Networks & Communities

Asian University Network of Environment and Disaster Management (AUEDM)

AUEDM is a network of universities undertaking education and research in the field of environment and disaster management. AUEDM was established in 2008 with 14 members, and as of January 2011, consists of 22 universities from 17 countries and areas. The network is hosted in Kyoto University Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies. The network has one president, two vice presidents (education and research), and an Executive board. The board runs for 3 years, and currently consists of 7 members from Asian universities. Additionally, there are observers and /or advisors which also include civil society (NGOs).

The aims of the network are:
1. To share and work together in promoting environment and disaster management in higher education
2. To collaborate on field-based and policy oriented research
3. To broaden the scope of education and learning with other stakeholders
4. To document, develop and disseminate knowledge products
5. To provide a forum for consultation, information sharing and cooperation among universities on matters and themes of common interest
6. To enhance recognition of the vital role of universities in implementation-oriented education and research in environment and disaster management

BCMIX - Business Continuity Management Information Exchange

BCMIX is a free and non-commercial virtual group created for professionals with a genuine interest in Business Continuity Management (BCM/BCP), Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP), COOP, Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management.

BeSafeNet

BeSafeNet aims to develop an organized network among countries, starting at school level, with the use of the internet, aimed at providing of information and knowledge to groups of people concerning the prevention, preparation, immediate reaction and rehabilitation in case of danger and disaster.

To accomplish this, the development of a network at school level will be studied as the first stage in the framework of FORM-OSE and in cooperation with the European Center For School Level Training in Risk Prevention, in Sofia, Bulgaria and the National Institute 'Stop Disasters' of the European University for Cultural Heritage in Ravello, Italy.

The network will provide information and knowledge about managing natural and man made disasters, among countries that share similar vulnerability to disasters.

Using the internet, games, cartoons, animations, groups of discussions and parallel education, the network will provide a friendly and interactive environment in order to interest and introduce young people to risk prevention, awareness and action in such catastrophic events. A forum for discussion is available for members.

Ecosystems and Livelihoods Adaptation Network (ELAN)

ELAN enhances poor and marginalized people's resilience to the impacts of climate change by integrating ecosystem and right-based approaches into adaptation policies and practices.

ELAN is founded on a need for shared experiences, further research and increased capacity to implement innovative and practical ecosystem and livelihood solutions to adaptation and risk reduction based on the latest information and the diffusion of knowledge among adaptation practitioners and policy-makers. ELAN is creating a global network of scientists, policy makers and practitioners dedicated to supporting the integration of sound ecosystem management in adaptation policies, plans and programmes – especially in the world’s most vulnerable countries.

Global Development Network (GDNet)

GDNet provides southern researchers with a space to profile their work and opportunities to engage with others working in development policy and practice including topics such as Disaster Risk Reduction or Climate Change Adaptation. The tools and services that it offers have been developed specifically to support researchers working in developing countries and to make their work known to an international audience.

The GDNet Knowledgebase is a comprehensive internet portal to development research produced in developing countries. Free to use, it features more than 16,500 research papers which are accompanied by clear conclusion based summaries. You can browse by topic through the GDNet Thematic Windows.

Information and Knowledge Management for Disaster Risk Reduction

Discussion group for issues related to information and knowledge management for disaster risk reduction facilitated by UNISDR's information management unit. Read the IKM4DRR concept note.

Knowledge sharing platform on disaster risk reduction

DisasterPreparedness.ICIMOD.org is a Knowledge Sharing Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) practitioners. The website is community driven, and mainly serves as a dynamic online repository for materials such as publications, reports, articles, links and news related to DRR.

For more information, visit: http://www.disasterpreparedness.icimod.org/dipecho-list.php We welcome you all to join our Group Mail which facilitates knowledge-networking among more than 400 DRR practitioners.

Learning from mega-disasters community of practice

Learning from Mega-Disasters Community of Practice (CoP) is a knowledge Sharing and Knowledge Exchange program that is established by the Government of Japan and the World Bank to collect and analyze information, data, and evaluations performed by academic and research institutions, nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and the private sector, with the intent of sharing Japan’s knowledge on disaster risk management (DRM) and post disaster reconstruction with countries that are vulnerable to disasters. This CoP will serve as a venue where experts can share views, discuss new topics, upload documents and add comments and suggestions.

Solution exchange for climate and disaster risk reduction community - Bangladesh

Solution Exchange is a knowledge management service that provides an email based platform for practitioners to discuss issues, share information and gather solutions to existing or anticipated challenges that they face on a day-to-day basis. It is based on the idea of peer learning and support. Bangladesh’s first Solution Exchange Community – the Urban Poverty Reduction Community was launched in March 2011 with its first query setting a global record for the number of responses.

The Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction (CDRR) Community provides knowledge services to harness Bangladesh’s vast knowledge pool on climate change and disaster risk reduction for more effective and smarter ways of doing the business – from policy, planning, or practical issues of implementation. The CDRR Community provides both online and offline services and tools in a non-hierarchical environment, bringing members from different sectors to form one ‘Team’ to make a positive dent in the field of climate change (CC) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Bangladesh. Currently there are some 580 members and dealt with some 26 queries and discussions (till January 2013).