Disaster Risk Reduction Training for Local NGOs in Central Sulawesi

To support community preparedness in disaster-affected areas in Central Sulawesi, IDEP partnered with YPAL Poso to organize a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) training. The activity which took place in Palu on July 9, 2019, was participated by 20 representatives of NGOs who have been working for community development in Palu, Sigi, and Donggala (Pasigala). In September last year, earthquakes, tsunami, and liquefaction hit Pasigala area and resulted in a total of 4,340 people died or declared missing.

Group assignment on mapping disaster-prone area and evacuation plan (Photo: Fadhil Abdullah)

This training aims to increase the capacity of the participants in implementing disaster risk reduction. The paradigm developed here is the community-based disaster risk reduction. In this case, the community is the active subject in reducing disaster risk by building preparedness before, during, and after the disaster.

Therefore, during the training, the participants were invited to learn to collaborate with their communities partner in building that disaster preparedness. One way is by establishing a Community-based Disaster Management Group (CDMG) in their work areas. Through the CDMG, which is usually formed at the village level, the community can set up disaster mapping in their area, their resources and potential, and what must be done before, during, and after the disaster occurs.

The training, that was facilitated by Ade Andreawan from IDEP, was filled with sharing sessions related to disaster management experience in other areas, group discussions, and assignments, film screenings, as well as the practice of drafting disaster-prone maps and evacuation plans if a disaster occurs. In addition, participants were also equipped with modules such as the CDMG guidelines and the Core Humanitarian Standards which could they can use to support the community in the future.

Thanks to Caritas Austria and Give2Asia for supporting this effort. (Ed)