The Asian Ministerial Conferences on Disaster Risk Reduction are regional initiatives based upon the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) that urge nations to build resilience of nations and communities to disasters. The Beijing Action for Disaster Risk Reduction in Asia in 2005 was an event that sought to further increase the Asian cooperation for the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action. The numerous global and regional initiatives taken in order to increase disaster awareness and management are highly appreciated.

The main goal of the Second Asian Ministerial Conference on disaster reduction, held on November 7-8 in Delhi, was to review the implementation of the Hyogo priorities of action in Asia in the context of the various initiatives taken by national, regional and international governments during the past two years and share these experiences. AIDMI shared its positive experience with the Regional Risk Transfer Initiative while participating on the multi-stakeholders meetings that took place in parallel with the Conference. This experiences sharing aimed to encourage actors at all levels to implement the five HFA priorities for action, resulting on the Delhi Declaration.

As AIDMI is constantly striving to follow up on regional and global initiatives, it co-hosted with LIRNEasia a workshop entitled "Community based Last-Mile Early Warning System". This was held in Delhi on November 19, 2007 and was a follow-up to the Delhi Declaration, with particular focus on the second priority under the Hyogo Framework.

This initiative was based on a specific section that the Delhi Declaration dedicates to early warning and intended to stress the important role that newer technologies may play nowadays. In earlier times, natural disasters were looked upon as phenomena that happened because of nature's anger and not something that one could be prepared against. The focus was solely on post-disaster work as relief and rehabilitation assistance. Newer technology allows us to some extent to foresee an upcoming disaster and we can take preventive measures to mitigate the outcome. Developed countries have invested in both structural and non-structural measures; while developing countries like Bangladesh have managed to reduce the disaster risk though mobilizing and raising awareness among communities. There are several approaches that can be undertaken, but is has been commonly accepted that early warning can play a very important role, regardless the kind of implementation context. Therefore, through this initiative, AIDMI was able not only to maximize the coherence of the Delhi Declaration, but also to promote an efficient disaster risk reduction tool that is meant to reach all.

Making the HFA Inclusive

Hyogo Priorities and AIDMI's Contributions

Making TEC Inclusive

Including the Delhi Declaration

Why Inclusion is so Important?