The proposed project addresses the following areas under the ASEAN+3 Emerging Infectious Diseases Programme: ? ASEAN+3 Member Country and ASEAN+3 Secretariat Institutional Strengthening ? Enabling Environment for Preparedness ? Surveillance and Response The project has multiple dimensions including communication and information sharing among ASEAN+3 countries, building inter-sectoral collaboration and development of good practice for emerging infectious disease preparedness and strengthening of multi-sectoral responses to emerging infectious diseases through an exercise management training program. This project is complementary to the project proposal on conducting a cross-border simulation of an avian influenza outbreak affecting the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The increasing and ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry and in humans in the Asian region have raised the alarm that the world is drawing closer to the brink of an influenza pandemic and have demonstrated the need to prepare effectively for communicable disease emergencies. Emergency preparedness is essential in the face of known and unknown risks that may cause severe disruption to health, society, economics and the environment. Emerging infectious diseases, such as avian influenza and the potential for a human influenza pandemic, have created a need for warning and alerting systems, training, emergency plans and exercises. Without an actual outbreak of such a disease, or other type of emergency, it is difficult to be sure that systems, training and plans are well targeted and appropriate. Simulation exercises can test these plans and systems, and increase awareness and reinforce training. Exercises have taken place in ASEAN+3 countries at national, provincial, community, cross border and regional levels. In the next year, ASEAN+3 countries will conduct more exercises to develop and test response plans, in particular, for avian and human influenza, at regional, national and sub-national levels. As there is limited experience in conducting exercises among health and animal health communities and other ministries in ASEAN+3 countries, there is a need to build the capacity of ASEAN+3 countries and key personnel to manage exercises. This project is designed to complement and optimise the value and effectiveness of such exercises, and thereby improve regional and national capacities for managing emerging infectious diseases. In April 2007, the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries conducted a pilot Exercise Management Training Workshop for representatives from APEC economies in Bangkok, Thailand. Participants in the workshop expressed the view that having learned the steps in the exercise management process, they would be able to conduct exercises more effectively in their economies in the future. This project proposes to build on this experience by providing exercise management training at regional and national level for ASEAN+3 countries as part of their preparations for conducting exercises.

This project is proposed by the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, in collaboration with the representatives of the Ministries of Health and Ministries of Agriculture and other ministries concerned in ASEAN+3 countries. Representatives of the respective Ministries of Health and the Ministries of Agriculture, ASEAN+3 Secretariat, other sectors, NGOs and international organizations (for example, WHO, UNICEF, UNSIC, FAO, OIE, Kenan Institute, MRC), will be invited to contribute to the planning and implementation of the program by participating in the preliminary workshop and the regional pilot training course workshop. It is expected that representatives of these Ministries and organizations and different levels of government will participate in the national exercise management training courses. The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, based in Thailand, has been identified as an implementing partner to organise and conduct this program, given their experience in conducting health emergency management capacity building activities, including exercise management training. This project will strengthen the capacity of key health and animal health personnel to design, develop, conduct and evaluate exercises for developing and testing capacity to respond to emergencies. Participants will be able to apply their exercise management training for a range of different types of strategies, including risk communication, early warning systems, and response plans. Exercises which are conducted and evaluated effectively will help to identify gaps in capacity and areas for further training and capacity development, thus strengthening national and regional capacity for prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases. The project has four components: 1. Regional Workshop on Exercise Management. 2. ASEAN+3 Exercise Management Training Package 3. Regional Pilot Exercise Management Training Pilot course and National Exercise Management Training Courses 4. Follow-up Evaluation Workshop.

The expected outputs from the program are as follows: ? Development of a 5-day training package which contextualizes exercise management for EID for the human health and animal health sectors ? Enhance skills and knowledge of 250 participants and enhance the capacity of human health and animal health services in ASEAN+3 countries to manage exercises

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