Twenty panelists from multiple departments, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations and stakeholders took part in the forum and provided valuable opinions and arguments for a more inclusive disaster resilient framework.

“People are resilient and people can bounce back”, said Mr. Sanny Ramos Jegillos, Senior Advisor at UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub for Asia-Pacific at the opening of the forum.

The importance of livelihoods and resilience, as well as the understanding of risk throughout Asia, were constantly reiterated. Examples of livelihood resilience all touched on the need for improved political environments, managing of climate risks, economic, social and climate adaptation, and sustainable ecosystem management. More specifically, the role of climate change as a driver for adaptation and resilience was constantly repeated.

A broad spectrum of issues were brought up over the course of the forum, ranging from gender equality to how climate change effects different livelihoods in Asia. Speaking on gender equality, Ms. Roberta Clarke of the UN’s Women Regional Office for Asia-Pacific talked about the need for a “profound appreciation of cultural practices to ensure gender equality and inclusion for all people to participate in and benefit from the green economy and disaster risk management approaches”.

Experts and government officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines and Sri Lanka; as well as intergovernmental professionals from International Labor Organization, United Nations Development Programme and World Food Programme participated in the forum.

With the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Management right around the corner, the forum provided a great opportunity for multiple stakeholders to come together and talk under one roof with the common goal of disaster resilience before the larger discussions take place in Sendai next month.