Goal

Promote multisectoral collaboration and innovative technologies to enable community-based disaster management.

Objectives

• To refine framework for safe, swift and cohesive response to disasters at the local community level to save lives and preserve health.

• To create a platform for sharing evidence and innovations in disaster management.

• To foster collaboration among government, academia, and civil society

Expected Outcomes

• Refined Disaster Management Framework: Developed a structured, scalable, and community-driven framework for swift and effective disaster response at the local level, integrating research-based best practices for disaster risk reduction to save lives and preserve health.

• Strengthened Multisectoral Collaboration: Fostered partnerships between government agencies, academic institutions, NGOs, and international organisations to enhance disaster preparedness and policy integration, emphasizing the role of research in shaping policies and interventions.

• Commitment to Capacity Building & Future Action: Established a network for knowledge exchange, proposed research-driven training programs, and initiated working groups to conduct ongoing studies and ensure long-term progress in disaster resilience efforts.

The sessions will be on the following themes:

• Understanding Disaster Risk and Community Vulnerability - This session will explore the various types of disaster risks—natural, technological, and biological—and how they disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.
  Experts will discuss risk assessment methodologies and tools that can help communities identify potential hazards and assess their capacity to respond.

• Building Local Capacity for Disaster Response - Focusing on the importance of local leadership, this session will provide insights into how communities can enhance their capacity to respond effectively to disasters.
  Topics will include community-based emergency training programs, volunteer networks, and the role of first responders in rural and underserved areas.

• Innovative Health Interventions in Disaster Situations - This session will highlight cutting-edge health interventions and community-based solutions that have been successfully implemented in disaster situations.
  Case studies of medical response, trauma care, and mental health support will illustrate how timely and innovative actions can save lives during crises.

• Role of Technology in Community Resilience - The session will explore how technology—ranging from mobile health apps to early warning systems—can be leveraged to support disaster preparedness and response efforts.
  It will also discuss how technology empowers communities to take proactive steps in disaster risk reduction.

• Collaboration Between Public Health Systems and Communities - Successful disaster resilience relies on strong partnerships between public health systems and communities.
  This session will focus on how government agencies, NGOs, and community organizations can collaborate to improve disaster preparedness and ensure an integrated health response during emergencies.

• Future Proofing - What creates an effective Community Based Disaster Response? Bringing together experienced practitioners from the field of disaster medicine, this panel discussion will focus on sharing real-world experiences, lessons learned, and best practices in managing large-scale emergencies.
  The panel will include representatives from local, national, and international disaster response teams.