28 October 2019, Kobe, Japan – In collaboration with United Nations Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS), APN joined the AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme and delivered a lecture on regional research programme to 23 personnel of ASEAN on 28 October 2019, held at ADRC (Asian Disaster Reduction Center) Conference Room, Kobe, Japan. During the technical session, Mr Gen’ichiro Tsukada, Director of APN Secretariat gave an opening speech while Ms Christmas de Guzman, programme officer, provided a lecture on the APN’s collaborative regional research programme and proposals submission process.

AHA Centre stands for ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance and is an intergovernmental organization established by the ten ASEAN Member States with the aim to facilitate cooperation and coordination of disaster management amongst ASEAN Member States. Among its activities is the ACE Programme designed to prepare ASEAN personnel in disaster management through exchange of knowledge and skills amongst them and towards the creation of sustained networking and collaboration.

The APN lecture is a component of the ACE Programme – a 10-day long study visit programme of the personnel of ASEAN in Japan – implemented by UNU-IAS and culminating the next day in parallel with the celebration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction 2019 through an event “Building Resilient Critical Infrastructure and the Role of Insurance: Sharing Lessons from Japan – ASEAN Collaboration in DRR.”