The IORA-TIKA Training of Trainers Program on Organising Community Leaders for Disaster Risk Reduction and Protection Against Infectious Diseases and Hygiene in Post Disaster Conditions was held from 16 – 22 May 2022 in Ankara, Türkiye.
Disasters continue to rise across the globe, and especially within the Indian Ocean region, known to be the ‘World Hazard Belt’. This week, participant from IORA Member States had the opportunity to learn more from the Turkish approach and various hands-on experiences in Disaster Risk Management, including International Development projects to build resilient communities.
The Training of Trainers Program (ToT) for IORA participants was hosted by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Turkish Red Crescent (Turk Kizilay), with the support from the IORA Secretariat. The ToT programme was held over a week in Ankara where participants had the opportunity to learn from Experts working on various Disaster Risk Management areas.
The ToT program included specific topics of interests to Member States which focussed on key concepts of disaster and emergency management, natural and man-made disasters, safety awareness, outbreak of communicable diseases and preventative measures, infection control, disabilities and the impact of natural disasters, the roles, and responsibilities of community-based leaders, including interactive teaching methods and techniques as future and current trainers in the field of DRM. Participants also strengthened their communication skills by presenting topics of interest and by contributing to team activities during the ToT program.
Türkiye is a country that frequently faces natural disasters due to its tectonic, seismic, topographic, and climatic structure. Earthquakes, floods, avalanches, landslides, and fires are the leading natural disasters. On average, there is at least one earthquake with a magnitude varying between five and six every year in Türkiye. The material and social/psychological losses caused directly or indirectly by natural disasters are proof of how meticulously disaster management and coordination should be handled in today's world. Considering Turkey’s extensive experience in pre- and post-disaster events, and considerable know-how on environmental efforts DRM, the ToT program was developed in accordance with the Country Statement delivered by Turkey at the 21st IORA Council of Ministers Meeting held in November 2021 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to strengthen IORA’s priority area of DRM and the Work Plan of the IORA Working Group on Disaster Risk Management (WGDRM) under the objective of building collaborative frameworks in DRM.
The Workshop welcomed participants from 16 IORA Member States (Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen).
The ToT program provided participants an opportunity to gain experience and knowledge to improve and advance their own skills to become community leaders with a mission to build back better resilient communities in the IOR region. Participants also had the opportunity to visit the Turk Kizilay, the TIKA Headquarters and the historical Ankara Castle and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Building on the momentum and vision of the IORA WGDRM, and the IORA Action Plan (2022 -2027), this ToT program is reflective of the evolving DRM activities of the Association and Dialogue Partnership with Türkiye.
IORA Secretariat
23 May 2022
