International conference on 'building disaster resilient societies - lessons from Japan'

In order to facilitate knowledge sharing between disaster management scholars and practitioners from Japan and India, Global Forum for Disaster Reduction (GFDR) and Samutthan Foundation propose to organize a two-day International Conference in collaboration with Japan Foundation in New Delhi, India. Disaster risk management has scientific as well as human quotient to it. Therefore, the two-day conference will equally focus on the application of science and technology for disaster risk mitigation and on various sociological aspects of disaster preparedness and response.

This conference will give an opportunity to disaster management experts, policymakers, environmentalists, members of voluntary organizations, media persons and other stakeholders from Japan and India to exchange knowledge, experience and ideas about best practices in disaster management:

• Japan’s scientific and technological advances in risk assessment and disaster mitigation could be used to bridge knowledge gaps and strengthen India’s disaster management system;
• Mainstreaming of climate change issues and disaster management into the development planning process of the developing countries;
• Increase in knowledge and awareness about disaster risk mitigation among policymakers could reduce governance deficit in disaster management and lead to the formulation of effective disaster mitigation policies;
• Improvement in community preparedness through the involvement of schools, voluntary organizations, media and other stakeholders in disaster mitigation and risk reduction trainings and capacity building programs;
• Enhancing the scope of collaboration between Indian and Japanese scientists, which could strengthen research and development on disaster mitigation and prevention, and the new knowledge generated could be of benefit to Japan, India and other countries.