A-PAD International Capacity Building Workshop Strengthens Regional Collaboration in Manila, Philippines 2024
The A-PAD International Capacity Building Workshop was held on October 14, 2024, at the Lanson Place Mall of Asia in Manila, bringing together representatives from A-PAD platforms in Japan, Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. The event served as a platform for participants to exchange insights about their respective platforms and strengthen relationships among staff, ultimately enhancing A-PAD’s regional disaster preparedness efforts.
Facilitated by Mr. Jongwon Sung from A-PAD Korea and Mr. Anton Purnama from A-PAD Philippines, the workshop focused on key objectives aimed at bolstering A-PAD’s regional impact. One of the primary goals was to enhance collaboration between platforms, enabling a unified approach to disaster management across countries. Participants also shared knowledge and best practices, providing each platform with new operational insights. This cross-learning process was crucial in helping A-PAD staff better understand the strengths and challenges faced in different regions.
The workshop also aimed to address common challenges faced by A-PAD platforms, leading to the development of strategies that could be adopted across the organization at large. Innovative approaches such as crowdfunding and disaster-resilient tourism were explored, presenting new opportunities to enhance disaster management efforts globally.
A key outcome of the workshop was the identification of several best practices from each platform. These included Japan’s crowdfunding mechanism, Korea’s private sector networking for fundraising, Indonesia’s promotion of disaster-resilient tourism, the Philippines’ micro-enterprise development, Bangladesh’s medical intervention strategies, and Sri Lanka’s search and rescue operations. These insights, along with the strategies discussed, will be collated and presented to the A-PAD Board for review. The goal is to incorporate these strategies into A-PAD’s future strategic planning, ensuring a more cohesive and effective disaster management approach across the network.
The A-PAD International Capacity Building Workshop not only strengthened relationships among staff but also provided a significant opportunity for collaboration and innovation. The insights gained from the workshop will play a critical role in shaping the future of A-PAD’s disaster management efforts, as the organization continues to build resilience and preparedness across the Asia-Pacific region.
