Signing of Record of Discussion for “The Project on Exchange of Experience on Disaster Resilient Society”

On December 24, 2024, the Training Department of the Ministry of Interior and JICA Türkiye Office signed the Record of Discussion (R/D) for “The Project on Exchange of Experience on Disaster Resilient Society”. This project marks a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between Türkiye and Japan, aiming to strengthen local Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) through capacity building of mutual knowledge exchange.

The initiatives focus on enhancing the capacity of Türkiye’s state territorial representatives, the backbone of disaster management at the local level. More than 100 officials are expected to receive the training in Türkiye, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to improve preparedness, response, and recovery. Selected participants will also travel to Japan for advanced training, where they will learn Japanese disaster risk reduction measures.

While Japan has developed the culture of “BOSAI”, a deep-rooted commitment to community resilience, continuous learning, and shared responsibility of mitigating disaster risks, Türkiye has accumulated invaluable experience responding to large-scale disasters, including the Kahramanmaras and Hatay earthquakes on February 6. 2023. This collaboration goes beyond a simple transfer of knowledge. It embodies a true partnership where both countries learn from one another’s experiences and co-create solutions for shared challenges.

The signing of the R/D is a testament to the shared commitment of Türkiye and Japan to reducing disaster risks, enhancing local capacity, and building a safer future.

The cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and JICA Türkiye Office goes back a long way. Two different projects were implemented between 2003-2008; “The Project on Disaster Management Training” (2003-2005) and “The Project on Disaster Mitigation Training” (2005-2008), which 250 governors and 650 local administrators (mayors, secretary generals and technical staffs) received training through.

We are proud to embark on this journey of shared learning with the Ministry of Interior.