Disaster Management Coordination: How did COVID-19 change Disaster Management Plans?

As part of an ongoing collaboration with Columbia University, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM) requested the SIPA team to connect the mission of the AHA Centre to leverage localisation in their work. This required stakeholder analysis to (i) determine how localisation evolved, particularly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) define the role of the AHA Centre to operationalize local efforts and analyze sustainable methodologies, and (iii) reflect on adaptations of the broader Southeast Asian humanitarian system.

A mixed-methods research approach integrated both qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to complement findings. The research explored perspectives from key stakeholders in the humanitarian sector. These informants and respondents included ASEAN member states and other governmental bodies, donors, international organisations, including United Nations (UN) and non-UN affiliated, local, national, and non-governmental organisations, national societies, and other community partners.

The study illustrated the complexities as well as the opportunities that exist within the network of partners. This included recommendations on improving coordination and training, civil society organisation engagement, and adaptations the humanitarian sector can take. Local partners need to be empowered to make relevant decisions about disaster prevention and mitigation. National actors can support local responses and coordinate state-wide responses. ASEAN builds regional capacity for nations to share resources. International organizations, along with partner nations, and donors, can work with the AHA Centre to directly meet the needs of local organizations.

In As Local as Possible: Study on Localisation of Disaster Management during Pandemic,  the Capstone team writes about their colloboration with AHA Centre.

AHA Centre. (2022). ASEAN Risk Monitor and Disaster Management Review (ARMOR) 3rd edition. Jakarta: ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre). Retrieved from https://ahacentre.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ARMOR-3rd-Ed.pdf.