Executive seminar: Capacity Building in Disaster Geo-information Management in Developing Countries
23-25 September 2009, ITC, Enschede, the Netherlands
Rationale
The world is confronted with the rapidly growing impact of disasters, especially severe in developing countries, and governments have to incorporate risk reduction strategies in development planning at different levels. Risk assessment can only be carried out effectively when it is based on extensive, multidisciplinary studies on the basis of spatial information and analysis. Including the concepts of disaster geo-information management (DGIM) requires capacity building and training of disaster risk management (DRM) experts and professionals, as stressed in the UN-ISDR's Hyogo Framework of Action 2005-2015.
Many initiatives dealing with earth observation (EO) and geo-information (GI) for DRM are ongoing and focusing on developing countries most requiring knowledgeable resource persons on the ground. To what extent is capacity in economically less developed countries sufficient, and what are effective mechanisms to apply geoinformation data?
In many developing countries information on which to base risk assessment and management is either inexistent or out-dated. Since space-based information and services may offer a viable approach to access much of the information required to conduct such risk assessments, as well as to respond more efficiently and timely in case of disasters, the United Nations General Assembly established the UN-SPIDER programme, to promote the use of space-based information and space applications to support the full disaster management cycle. Since 2007 UN-SPIDER has been conducting workshops to discuss and identify how to facilitate capacity building efforts in developing countries, and to bridge the gap between the space and disaster-risk management communities.
The United Nations University–ITC School for Disaster Geo-Information Management (UNU-ITC DGIM), with the support of such programmes as UN-SPIDER, has been active in capacity building of organisations in developing countries and supporting networks of universities and training institutes from developing countries that are involved in training and research in the use of GI science and EO for DRM. On the occasion of the renewal of the agreement with the UNU for the coming years, UNU-ITC DGIM invites partner organisations to discuss the requirements for capacity building in DGIM in the coming years.
Workshop objectives
The seminar has the following main objectives:
- assessment of capacity needs of organisations related to DRM
- defining optimal modes for capacity building: university networks, short courses, distance education, graduate programmes
- improved collaboration amongst international organisations involved in capacity building for DGIM
- linking research and training in capacity building
- exploring better links to more technically oriented DRM programmes (International Charter, GEOSS).
Outcome
Comprehensive understanding of existing geoinformatics capacity for DRM in international organisations, NGOs and knowledge centers active in less developed countries, current capacity buildings needs, and recommendations to the diverse actors in the DRM field on suitable capacity building means and possibilities, and optimal integration of knowledge networks and research. Better coordination among international agencies supporting capacity-building efforts and vertical and horizontal cooperation with regional and national agencies responsible for risk management and emergency response activities.
Participants
On invitation, about 30-35 participants and speakers from:
- international organisations dealing with the implementation of GI for environmental applications
- international capacity building organisations dealing with DRM
- user organisations and NGOs
- university networks dealing with DRM
- knowledge centers / universities
- Limited number of open applications.
Content of the executive seminar
The seminar will be focus on the following key topics:
- the role of GI for disaster risk assessment in developing countries
- requirements for capacity building in GI for DGIM
- international initiatives for GI and capacity building in DRR
- capacity building: different modes of implementation
- UNU and capacity building for DRR
- capacity building and research in GI for DGIM.
For more information
ITC – Dr. Norman Kerle / Dr. Cees van Westen
P.O. Box 6 7500 AA Enschede
The Netherlands
T: +31 (0)53 4874 406 / 4874 45 41
E: n.kerle@utwente.nl / c.j.vanwesten@utwente.nl
I: UNU-ITC School for Disaster Geoinformation Management