21 Apr - 2 May 2008,
Bangkok, Thailand
Purpose of the course
The course aims to build the capacity of professionals to manage risks associated with climate variability, change, and extremes. It builds upon the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center's two decades of experience in disaster management, facilitating regional cooperation and building capacities of disaster management institutions at all government levels, disaster management practitioners and communities, and a decade of experience in institutionalizing climate information applications for disaster mitigation. It incorporates case studies and sectoral examples from ADPC's climate risk management programs and projects all over Asia. Upon completing the course, participants will be able to: 1) design early warning systems for climate-related risks; 2) design community-based climate risk management, climate forecast applications, and climate change adaptation projects, and 3) develop tools to mainstream climate risk management practices into development programs and policies.
Objectives
Upon completion of the CRM training, participants will learn how to:
interpret weather and climate forecast products and climate change scenarios issued by national meteorological agencies and global forecasting centers
develop weather and climate impact outlooks based on climate information
develop effective strategies for climate risk prevention and mitigation at different timescales
communicate probabilistic climate forecast information to users
apply risk management processes in order to identify, assess and deal with climate-related risks
develop strategies to mainstream climate risk management into development planning
develop livelihood adaptation options and good practice menus to deal with climate change, variability, and extremes.
apply participatory community-based decision making principles in climate risk management
Training strategy
The course will promote participatory learning and encourage participants to think creatively. It will utilize contemporary adult learning methodologies, including:
Interactive and participative lectures
Group discussions
Classroom exercises
Work sheets
Climate risk mapping
Discussions
Presentation
Case studies
Research
Instructional games
Certificates will be awarded to participants on successful completion of the training programme.
Course curriculum
Module 1: Introduction to climate risk management
This introductory module is designed to inform participants of the:
1. Science of climate change, variability, and predictability
2. Global climate risk situation
3. Regional climate risk situation
4. Local and location-specific climate risk
5. Terminologies used in climate risk management
6. Climate and society
7. Climate impacts
8. Development of climate risk management programs
8. Climate risk management processes
9. Climate risk analysis
Module 2: Understanding climate forecast products
This module will introduce forecast products, tools and methods. This includes
1. Drivers of weather and climate
2. Types of weather and climate forecasts
3. Forecast lead time
4. Forecast reliability
5. Relevance of forecast products to disaster prevention
6. Probabilistic forecast products
7. Global Climate Model-based ensemble forecasts
8. National, regional and international forecasting systems and organizations
Module 3: Understanding climate risk management process
This module will discuss the steps involved in climate risk management and disaster preparedness:
1. User need assessment
2. Assessing the relevance of forecast products
3. Interpretation of forecast products
4. Preparing impact outlooks
5. Preparation of alternative management plans, prevention and mitigation strategies
6. Communicating weather and climate information
7. Economic value of forecast products
Module 4: Sectoral examples of climate risk management
Key elements, issues and challenges in climate risk management in various sectors are discussed in this module. A series of case studies and methodologies, developed from ADPC's regional and national programs in the past 10 years, will be presented:
1. Agriculture and allied sectors
2. Water resources management
3. Food security
4. Urban climate risk management
5. Country examples on drought, flood, flash flood, cyclone disaster management
6. Disaster damage and loss assessment
7. Climate and health
8. Tourism
9. Environment
10. Energy
11. Transport
Module 5: Climate change, variability, and extremes
This module will discuss a range of skills necessary to understand and manage future climate change impacts. The module includes:
1. Science of climate change
2. Climate change scenarios
3. Climate change, variability, extremes, and disaster linkages
4. Climate change and risk environments (coastal, small islands, floodplains, arid and semi arid zones, highlands, glaciers, and high mountains)
5. Institutional adaptation to climate change (national, sub-national, and local)
6. Mainstreaming climate change risk concerns into developmental planning
Module 6: Community-based participatory climate risk management
The module will highlight the challenges and issues which may be encountered in community-based climate risk management. The module introduces case studies and success stories in several countries of this region. It will cover the following:
1. Community risk perception analysis
2. Community driven risk management processes
3. Participatory decision-making with stakeholders
4. Climate risk communication process
5. Climate Field Schools
6. Climate Forecast Producer and User Forums
Module 7: Institutionalization and mainstreaming considerations
This concluding module will discuss the key considerations for integrating climate risk management strategies into development programs.
It will cover:
1. Decision making environment and climate risk management
2. Relevance of climate change in sectoral decision making and programs
3. Assessing economic value
4. Incorporating differential and equity considerations into climate risk management
5. Institutionalization processes
6. Program targets and indicators
Matching participant needs
Participants will be asked to send details of their climate risk and disaster management responsibilities to ADPC as part of the course expression of interest and application process. This information will be utilized by presenters and resource persons prior to and during the course to ensure that course materials and activities are tailored to participants' needs.
Participants
The course is tailored for senior level disaster managers and development workers from the Asian and Pacific regions, including officials of national and provincial governments, extension officers, defense forces, and emergency services, staff of training institutes, institutions of public administration, national and international NGOs, IFRC/ICRC, UN agencies and the private sector. A limited number of participants from other regions will also be accepted, on a case by case and first-come first-served basis. Participants who have a considerable measure of responsibility in the area of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and disaster management policy will gain the most from the curriculum. Some climate background is desirable, but not required for participating in the course.
Language
All teaching and course materials are in English. It is essential that participants are fully conversant in English.
Resource persons
International experienced practitioners and experts from different organizations will complement ADPC's in-house expertise to conduct and facilitate the Climate Risk Management course. ADPC has a diverse and dedicated team of professionals with expertise in areas ranging from climatology to forecast applications.
Course Fee
The course fee is US $ 2,000.00 per participant, which includes the cost of course materials (CD, handouts, and other course materials) and refreshments. An additional amount of US$ 40 is payable as Admission Fee. Learners have easy access to Internet and email during the entire duration of the course, and computers and printers are provided to participants for easier compliance with course requirements. Note that the fee covers tuition and materials only. Board and lodging, although arranged by ADPC, is to be paid by participants. Travel is to be arranged and paid directly by participants.
Discounts
ADPC has established an arrangement which recognizes the special needs of sponsoring organizations who wish to send large groups to the course. When one single organization decides to send a group of five persons to the course, it may send a sixth participant free of charge.
Application
Interested persons can apply directly, but preference is given to those nominated by their employer organizations/departments. Application should be made on the ADPC Application Form, which should be sent by fax to the number given at the end of this brochure. For a hard copy of the application form please write to us. If you prefer, applications can be submitted electronically. The form for on-line applications can be found on the ADPC web site at http://www.adpc.net/training/form.html. For applicants being sponsored by an organization, a letter of support from the organization is required. Further pre-course information will be provided once your nomination is accepted.
CONTACT ADDRESS
Mr. Falak Nawaz
Manager
Training Resource Group
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC)
P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang
Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
Tel: (66 2) 516 5900-10 ext. 333, 328, 153, 432
Fax: (66 2) 524 5360, 524 5350, 524 5382
Email: tedadpc@adpc.net
Website: http://www.adpc.net
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Soldiers collect bullet shells after an encounter with suspected militants in Thailand's southern province of Yala January 16, 2008. Three soldiers were injured after the encounter, police said. REUTERS/Surapan Boonthanom (THAILAND) ...
