Welcome to IDD
Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division (IDD)
Our multi-disciplinary pool of experts and professionals assists ESCAP members and associate members in the region to increase collaborative efforts so that they are able to better manage natural disasters and the associated socio-economic risks. We work closely with these countries to promote the use of information and communications technology including space technologies (ICST) so that they may benefit socially and economically.
This division was restructured as a result of ESCAP commission resolution 64/1 endorsed in April 2008 and is comprised of 3 sections: ICT and Development, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Space Applications. Under this mandate, we service 2 out of a total of 8 committees namely the Committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).
Our tightly knit outfit is focused on “delivering as one” in close collaboration with the entire United Nations and other related organizations and agencies in order to reduce duplication and to deliver more cost effective and comprehensive results and services.
We believe in strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors, as well as other stakeholders to ensure sustainability of programs and activities which lead to socio-economic development in the region and in individual countries, particularly those with special needs.
The rich cultural and educational background that each individual team member brings to this division is the corner-stone of our ability to understand the needs of our member states and in turn impart high-quality services.
Upcoming events:
Recently completed events:
- World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), 17 May 2012, Bangkok, Thailand
- Application of Space Technology to Enhance the Activities of Typhoon Committee, Macao Meteorogical and Geophysical Bureau, Macao, China, 27 February - 2 March 2012
- South-East Asia Flood Risk Reduction Forum, 20 February 2012
- The Second Expert Group Meeting on the Great East Japan Earthquake-Learning from the Mega-Tsunami Disaster, 16-18 December 2011
- "A new regional social compact in the digital age: creating Asia-Pacific's knowledge society", 16 December 2011
- Regional workshop on cooperation and information sharing for flood risk reduction and extreme weather events in Central Asia, Baku, 24-25 November 2011
- The 4th Joint Project Team Meeting for Sentinel Asia STEP-2, 12-14 July 2011
- Expert Group Meeting on Regional Knowledge and Cooperation for Comprehensive Multi-Hazard Risk Management in Asia and the Pacific, 27-29 June 2011
- Expert Group Meeting towards Creative Reconstruction from Great East Japan Earthquake, 29-31 May 2011
- Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on ICT Applications, 18-21 May 2011, Bangkok, Thailand
- United Nations Conference on e-Government in Asia and the Pacific, 11-13 May 2011, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Expert Group Meeting on Identifying Priority Cooperation Areas for the Regional Cooperative Mechanism on Disaster Monitoring and Early Warning, Particularly Drought, 15-17 March 2011
- Workshop on Developing Capacity for Resilience to Water-related Disasters in Pakistan through Space Applications and Flood Risk Management, 1-4 March 2011, Islamabad, Pakistan.
- Space Application to Reduce Water-related Disaster Risk in Asia, 7-9 December 2010
- Expert Group Meeting on Emerging ICT Developments and Opportunities for Enhancing Cooperation in Achieving Regional Connectivity, 22 - 24 November 2010, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Regional Expert High-level Expert Group meeting to Reduce Flood Disaster Risks in Pakistan, 9-10 November 2010, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Committee meetings
- Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, Second Session, 29 June 2011 - 1 July 2011, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Committee on Information and Communications Technology, Second Session, 24 - 26 November 2010, Bangkok, Thailand.
- First Session of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, 25-27 March 2009, Bangkok, Thailand
- First Session of the Committee on Information and Communications Technology, 19-21 November 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
Activities
International Dialogue on Reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011
Japanese and international experts joined an Expert Group Meeting towards Creative Reconstruction from Great East Japan Earthquake in Tokyo , between 29-31 May 2011, after a two-day field visit to disaster-affected Tohoku areas. Disaster managers with experience from Hurricane Katrina (USA), Indian Ocean Tsunami ( Indonesia ), and the Wenchuan earthquake ( China ) shared their perspectives and lessons from the past in dealing with large-scale disasters. They were joined by other experts from ESCAP, the Government of Japan, International Labour Organization, UN-Habitat, and the World Bank. Through a dialogue, policymakers were able to exchange valuable information and compare experiences to take back to their respective countries. The event was organized jointly by Asia Disaster Reduction Centre, International Recovery Platform (IRP), UN-Habitat, ESCAP and the Government of Japan. For the future ESCAP is planning to organize a High-level Expert Group Meeting in November to share information on good practice and lessons learnt with Disaster managers in the Asia and the Pacific region.
Sharing Pakistan Floods Experience with the Asia-Pacific region on 9-10 November 2010
Disaster management experts and other government officials gathered in Islamabad to discuss findings from the various assessments on Pakistan floods, flood disaster risk reduction strategies, and to identify regional cooperation activities. Organized by ESCAP, the meeting was attended by representatives from national and provincial governments of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as well as the United Nations Country Team. Disaster experts from other countries in the region such as Bangladesh , China and Japan shared their own experiences of dealing with floods. “All countries need to invest significant amount of resources to prevent disasters, to invest in social protection, and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. No country especially in Asia is safe from disaster, with floods and weather related disasters increasing in severity each year, washing away development gains,” said Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary General of UN and Executive Secretary of ESCAP at the meeting.
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