The Forum:

The Using ICT for Effective Disaster Management Forum Asia 2006 was the first of Four Regional Fora that are designed to promote, facilitate and enhance understanding of how stakeholders can effectively use Information and Communication Technology to mitigate the effects of natural disasters.

Its main aims were to reduce the vulnerability of nations and regions to natural disasters, as well as help increase the capacity of policy makers, ICT regulators, private sector actors, civil society organisations and those in the community to prepare and respond effectively to natural disasters.

The CTO delivered this regional event in the knowledge that giving stakeholders a comprehensive understanding of how ICT can be effectively used in the event of disaster will save lives and mitigate the devastating impact of natural disasters on the socio-economic development.

The first two days of the Forum saw participants witness and discuss presentations by some of the World’s leading experts in disaster management. After the presentations and debates of the first two days, stakeholders used the third day to produce log frames that highlighted how the objective of using ICT to effectively manage disasters. The Using ICT for Effective Disaster Management Log frames will prove to be effective tools for those currently developing their disaster management strategies.

The Forum was a highly successful event with 98% of participants indicating that it met their specific needs. Some comments from those who attended can be found below.

Testimonials:

"The CTO event on ICT for Disaster Management was a unique opportunity to initiate dialogue with the ICT community and to understand new technologies for possible application to disaster reduction"
Ms. Christel Rose, Programme Officer, UNISDR Asia/Pacific

"Being a practitioner in the field, for the first time I got the opportunity to have direct interaction with people involved with the latest technology"
Mr Muhammad Saidur Rahman, Director, Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Centre

"I have got more technical knowledge and this will help me to improve facilities back home"
Captain Abdul Raheem Latheef, Director, National Disaster Management Centre of the Maldives

"CTO Forum was an excellent event to share experiences"
Mr Mohammed Amir, Chief Executive, Telecommunications Authority of the Maldives

"It was a well organised event; it is very useful to network with knowledgeable people"
Mr. K. Gianieshchmarasurier, Manager – ICT, Capital AEI

"CTO Forums are a platform to rub shoulders with your counterparts from other countries"
Mr Mohammed Shareef, Assistant Director General, Ministry of Planning Maldives

"I learned many issues and concerns in several aspects"
Mr Wisit Atipayakoon, Project Officer, ITU

"I came to know about the latest technologies being used for DRR"
Ms Vandana Chauhan, Project Coordinator, Urban Planning Partnerships, India