The recently concluded Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) 2024 in Manila, Philippines marked a significant milestone in our collective journey towards a more resilient Asia-Pacific region – a vision that stands at the core of ADRRN’s 2030 Strategy.
A Catalyst for Change
As a civil society convener in the region, the CSO Consultation meeting was the highlight event of ADRRN which aimed to address critical gaps in the region’s resilience efforts.
Building on discussions from an online consultation conducted by ADRRN in September, the 2024 CSO Commitment to Action was formulated. While identifying vulnerability hotspots across Asia and the Pacific, the collective pledge emphasised the crucial role of CSOs in implementing the Sendai Framework and promoted inclusive, community-led approaches to disaster risk reduction.
Read the 2024 CSO Commitment to Action here.
Celebrating Local Resilience
In partnership with our localisation hub – Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEEDS), ADRRN had the privilege of recognising four exemplary local leaders at the Asia-Pacific Local Leaders for Disaster Resilience (APLL4DR) Award.
With the theme ‘Recognising, Linking, and Enhancing the Power of Local Leadership’, the APLL4DR Awards were centred around three main areas:
- Practical solutions to enhance disaster risk reduction financing
- Leaving no one behind: gender responsive and inclusive disaster risk governance
- Localisation and urban and rural resilience
The awardees of the evening were: Ms. Maria Fe Maravillas from the Philippines, Ms. Yustina Wardani from Indonesia, Mr. VV Sanjeevan from India, and Ms. Zenith Ballerta from the Philippines.
From mental health support and disability inclusion to disaster education and nature-based solutions, these local heroes have made significant strides in enhancing disaster resilience through their work. By recognising their achievements, ADRRN honours the countless others working tirelessly to build a more resilient future and hopes to inspire and empower more communities to take action.
Showcasing Impact: The ADRRN Exhibition Booth
To amplify its presence and engage with a wider audience at the conference, ADRRN put up a shared booth with the Centre for Disaster Preparedness (Philippines) and MPBI (Indonesia) at the APMCDRR Marketplace.
Showcasing the diverse range of activities undertaken by our network members and emphasising their contributions to disaster risk reduction in the region, the booth aimed to highlight ADRRN’s core mission and its role as the ‘Civil Society Voice of Asia.’ It was met with considerable interest and response from conference participants.
Voices of Resilience – #DRRinAction Campaign
To inspire and engage the DRR community, ADRRN launched the ‘Voices of Resilience – #DRRinAction’ campaign. The initiative invited individuals and organisations to share their stories, experiences, and innovative approaches to disaster risk reduction.
The overwhelming response, with several submissions from across the region, highlighted the vibrant and diverse DRR landscape in Asia-Pacific.
A curated selection of these powerful stories was showcased at the CSO Consultation, inspiring attendees and highlighting the importance of local action and community leadership. The full collection of entries can be viewed on our YouTube channel.
APMCDRR 2024 provided a valuable platform to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and advance disaster resilience. ADRRN extends its gratitude to all participants who contributed to building on the momentum. Together, we can deepen partnerships and inspire collective action towards a safer, inclusive, and resilient future.
Dr. Amod Mani Dixit, Chairperson ADRRN, shares insights from the APMCDRR.
