Disaster Management Reference Handbook ASEAN 2022

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is made up of 10 member-states: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. While ASEAN’s purposes and goals touch on various sectors, such as economics, culture, academic research, and industry, its member-states have also declared that, as a regional grouping, they will promote regional peace, stability, mutual assistance, and collaboration. All of these underpin the ASEAN efforts to better respond to natural and man-made disasters and to mitigate disaster impacts through coordinated action.

Given the successes and shortcomings observed in ASEAN’s collective DM actions in recent years, ASEAN member-states continue to invest in ASEAN capacity. Continuing efforts are focused on enhancing AHA Centre capacity, building training and certification programs for DM practitioners and professionals, and incorporating extra-regional and international partners in ASEAN planning and rehearsal processes to ensure ASEAN and its member- states are integrated into the global humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) community of practice.