The Tsunami Evaluation Coalition (TEC) is a coalition of humanitarian actors that aims to maximise learning from the tsunami response through joint evaluation. The effort is unique as it focuses on systemic weaknesses and topics that would benefit from a humanitarian sector-wide approach rather than any single agency. It represents the most intensive study of humanitarian response since the Rwanda study in the mid 1990s. To optimise this learning, TEC member agencies have worked together by sponsoring five joint thematic evaluations on selected aspects of the response. These thematic evaluations included: coordination; the role of needs assessment in humanitarian response; the impact of international action on local and national capacities; linkages between relief, rehabilitation and development; and funding mechanisms. The studies draw powerful conclusions from empirical evidence and suggest that "the international humanitarian community needs a fundamental reorientation…".

AIDMI is a key TEC member and has contributed significantly to the TEC management process and by co-managing the Local Capacities thematic evaluation. As such, AIDMI is established as a regional bridge that will link global TEC activities with regional initiatives.

The Initiative
Within the TEC follow-up activities there are two main activities; the "Global Stream" that carries out key issues at the global level, and the "Regional Stream" that works on the regional level. During a two-year period, 2006-2008, AIDMI takes part in the "Regional Stream" working on the dissemination of the TEC findings, often in partnerships with other organisations. In order to address and disseminate information about these issues a range of means of communication are utilised; project workshops, studies, web pages and consultations.

The TEC suggests that agencies should increase their own emergency response capacity. Support developing national disaster response capacity in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action, as well as support developing community-based disaster reduction and develop linkages with other potential humanitarian actors.

In AIDMI's work on disseminating the findings from the TEC the focus lies on five main subjects; climate change including mitigation of the negative impacts of future climate change related hazards, community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM) by mainstreaming DRR in local and national institutions during recovery, microfinance, shelter recovery and the role of donors and media.

Outcome
During the last year AIDMI has contributed with papers, hosted and participated on a number of conferences and workshops across the world. "Lessons from TEC for Shelter Recovery" was shared at the 21st Governing Council of the UN Human Settlement Programme held in Kenya in April 2007. A discussion paper presented on "Good Practice in Local Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Asia' at the Regional Climate Risk Management Workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal in April 2007 UNDP and Earth Institute11. Several issues of southasiadisasters.net treated TEC related issues.

Other papers produced and shared includes the following:
• Meeting Community Preparedness Training Needs In India
• Lessons from Tsunami Evaluation Coalition and Beyond
• Microfinance as a Community-driven Tool for Recovery Assistance: Implications of TEC and Good Practice
• Linking Relief and Development in Shelter Support: Lessons from the Tsunami Evaluation Coalition
• The Role of Donors and Media in Community-centred Disaster Recovery: Lessons from the TEC
• Good Practice in Local Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management in Asia: Lessons from the TEC
• Lessons for Early Warning from Tsunami Evaluations

Inclusiveness
Already by contributing to the local capacities section of the TEC, this is an inclusive and holistic initiative, and AIDMI has continuously put efforts to include practitioners, researchers, government agencies and communities in this initiative. In disaster response, relief and development work it is of uttermost important that stakeholders at all levels communicate well and use each others' knowledge and experience appropriately in order to reach the objectives of their work.

Lessons learned
The main positive point of the initiative is that AIDMI could make wide range of network with multidisciplinary experts, which include policy practitioners, researchers, experts of DRR and community as well.

The main constraint of the initiative is that it takes lot of time to create partnership with other organisations to implement the related activity of the initiative.

TEC Regional Stream

Emergency Food Security Network

Risk Reduction

Knowledge Management

Disaster Response

Policy Advocacy