The fundamental principle of community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) involves the development and support of bottom up processes arising from the communities in recognition of their own needs and aspirations for community safety, and appropriate actions to address them. The CBDRR course provides an opportunity to practitioners to learn, upgrade and share essential skills and knowledge to systematically address disaster risk reduction challenges at the community level and to facilitate the processes of reducing disaster risk of vulnerable communities.

CBDRR participants will acquire tools and knowledge on how to design and implement programs for reducing disaster risks and vulnerability leading to community capacity building to promote a culture of safety and self-reliance. The course provides hands-on experience through scenario-based simulation exercises for strong application of the course learning.

The participants will have a chance to learn and discuss globally acknowledged programs and approaches on community based disaster risk reduction from leaders of these initiatives, with a particular focus on examples from South and South East Asian regions. The CBDRR course tackles the issues in disaster risk reduction from a developmental perspective, discusses the issues and problems concerning sustainability, replication/ adaptation of CBDRR practice and integration of risk reduction plans with government and non-government development plans. It also addresses emerging challenges such as climate change and possible adaptation options at community level.

The course aims to develop the capacity of CBDRR practitioners who will be the main project implementers at the community level on essential skills and knowledge on community based disaster risk management including:

• Discuss the context of CBDRR in a Changing Climate;
• Design and conduct climate inclusive community risk assessments;
• Identify measures for climate inclusive disaster risk reduction through vulnerability reduction and community capacity development;
• Prepare risk reduction plans and discuss its integration into sectoral developmental programs;
• Analyze issues and challenges in the implementation of community based risk reduction & climate change adaptation programs;
• Discuss areas of professional development to become a good CBDRR practitioner; and
• Build commitment and value systems to promote community empowerment for Climate Inclusive Community Risk Reduction.

The course takes place over ten workdays, structured around the following modules:

MODULE 1: Context of CBDRR in a Changing Climate

• Understanding terminologies and evolving concepts in disaster risk reduction
• Dynamics of disaster risk in a changing climate
• Climate inclusive disaster risk reduction frameworks at community level
• Community based disaster risk reduction process

MODULE 2: Climate Inclusive Participatory Community Disaster Risk Assessment

• Introduction to participatory community risk assessment (PCRA)
• Climate smart hazard assessment, application and use of tools including climate outlooks
• Vulnerability and capacity assessment, application and use of tools
• Disaster risk assessment at community level

MODULE 3: Participatory Disaster Risk Reduction Planning

• Participatory planning for risk reduction at community level
• Establishing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for CBDRR
• Stakeholders analysis and partnerships for community risk reduction planning and implementation
• Building and sustaining community based organizations
• Mobilizing resources for CBDRR planning and implementation

MODULE 4: Climate Inclusive Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction

• Overview to Community Resilience Framework
• Implementation of community-based disaster mitigation measures
• Linking DRR and climate change adaptation at community level
• Climate change adaptation in rural social ecological systems
• Mainstreaming DRR in community development programs CBDRR in recovery – the opportunity to build back better
• Community preparedness for disaster response
• Contingency planning to face exacerbated risk from climate change
• Development of an end-end early warning system at local level
• Public awareness in CBDRR
• Capacity development and training in CBDRR

MODULE 5: Enabling Environments for CBDRR

• National & sub-national institutional systems, policy formulation and Implementation
• Integration of CBDRR into local governance
• Advocacy for CBDRR

MODULE 6: Future Knowledge Applications and conclusions

• Hands-on exercise on project concept development exercise: Exercise on development of two project concept notes (in briefmanner) using the knowledge from the earlier sessions; Presentation of the project concept in groups and mock-evaluation of the proposals by a technical team, course conclusions and way forward
• Post course action planning; Post-test; Course evaluation

Note: The curriculum shown is for guidance only. ADPCs ongoing course improvement process may lead to some changes in topics and structure. Please be noted that the issues on gender, children, and vulnerable groups are cross-cutting topics throughout the training course.

CBDRR is a specialized course catering to the competency and knowledge needs of operation level practitioners who are or would be involved in the design and implementation of CBDRR projects and programs in their organizations. The course is open for participants from various sectors including, local government departments, NGOs, INGOs, UN, IFRC, national emergency response agencies and private sector. Participants from policy and senior management levels of government, UN, donor organizations and INGOs are welcome if they are interested to learn about how CBDRR is operationalized. As course participants come from a diverse range of countries and organizations, and the class size is limited to 30 persons, ADPC accepts nominations from Asia and the Pacific on a first come, first served basis, provided that the applicant meets the course requirements. A limited number of participants from other regions will also be accepted, on a case by case and "first come first served" basis.

Regionally experienced practitioners and experts from APDC and its partner organizations will conduct and facilitate the CBDRR course.

Drawing upon the rich repository of knowledge, experience, tools and case studies of ADPC and other partner organizations, the course is primarily designed to promote the sharing of relevant knowledge by encouraging participants to think creatively and utilize contemporary adult learning methods such as

• interactive lectures
• field work
• group work presentation
• classroom exercises
• discussions

All of us will be learners and will learn from each other from resource persons, facilitators and participants.

Language
All teaching and reference materials are in English.Participants must be fully conversant in English.

Accommodation
Applicants are highly recommended to stay at the hotel where the training is held. The room rate is approximately US$70-90 per single occupancy room per night including daily buffet breakfast.

Course Fee
Package A with accommodation: US$3,175
Package B without accommodation: US$2,275

The standard course fee of US$3,175 covers course tuition, training materials, single accommodation with breakfast (13 nights), two break refreshments & lunch (Monday-Friday) during the training, and study visits. Participants will be responsible for their own travel expenses and arrangements, airport transfers, visa application, lunch on weekends, all dinners, health/accident insurance, and other personal expenses.

Participants who wish to seek own accommodation can choose an alternative course fee package B of US$2,275

Logistics
Participants are expected to arrive on June 23, 2013 and leave on July 6, 2013.

Registration
Interested persons can apply as individuals although preference will be given to those sponsored by the organizations. The application can be submitted online. For offline application, the completely filled application form should be submitted ADPC through email, fax or postal mail. The application form is available for download above. Pre-course information will be sent participants once they are accepted to the course.

Payment
If you are selected to attend the course, the payment should be transferred to ADPC account through bank transfer or International Demand Draft (IDD) no later than June 7, 2013. Otherwise, your participation will be cancelled. Please note that personal cheques are not accepted as a form of payment.

Cancellations
If you are unable to attend, a substitute applicant is welcome to attend in your place, provided the participation criteria described above have been met. Cancellation of attendance should be notified at least 3 weeks prior to course commencement; in which case, a full refund less 15% of course fee for banking charges and administrative costs will be made. No refunds are available for cancellation within 3 weeks prior to course commencement.

Training Services Unit (TSU)
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center
979/66-70, 24th Floor SM Tower
Paholyothin Road, Samsen Nai Phayathai
Bangkok, 10400
Tel: +66 (02) 298 0681-92
Cell Phone: +66 87 697 7535
Fax: +66 (02) 298 0012-13
Skype ID: ADPC_Training
Email: tsu@adpc.net