SAARC DISASTER MANAGEMENT
                   CENTRE

 In the backdrop of Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 2004 and Kashmir Earthquake of October 2005, 13th SAARC Summit of Heads of States and Governments held at Dhaka on 12-13 November 2005 considered the issues of Regional Cooperation for Preparedness and Mitigation of National Disasters and approved the proposal of India to set up a SAARC Disaster Management Centre at the National Institute of Disaster Management at New Delhi.

The modalities for setting up the Centre were decided by an Expert Group Meeting at New Delhi on 1-2 June 2006. The Report of the Expert Group was accepted by the SAARC Council of Ministers in its meeting held at Dhaka on 30-31 July 2006.

The first meeting of the  Governing Board of the Centre was held on 9-10 October 2006 to approve the budget and programme of activities of the Centre for the year 2007.  


Hon'ble Union Home Minister Inaugurating
SAARC Centre

The Centre was inaugurated on 10th October by Mr. Shivraj Patil, Hon’ble Home Minister of India.
 Text of Speech of Hon’ble Minister

The Vision
The Vision of the SAARC Disaster Management Centre would be to become a vibrant centre of excellence for knowledge, research and capacity development
on disaster management.

The Mission
The SAARC Disaster Management Centre would serve the Member Countries by providing policy advice and facilitating capacity development services including strategic learning, research, training, system development, expertise promotion and exchange of information for effective disaster risk reduction and management.

The Functions
The functions of the SAARC Disaster Management Centre would be:

(a)

to collect, compile, document and disseminate data, information, case studies, indigenous knowledge and good practices relating to disaster management particularly from the Member Countries;

(b)

to analyze information, undertake research and disseminate research findings on disaster management among the Member Countries;

(c)

to develop educational materials and conduct academic and professional courses on disaster management;

(d)

to organize training and awareness programmes for various stakeholders on disaster management for the Member Countries;


 Inaugural function of the SAARC Centre

(e)

to develop training modules on various aspects on disaster management and conduct programmes of Training for Trainers including simulation exercises;

(f)
 

to provide assistance in the formulation of policies, strategies, disaster management framework and any other assistance as may be required
by the Member Countries or organizations and institutions nominated by the Member Countries;

(g)

to undertake publication of journals, research papers and books and establish and maintain online resource centers in furtherance of the aforesaid objects.


The Strategies

The SAARC Disaster Management Centre shall develop appropriate strategies for the performance of its functions, which may include the following:

(a)

Network with the national focal  points of disaster management and with the concerned regional and international bodies;

(b)

Assist the national focal points of disaster management of Member Countries to develop appropriate models for networking with their  research, training and other institutions ;

(c)

Develop a network of networking institutions to facilitate quick acquisition, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information, data and knowledge on disaster management including linkages with approved real-time data providers ;

Expert Group Meeting for setting up SAARC Centre
for Disaster Management






 

SAARC Disaster Management Center

(d)

Use information and communication technologies to develop a virtual resource centre for disaster management in South Asia.

The Organisation
The Centre shall have the following divisions:
    A.   Water and Climate Related Disasters
    B.   Geologically Related Disasters
    C.   Biological and other Human Induced Disasters
    D.   Policy, Planning & Related Issues


Picture of the Board Meeting

Each Division shall have appropriate technical and other personal to look after networking ,documentation, finance, administration and other supportive functions.