Workshop Overview

Two-Day Workshop August 11-12, 2010 At East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii Launching a Global Resilience Initiative in Asia: Case of Pandemic Influenza We will hold a two-day workshop, Launching a Global Resilience Initiative in Asia: Case of Pandemic Influenza in August 11-12, 2010 at East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. The Global Resilience Initiative in Asia is a long term and policy oriented effort to create an integrated framework and roadmap for “resilience” in Asia under a Global Disaster Risk Management (GDRM) approach (see “Background Paper”). Pandemic influenza was chosen as the topic of the first workshop as it is emblematic of the type of emerging global disaster risks that urgently requires the GDRM approach and the development of “resilience.” Recognizing that “resilience” is an elusive term and understood in different way the workshop will focus on identifying the key defining features of “resilience” that address the following four major policy issues: 1. While the “resilience” has recently received much attention, few national, regional or international institutions have provided guidance as to what constitutes “resilience” and how to implement it. 2. Disaster risk management is still largely done on a case-by-case, and post-disaster basis in most of countries, in large part which is due to the lack of “resilience”: Traditional post-disaster management does not meet the changing policy and disaster management environment, that is, the unprecedented complex uncertainties influenced by the recent globalization. 3. Relating to the above 2, the “resilience” will be possible by incorporating policies and actions among domestic governments and regional organizations together with international organizations. Currently, a “policy vacuum” in this, which is especially true for Asia: Although Asia, accounts for a majority of the total number of deaths caused by natural disasters, is the epicenter for various infectious diseases, and urgently requires pre-disaster risk management and “resilience,” few concerted efforts for cooperation have been undertaken. 4. The implementing of resilience is a challenge not only for developing countries but also for developed countries, who are struggling to implement resilience at national levels as seen from the results of trying to deal with the impacts of Hurricane Katrina and the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza. Given the above daunting challenges and because our policy resources are limited, “resilience” particularly in terms of policy and governance are critical taking into considerations both social and physical interdependencies. In addressing the issues above, the workshop will seek, based on a case study of pandemic influenza to (1) identify the scope and magnitude of resilience challenge; (2) define the key policy relevant feature of resiliency and (3) is to link these inputs into the “next steps” toward achieving the overall project objective of knowledge development. Specific policy relevant discussions will focus on the following (see the detail in “Background Paper” 4. Project Scope and Objectives): 1) How is “resilience” defined and interpreted in the policy community? 2) How is the resilience concept reflected in national policies of pandemic influenza? 3) What are lessons from the past experiences regarding pandemic influenza and specifically with respect to issues of resilience? 4) What are good practices for the implementation of resilience in disaster risk management? The workshop will be structured for policy oriented discussions among multidisciplinary health professionals of Asia and the U.S. with backgrounds in both practice and policy. Contacts for Details: Dr. Mika Shimizu ***@***.*** Dr. Allen Clark ***@***.***