ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction

The Asia Pacific Disaster Resilience Network (APDRN) has been established by ESCAP to support integrated multi-hazard early warning systems and close the data gaps therein. The network is built around four work streams, namely multi-hazard early warning system, data and statistics, technology innovation and applications, and knowledge for policy.

In building resilience to disasters, ESCAP is using innovations. ESCAP has built Risk and Resilience Portal to deepen policymakers’ understanding of cascading risks from the disaster-climate-health nexus, provide evidence-based analytics to strengthen regional cooperation frameworks to conduct and produce actionable risk assessments, and strengthen capacity of multiple sectoral ministries to develop risk informed planning and budgeting. The portal will answer four key questions on the emerging disaster-climate-health riskscape. Where are the risk hotspots of cascading hazards? What are the current and future economic losses from cascading hazards? How much will it cost countries, the subregions, and the region to adapt to the new riskscape? What are the adaptation priorities for countries, sub-regions and the region?

Another focus area in data and tools is impact-based forecasting which aims to understand “what the weather will do” rather than “what the weather will be.” ESCAP has developed a methodological approach for impact-based forecasting, overlaying weather information with regional, national, and sub-national risk profiles, and exposure and vulnerability information. Impact-based forecasting can help timely preparations and strategic decisions of key stakeholders in agriculture, disaster risk management, energy, health and water management, as well as the public.

These products have supported countries in better understanding of complex risk scenarios and served as the evidence base for a series of webinars with key stakeholders for COVID-19 recovery and to build back better.