Introduction

Although the number of casualties from natural disasters has gradually decreased in the past four decades, with decrease in the number of reported disasters in the past eight years, damages associated with these disasters have steadily increased (International Disaster Database 1900-2011). When disaster risk is viewed as a function of the hazard, exposure, and vulnerability, this implies increasing exposure and/or vulnerability. Least developed or developing countries are most affected due to their geographical location, vulnerability of economic activities, fragile infrastructure, low level of political and social organization, weak early warning systems, etc.

Management of disaster risks, which makes use of administrative directives, organizational capacities, and operational skills for implementing policies, strategies, and mechanisms, reduce the adverse impacts of natural hazards. It involves the identification, assessment, prioritization, and treatment of risks, which could be preventive, mitigating, or preparatory.

This exclusive course taught by Dr. Bapon Fakhruddin, hydrologist by training, with more than 15 years working experience in water engineering, climate, and disaster risk management, is presented through video tutorials and multimedia content within the Moodle virtual platform, with exercises like tests and practical cases.

Objectives

The training shall enable professionals to enhance knowledge and skills in developing/ improving disaster risk management plans and strategies. It specifically helps them:

o Develop a disaster risk management plan tailored to their own geographical, socio-economic, and cultural contexts
o Identify key implementation issues and requirements
o Develop an action plan for integrating disaster risk management principles and strategies into their respective organizations.
o Better understand building resilience and building back better approach.

Limited places.

The training covers classroom-based study and field/study visits through the following modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Disaster Risk Management
o Disasters and development
o Models and current approaches to managing disasters
o Disaster risk management principles
o Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030

Module 2: Disaster Risk Management Process
o The disaster risk management process
o Hazard identification and evaluation
o Vulnerability and capacity assessments
o Risk analysis: probabilities and consequences
o Risk management strategies and options analysis
o Iterative risk management

Module 3: Disaster Preparedness
o Disaster preparedness framework
o Planning process and stakeholder participation
o Institutional framework
o Early warning
o Response mechanisms
o Building back better approach
o Education and awareness
o Resource base
o Simulations and drills

Module 4: Advances in Early Warning
o End-to-end early warning framework
o Advances in weather and flood forecasting and climate prediction
o Tsunami early warning
o Hazard forecast-based risk estimation
o Application potential of risk information of different timescales
o Decision-support tools and their application

Module 5: Disaster Mitigation
o Mitigation concepts
o Mitigation strategies
o Menu of mitigation options
o Recovery and reconstruction: Opportunities for mitigation

Module 6: Action Plan Development
o Course integration and reflection
o Action planning at organizational level

Bapon Fakhruddin, PhD – Early Warning and Disaster Risk Reduction Expert

I am a hydrologist by training, and have 15 years working experiences in water engineering, climate, and disaster risk management. My key areas of expertise are hydrological modeling, early warning system, emergency communication, climate-proofing infrastructure and disaster risk reduction. I graduated in civil engineering and have a master in water engineering and management. I have a PGD from the United Nations University, Canada and PhD in Water Engineering. I also studied mathematical modeling and GIS. I am a certified Instructor of ICS from United States Forest Service (USFS). Currently I am working for Tonkin and Taylor International.based in Auckland, New Zealand.

I have hands on working experiences in implementing climate and disaster risk management projects more than 25 countries ( i.e. Barbados, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cook Islands, China, Fiji, Dominica, Granada, India, Iran, Indonesia, Myanmar, Maldives, Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Nepal, Nauru, Niue, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, St Lucia, Thailand, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, Vanuatu.) to support national hydro-meteorological and disaster management agencies.

I have working experiences with many international organizations (i.e. UCAR, NOAA, USDA/FS, IFRC, ADPC, WMO, UNDP- GEF, etc) and Universities (UNU, AIT, Kings College, City University NY, East West Center, etc).

Specialties: Climate and hydrological risk assessment, design and implementation of hazard early warning system and emergency communication, climate change adaptation, training and capacity building and integrated water resources management

The course is delivered online through our easy-to-use Virtual Campus platform. For this course, a variety of content is provided including:

– eLearning materials
– Videos
– Interactive multimedia content
– Live webinar classes
– Texts and technical articles
– Case studies
– Assignments and evaluation exercises

Students can download the materials and work through the course at their own pace.
We regularly update this course to ensure the latest news and state-of-the-art developments are covered, and your knowledge of the subject is current.

Live webinars form part of our course delivery. These allow students and tutors to go through the course materials, exchange ideas and knowledge, and solve problems together in a virtual classroom setting. Students can also make use of the platform’s forum, a meeting point to interact with tutors and other students.

The tutoring system is managed by email. Students can email the tutor with any questions about the course and the tutor will be happy to help.

This training is designed for:

1. Practitioners involved in the various aspects of disaster risk management
2. Administrators, managers and planners responsible for preparing disaster preparedness plans
3. National/ local NGO staff working in the fields of development and disaster risk management
4. Human resource officers, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) officers and/or emergency managers
5. Officials from provincial and city administrations, especially development and planning authorities

To ensure the quality of the training, number of participants is limited to 25.  Registrations are, therefore, accepted on a first-come first-served basis.  

With this course output, the participants will able to enhance capacity in the area of disaster risk reduction. Linking science, institution and engineering knowledge in saving life and property damages. Participants are provided with knowledge and tools necessary to embark on a successful disaster risk communication campaign. Participants well able link theory of training with actual practice at field level during project implementation. The course further provides the participants with clearer understanding of the nature and perception of risks and how this affects behaviour and apply early warning for early action to reduce risk and response any natural disaster.