Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Media for DRR Initiative
ABU in cooperation with UNDRR started the implementation of the global initiative Media for DRR. This is a commitment to a two-year project with the goal of enhancing the ability of broadcasters to provide useful information for climate change adaptation and disaster prevention in Asia.
Description
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) started implementing the global initiative Media for DRR. This is an initiative of the World Broadcasting Unions (WBU) and UNDRR. Designed as a two-year project, it aims to enhance the ability of broadcasters to provide useful information for climate change adaptation and disaster prevention in Asia – Pacific, Africa, Arab Countries, Europe and Caribbean.
For the implementation in Asia and the Pacific, a training named the “ABU/UNDRR MEDIA FOR DRR INITIATIVE” as Phase 1 of the project was initiated. The four-day interactive online courses aimed to establish the knowledge base of DRR concepts of the participants and develop ideas for increasing programming to educate people how to stay out of harm’s way. This global project was rolled out in Asia with the first workshop conducted for Bangladesh in February and by the end of March 2021, 16 ABU members from Asia, South Asia, and Pacific will be trained. Three ABU members in Bangladesh, two in Fiji and one in Papua New Guinea have completed the Phase 1.
The courses are delivered by different specialists: a trainer for content production on climate change adaptation and disaster prevention, a trainer on Early Warning Systems, a trainer on Weather Forecasts and input from radio specialist on Early Warnings and representatives of National Meteorological Offices and Disaster Management Authorities. Each training has to navigate at least five time zones because trainers are based in Britain, USA, Trinidad and Tobago, while the ABU implementation team, is in Kuala Lumpur and participating organisations are, Bangladesh, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Other concrete results include five draft Action Plans for increasing DRR content and building a culture of disaster prevention and resilience, which hopefully will be put in practice soon.
The next phase of the Media for DRR Initiative will focus on building the links of broadcasters with their national Meteorological Offices and Disaster Management Authorities, practical in-country production training and regional and global co-productions.
Did the Sendai Framework change or contribute to changes in your activities/organization? If so, how?
By partnering with UNDRR, this commitment is closely aligned with the Sendai Framework. In particular, the promotion of education and awareness in disaster risk reduction according to specific audiences and their needs. The Sendai Framework specifically mentions media and its role at the local, national, regional and global levels in contributing to the raising of public awareness and understanding and disseminate accurate and non-sensitive disaster risk, hazard and disaster information.
What led you to make this commitment/initiative?
What was your position before making this Voluntary Commitment / prior to the Sendai Framework?
We are motived by the global initiative Media for DRR which was put forward jointly by WBU and UNDRR. We believe in the importance of strengthening the ability of broadcasters to effectively communicate relevant issues on climate change adaptation and disaster prevention.
Only in phase 1, nearly 150 professionals from Bangladesh TV, Bangladesh Radio, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication, Fijian Broadcasting Corporation, Fiji TV and EMTV have already introduced to the concept of building a culture of disaster prevention through news, documentaries and popular shows.
As the Sendai Framework states, we hope our effort will contribute for media stakeholders in Asia and the Pacific to: communicate DRR information in a simple, transparent, easy-to-understand and accessible manner; adopt specific disaster risk reduction communications policies; support early warning systems and life-saving protective measures; and stimulate a culture of prevention and strong community involvement at all levels of society, in accordance with national practices.
Deliverables and Progress report
Deliverables
Deliverables are the end-products of the initiative/commitment, which can include issuance of publications or knowledge products, outcomes of workshops, training programs, videos, links, photographs, etc.
The ABU/UNDRR MEDIA FOR DRR INITIATIVE training we offer now is Phase 1 of the project – building the knowledge base for DRR through media. We rolled out in Asia this global project with the first workshop conducted for Bangladesh in February and by the end of March we will train 16 ABU members from Asia, South Asia, and Pacific.
The four-day interactive online courses aimed to establish the knowledge base of DRR concepts of the participants and develop ideas for increasing programming to educate people how to stay out of harm’s way.
Organizations and focal points
Implementing Organization(s)
Focal points
If a VC's contact information has been hidden, the SFVC team can forward a message.Partners
