ADB Conducts Workshop on Integrated Framework for Cost-Effective Disaster Risk Management

ADB held a final workshop on 4-7 Dec in Nanning in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for TA 6748-PRC: Integrated Framework for Cost-Effective Disaster Risk Management. The TA is ADB’s first cross-ministerial and cross-agency TA in the PRC, directly addressing the nation’s need for capacity building in relation to disaster risk challenges.

A key highlight of the workshop was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the PRC and the Kingdom of Cambodia, focusing on resilient city development through city-to-city partnerships. This involved Nanning and Preah Sihanouk Province, as well as Beihai and Kep Province, initiatives supported by the TA.

The workshop featured opening remarks from deputy director-general representatives of the TA’s five executing agencies: the Ministry of Emergency Management, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Guangxi Development and Reform Commission, and Guangxi Department of Finance. The country director of PRCM also delivered an opening address. Director of the East, Central and West Asia Team of the Water and Urban Development Sector Office delivered the closing remarks.

Discussions at the workshop revolved around the implementation outputs of the TA, challenges encountered, and lessons learned in six crucial aspects of disaster risk management. These aspects included integrated disaster resilience solutions, risk identification and assessment, disaster response and emergency management, social inclusion, education and capacity enhancement, and regional collaboration on resilience investment. Participants were diverse, representing academia, government, private sector, civil societies, international organizations and representatives from Cambodia, Geogia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Thailand and PRC cities.

A field visit was organized to the Guangxi Vocational College of Safety Engineering, which specializes in disaster response and emergency management. Participants also visited the Guangxi Emergency Management Department to explore its monitoring platform and safety experience center. Additionally, the Regional Knowledge Sharing Initiative (RKSI) participated in the workshop to disseminate the workshop outputs and produce knowledge products.