the region
Strengthening institutional capacity of National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs), which are government agencies in charge of disaster risk management within respective countries.
(2) PDR-SEA Phase 2
PDR-SEA 2 had been undertaken through the tripartite partnership of DIPECHO, ADPC and UNESCAP from June 2003 to July 2004. With continued financial support from DIPECHO, project team of ADPC in partnership with UNESCAP resumed the efforts of the first phase in six partner countries- Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. Building on the previous achievements, PDR-SEA 2 advanced the goal of disaster risk reduction at the community level with aim to steer PDR-SEA achievements towards sustainability. Some of the significant results were:
A dialogue on institutionalization of CBDRM in government policy making, planning and programming was initiated;
A mandate present during the 3rd Southeast Asia DM practitioners’ workshop on organizing regional networking for CBDRM practitioners was adopted
The publications of a CBDRM field practitioners handbook and interactive video for guiding practitioners on implementing related projects were well disseminated;
A potential virtual community of CBDRM involving project partners and providing mutual supports of DM practitioners was showcased.
(3) PDR-SEA phase 3
For furthering the disaster risk reduction effort into national policy making level, DIPECHO, ADPC and UNESCAP partnership carried on PDR-SEA 3 in five project countries in Southeast Asia, namely, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Timor Leste and Viet Nam, in the duration from March 2005 to April 2006. PDR-SEA 3 aimed at creating “an improved, enabling environment for CBDRM through promoting ownership in national programmes and local entities, enhancing the capabilities of CBDRM practitioners and strengthening of existing partnerships.” Project strategies focused upon strengthening the role of NDMOs on disaster risk reduction and promoting the adoption of CBDRM by multiple development stakeholders. Some of the significant results were:
A regional database on CBDRM good practices was developed
Assessments of the technical and operational capacity of the national disaster preparedness systems were implemented;
National strategies for promoting CBDRM into the government system was drafted;
National and regional Critical Guidelines of CBDRM in order to promote minimum standards of performance were drafted;
A media kit on CBDRM was published and media orientation workshops for expanding partnerships with media were held
Curriculum on “CBDRM and local authorities” and a guidebook on “Advocacy for integrating CBDRM into the local authorities” were updated
Development of PDR-SEA Phase 1 - 3 
Partnership for Disaster Reduction
in South East Asia Phase 4