ASEAN Member States assess training needs

A Training Needs Assessment (TNA) Workshop was held 11-12 February in Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of a technical support project funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to advance disaster risk reduction and management initiatives among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States (AMS). The project is assisting in building the capacity of ASEAN’s Disaster Management Training Institutes Network (ADTRAIN) by establishing ASEAN-wide minimum standards and curricula for training in specific areas of disaster management. These curricula and baseline standards will be provided to be used by the National Disaster Management Organizations (NDMOs) of the AMS.

The workshop, facilitated by Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) Hazard Mitigation Specialist Sharon Mielbrecht, with assistance from PDC National Project Representative Anom Parikesit, brought together over 40 representatives from national government offices, disaster management organizations, civil society organizations, the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), and ASEAN Secretariat to review and discuss existing standards, guidance documents, and training materials on the topics of Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) and Recovery. Workshop participants provided feedback and recommendations regarding draft course outlines, course objectives and learning outcomes, training delivery methods, and target audiences. Recommendations will be factored into subsequent development of Training of Trainers courses on DaLA and Recovery that will be offered this fall.

Mielbrecht also presented at the Third Meeting of the ADTRAIN Core Group, held on 10 February, providing an update on project activities. The events were jointly organized and supported by the U.S. Mission to ASEAN, USAID, ASEAN ADTRAIN, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

For more information on this event:
• Read about the workshop on ASEAN’s website, and
• View an article by Cambodia’s Agence Kampuchea Presse.