Dr. Sanjaya Bhatia, Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster
Risk Reduction (UNISDR) Office for Northeast Asia yesterday stressed
the Asia-wide need for professional capacity to cope with disasters, in
all their forms.
Meeting with officials of the Asian Institute of Technology on 5
February 2015, Dr. Bhatia explained the work of UNISDR’s Global
Education Training Institute for Disaster Risk Reduction (GETI) and
invited AIT to be its partner.
“Demand for technical expertise and training is far outstripping
capacity,” said Dr. Bhatia, as he requested AIT to work with
UNISDR/GETI by sharing its roster of experts, and to consider a
modality for delivery of GETI training tools and leaning modules.
According to Dr. Bhatia, GETI conducts training programs on disaster
reduction and mitigation for local-level governments across many
countries in Asia.
With the demand for expertise spiking upward, GETI is interested to
franchise its 10-module training portfolio through partnerships with
universities and institutes to conduct training of trainers – and to
establish a viable roster of professional experts in the field of
disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation for resilient
societies, he said.
Prof. Pennung Warnitchai, Disaster Preparedness, Mitigation and
Management (DPMM) Coordinator for the AIT School of Engineering and
Technology (SET), expressed keen interest in developing a partnership,
as did Dr. Jonathan Shaw, Executive Director of AIT Extension.
To start, both AIT officials were invited to participate at a GETI
training planned for May this year in South Korea. Modalities for
working with GETI, could follow. AIT was also suggested as a natural
hub for engagement with UNISDR, given its expertise, regional outreach
focus and internationality.
“We want to develop a regional and global network to franchise our
modules,” Dr. Bhatia said. GETI’s three-day training programs target
seasoned professionals in municipalities, and the tools are based on
the needs and demands of mayors, he explained. The learning modules
include areas such as governance, risk assessment, infrastructure,
health, finance, ecosystems, livelihoods, schools and hospitals, and
early warning systems.
Mr. Armen Rostomyan, Program Officer, UNISDR/GETI, Asst. Prof.
Indrajit Pal, AIT/DPMM, Mr. Karma Rana, AIT Institute Secretary and Ms.
Vineeta Thapa, DPMM Program Officer, also attended the meeting
organized by Mr. Sanjeev Jayasinghe, AIT Director of Fundraising and
Interim Director of Alumni Affairs.
After completing the workshops, attendees are fluent with the tools
and their practical application, and take away a first-step template
for developing viable disaster plans for their city, Mr. Rostomyan
said, emphasizing that GETI only asks to be recognized as owner of the
modules by the partner who delivers the training.
The Incheon, Republic of Korea-based organization works with regional
organizations, countries and national platforms, parliamentarians, UN
organizations, international financial organizations, civil society,
academic and research institutes, and the private sector.