2. Identify, assess and monitor disaster risks and enhance early warning

    2.1 Assessing and communicating disaster risks to decision-makers and the people at risk are the basis for disaster preparedness and risk reduction frameworks. Assessing disaster risks and communicating the results to all communities concerned contribute to efficient and effective coordination and collaboration among policy makers, educators, development practitioners and disaster managers. The results of a proper disaster risk assessment are critical for decision-making and public awareness for mainstreaming risk reduction into development practice, and for disaster early warning, preparedness and response. Therefore, risk assessment and communication are considered to be a central issue for national governments in the development of their respective disaster reduction strategies. In this regard, governments are encouraged to consider the policy aspects, organizational linkages and the technical capacities necessary for risk assessment.

    2.2 Enhancing early warning systems is essential for increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of disaster preparedness and response, leading to a reduction in human and socio-economic losses. There have been more efforts to enhance early warning systems across the region, with strong focus on technical and scientific aspects. However, there is need to address the importance of the human dimensions of early waning, and how all relevant information can be communicated and integrated better into disaster prevention, preparedness and response. This is critical for the effectiveness of disaster early warning as efforts should ensure that people at risk are able to receive, understand and act to protect themselves. Therefore, more attention and efforts are recommended for linking all the main actors required for improved early warning systems, including politicians, scientists, information providers and people at risk.     

    3. Use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels

    3.1 Integrating disaster risk reduction into formal and informal education systems is a profitable investment for changing people's thinking, attitudes and behaviour in reducing disaster risks. Disaster risk reduction is fundamental to socio-economic development. Therefore, introducing disaster risk reduction in educational systems is a long-term investment for sustainable development. In the short term, it helps to build a culture of safety and resilience across different gender and age groups. National governments are encouraged to take immediate action to introduce disaster risk reduction subject matter into formal and informal education programs and related training endeavors, giving appropriate regard for the transfer and use of traditional wisdom and local knowledge. 

    3.2 Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction into sustainable development requires sufficient understanding, knowledge and skills among policy makers, practitioners and communities at risk. Short-term training on disaster risk reduction is an effective way to equip people with essential knowledge and skills required for mainstreaming the subject into their daily lives. The need for such training is enormous among development practitioners and disaster managers who are the key players in the implementation of disaster risk reduction at national and community levels. To address such an enormous need for effective training, national governments are encouraged to mobilize academic and training institutions to design and conduct training courses that address actual needs of communities at risk. Therefore, training of decision-makers, practitioners and community leaders is urgently required for the successful implementation of disaster risk reduction.

    3.3 Sharing information and exchanging knowledge on disaster risk reduction builds capacities and a culture of safety. This has not been easy in Asia due to its great socio-cultural and language diversity, which poses a challenge to information sharing and dissemination even within a country. To face this challenge at national and community levels, national governments are encouraged to work with key stakeholders and elements of civil society already working at community levels to make persistent efforts to support and create means to enhance information sharing and knowledge exchange. Particular attention should be given to the engagement of broadcasting and print media in different languages.

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