Call for Applications: UNITAR Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-Based Disaster Risk Reduction for World Tsunami Awareness Day 2023

The main audience for this programme is women but others are also welcome to apply.

The 10-week online programme aims to equip women with lifelong skills to develop inclusive disaster risk reduction plans that match the needs of their communities and country.

The programme aims to enrol 100 learners and selected participants with outstanding performances will progress to the second phase. It will cover topics such as the Sendai Framework, the Sustainable Development Goals, gender-responsive DRR, multi-stakeholder coalitions in DRR, community-based DRR, and climate change. Participants will develop a DRR plan of action to address future disasters that may strike their society.

Participants will learn from Japan’s experiences with major disasters and its reconstruction efforts, as well as from experiences from the Pacific and Asia regions.

Programme Goals

• By the end of this training, following the completion of webinars, along with e-courses, participants should be able to:
  • Develop an inclusive country DRR plan.
  • Describe the key principles of disaster risk reduction, with a focus on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
  • Discuss the international and regional framework on disaster risk reduction.
  • Describe ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction.
  • Develop an understanding between climate and disaster risks.
  • Outline community-based DRR and what it means for an all-of-society approach.
  • Explain key lessons learned from Japan’s experience with disasters including the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
  • Illustrate the importance of gender-inclusive leadership in the context of DRR.
  • Describe climate resilient and peace-oriented leadership.
  • Describe good practices in gender-inclusive-DRR in the Asia, Pacific and Japan.
  • Report on and discuss norms and challenges regarding gender inclusive DRR in the Pacific, Asia, and Japan.
  • Describe key elements of the multi-hazard-approach, including biological hazards.
  • Describe multi-stakeholder coalition.

Programme Structure

• Phase I (September to November 2023) is divided into four sections and will end with final group presentations.
  • Section 1: Introduction to DRR and Japan’s Experiences
  • Section 2: Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction in the Region
  • Section 3: Women’s Leadership in DRR
  • Section 4: Preparing for Future Disasters: Preparedness and Community-based DRR
  • Final group presentations: Participants will be required to develop an inclusive DRR plan and present as a group
• Those who complete Phase I can apply to continue to Phase II (February 2024), which will be an in-person training. Invited participants will explore leadership and management in disaster responses. Phase II will focus on post-disaster and recovery and will include site visits, lectures and interactions with experts.

Expected Outputs by the End of the Training

• “Inclusive DRR Plan” developed by each individual including a final proposal in video format.

Target Participants

• Women from around the world but particularly those living or from Pacific SIDS. Women who are highly motivated to succeed and likely on have a positive impact to their society.

Eligibility Criteria

• Participants must be at least 18 years old and have:
  • interest in disaster risk reduction
  • strong desire to make a difference in their society
  • stable internet connectivity
  • good command of the English language (oral and written)
  • commitment to spend 1-3 hours per week to complete each section of this 10-week course
• Women applicants will receive priority and geographical representation will be considered. The Certificate of Completion will be awarded to participants who complete Phase I. Selected participants that participate in Phase II will also receive certificates following their participation in the in-person training.

For more information, visit UNITAR.