Disaster Risk Reduction

-Introducing lessons learnt from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and knowledge about Japanese disaster risk reduction and recovery to the world-

• What is the DRLC?
• Activities of DRLC
• Materials for Disaster Risk Reduction
• Brochures/Images
• Contact information

What is the DRLC?

At the "World Conference on Disaster Reduction" held in Kobe in 2005, the Hyogo Framework for Action was adopted to express the necessity of improving developing countries' capacity to cope with disasters through international cooperation. Responding to this, JICA and Hyogo Prefectural Government established the Disaster Reduction Learning Center (DRLC) in FY2007 to develop human resources engaged in disaster management and reduction in developing countries through the use of experience and lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. DRLC has been giving training opportunity to developing countries in cooperation with disaster risk reduction organizations in Japan and has been making efforts to introduce lessons learnt from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and knowledge about Japanese disaster management and recovery to the world.

Activities of DRLC

DRLC is committed to making full use of Japan's experiences and lessons on disaster risk reduction which have been accumulated from past disasters with an aim of effectively fostering international human resources in the field of disaster risk reduction. In order to achieve this aim, we are also committed to implementing the following operations.

1. Overall coordination and implementation of JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs in the field of disaster risk reduction
2. Effective implementation of JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs in the field of disaster risk reduction
3. Creation of human network in JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Programs in the field of disaster risk reduction and its organic utilization
4. Preparation of database related to resources in the field of disaster risk reduction
5. Utilization of knowledge on disaster risk reduction in Hyogo for human resource development in the field of international disaster risk reduction

Materials for Disaster Risk Reduction

DRLC is developing various training materials with the cooperation of disaster risk reduction organizations in Hyogo Prefecture.

• BOKOMI Guidebook (English (PDF/17.6MB))
• BOKOMI Guidebook (Spanish (PDF/3.58MB))
• BOKOMI Guidebook (Russian (PDF/13.3MB))
• BOKOMI Guidebook (Macedonian) Translation by JICA ex-participant of Knowledge Co-Creation Program. (PDF/10.6MB)
• BOKOMI Guidebook (Albanian) Translation by JICA ex-participant of Knowledge Co-Creation Program. (PDF/7.83MB)

Introduces the activities of "BOKOMI," the popular name of Kobe City's community based organization for disaster risk reduction "Disaster-Safe Welfare Community."

• Living for Tomorrow (PDF/3.65MB)

English version of materials for disaster prevention education used by junior high schools in Hyogo Prefecture

• Lessons from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

An easy-to-understand compilation of lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

• English (PDF/2.20MB)
• French (PDF/2.74MB)
• Spanish (PDF/19.1MB)
• Russian (PDF/9.80MB)

Brochures/Images

Brochures and images that provides an overview of DRLC and its activities.

• DRLC Brochure

• English (PDF/2.00MB)
• Official Record: "Memorial for the 10th Anniversary of the Disaster Reduction Learning Center" (PDF/5.11MB)

• "Japanese Disaster Management System used in the WORLD"
  ~the lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake~
  Introduces activities of ex-participants of JICA training programs

• Brochure (PDF/11.5MB)
• Movie: Short version (9min.) (external link)
• Movie: Long version (17min.) (external link)

• Report: The lessons from disasters and the way forward of international cooperation
  -Hyogo and the world united through disaster risk reduction and reconstruction-

Report on special symposium which were held in January 2015, 20-years of reconstruction after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

• English (PDF/3.35MB)

Contact information

JICA Kansai / Disaster Reduction Learning Center (DRLC)
1-5-2 Wakihama Kaigan-dori,
Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo 651-0073
TEL: +81-78-261-0381
FAX: +81-78-261-0465
E-mail: jicaksic-drlc@jica.go.jp