CWS News

Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center (TDMRC), in collaboration with UNDP DRR – a project and Yayasan Lamjabat (a local NGO assisting the community in CBDRR programs), hosted the Second South-South Citizenry Based Development Academy (2nd SS CBDA) in Banda Aceh, on 7-9 April 2010. This program continued the first South-South Citizenry Based Development Academy held in Bhuj, Kutch, India in January 2010.

The objectives of the 2nd SS CBDA are to provide capacity development support to citizenry-based development oriented disaster risk reduction initiatives in Asia and the Pacific Region. These programs are networked inter-regionally to share knowledge and lessons-learned from the 2004 Aceh–Sumatra earthquake.

Organizers hope that a network of community-based organizations can more effectively scale up “good practices” and improve communication between stakeholders. These efforts should increase communities’ overall disaster resilience.

The learning methods for the 2nd SS CBDA linked theories and practices. This included lectures, case studies, in-depth field trips, individual projects and presentations. Participants visited community projects and interacted with facilitators from the organizing institution (TDMRC) who have been implementing these projects. They also met academic and civil society organizations from Aceh.

There were several sites visited by the participants. One of them was Lambateung, Kahju village, Aceh Besar, one of 10 villages that CWS Indonesia together with Radio Djati 103,6 FM has assisted in the community-based disaster preparedness radio program. The collaboration has resulted several workshops and trainings for children on disaster risk reduction in the community. It has produced Community Message Service, which provides information on preparation and safety in disaster, as well as a radio talk show called “Children on Air.”

Participants observed an on-air talk show on disaster risk reduction and preparedness with the audience.

Participants came from many countries in Asia and the Pacific region. The theme of the academy is "Resilient Communities: Taking Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation.
(CWS Indonesia)

More than thirty-four participants from Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, India, Malaysia and Hong Kong participated in the 2nd SS CBDA. It included 16 Indonesian National participants and 18 local Aceh participants. The participants represented local and International NGOs, UN-Agencies, CBOs and other institutions; among others: Malteser International, Oxfam Hong Kong, Mercy Malaysia, SU SSC UNDP, CWS Indonesia, University of Camarine Sur, AIDMI (All India Disaster Mitigation Institute), Bicol State University of Agriculture Philippines, MDMC, Kappala, Yayasan Holianaa, UPN, KOMPAK, SurfAid, SCDRR, Action Contra La Faim, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PMI or Indonesian Red Cross, WHO etc.

Participants shared learning outcomes such as in-depth understanding of 2004 Aceh – Sumatra earthquake and tsunami, community response and recovery actions, improved risk identification and examination of community-managed approaches to reduce disaster risks, sharpened analytical and problem solving skills. They also had intellectual interaction with lecturers and fellow participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, and social interaction with fellow participants from diverse cultural backgrounds.

As an organization, who has been assisting community in many areas in Indonesia to increase their resilience to natural disasters, Church World Service’s participation in this event was important to gain more examples of best practices from others for its program improvement and to share what CWS has been doing in disaster risk reduction in Indonesia to others.
[LR/IV/2010]