Outline of the Project

Project Name

Project for Strengthening the ASEAN Regional Capacity on Disaster Health Management (ARCH Project)

Country

Thailand and ASEAN

Date R/D Signed

Feb. 19, 2016

Term of Cooperation

Jul. 10, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2021

Implementing Organization

National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM), Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)

Background

[Background]

The ASEAN is one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. Countries in the region are exposed to climate-related hazards, including floods, typhoons and storms as well as the risks of earthquakes and tsunamis.

The importance of strengthening regional capacity on disaster management has been emphasized among ASEAN Leaders, as expressed in the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) of 2005 and ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN One Response: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in the region and outside the region of 2016. These have been operationalized through the establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance in disaster management (AHA Centre). The commitment of the ASEAN Health Cooperation in supporting the strengthening the health components of disaster management in ASEAN has been articulated through the identification of Disaster Health Management as one of the priorities of the ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda.

[Japan's involvement and past cooperation]

From 1988 to 2008, JICA conducted training courses on Disaster Medicine in Japan, and accepted training participants from 53 countries worldwide. In 2008, the Thai Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) was established with reference to the Japan DMAT and the knowledge obtained in the JICA training courses.

At the Japan-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in Dec 2013, Japan introduced the "ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Package for Enhancement Disaster Management", which included cooperation on disaster medicine. It also aimed to support the establishment of a Disaster Medicine network between ASEAN and Japan.

Based on the official commitment and past cooperation, JICA, in cooperation with National Institute for Emergency Medicine (NIEM) Thailand, organized the ASEAN Disaster Medicine Workshop in April 2014, which discussed the strengthening of regional capacity on disaster preparedness and response through better coordination and networking among ASEAN countries, related international and regional organizations, and Japan.

Between 2014 and 2015 JICA also conducted a Survey on the Current Situation of Disaster Medicine/Emergency Medicine in the ASEAN region, which collected basic information on Disaster Medicine and Emergency Medicine in all ASEAN Member States. Based on the survey and a series of consultations among ASEAN Member States (AMS), ASEAN Secretariat and JICA, the Project was formulated as a technical cooperation project with JICA and was officially endorsed by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of ASEAN in January 2016. The Project was implemented with close collaboration with NIEM and the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand between July 2016 - July 2019 at the first phase and then was extended for another 30 months until December 2021.

[Commitment on DHM expressed by the ASEAN Leaders]

The ASEAN Leaders, recognizing the need to take urgent action to strengthen Disaster Health Management at national and regional levels, adopted the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Disaster Health Management (ALD on DHM) in November 2017, which among others declared the following commitments:

• To support the development of relevant Standard Operating Procedures for Regional Collaboration on Disaster Health Management in order to create an effective regional collaboration mechanism of Disaster Health Management and to promote the organization and coordination for International Emergency Medical Team (I-EMT)
• To encourage the development of national Standard Operating Procedures for the coordination of the International Emergency Medical Team(I-EMT) and effective mechanisms to facilitate the operation of I-EMT
• To strengthen the cooperation and enhancement of active Academic Networks among Disaster Health Management Programs in order to conduct research projects and extract lessons learned from Disaster Health Management in multiple events and countries, in support of the development of new solutions and innovation
• To enhance national and regional capacities in Disaster Health Management, including through the establishment of a Regional Disaster Health Training Center and designed simulation and joint operations to increase capacities of health workers and disaster health-related personnel.

These political commitments have been translated into strategies, targets and broad activities through the Plan of Action to implement the ALD on DHM and which is overseen by the Regional Coordination Committee on Disaster Health Management (RCC-DHM).

The ALD on DHM, the commitment that was expressed by the ASEAN leaders, envisages the same goal that the ARCH Project is seeking for, and the fact that many of the project achievements and activities are recognized and encouraged to be proceeded is a major step forward in ensuring sustainable development of disaster health management in ASEAN region.

The Overall Goal

ASEAN and Japan collaboration mechanism on disaster health management is developed.

Project Purpose

Regional coordination on disaster health management is strengthened in ASEAN.

Outputs

1. Coordination platform on disaster health management is set up.
2. Framework of regional collaboration practices is developed.
3. Tools for effective regional collaboration on disaster health management are developed.
4. Academic network on disaster health management in AMS is enhanced.
5. Capacity development activities for each AMS are implemented.

Project Activities

Output1

1-1	Regional coordination meetings are organized every year to share the progress and discuss the direction of the Project.
1-2	Develop the Work Programme on DHM and Implementation Plan for the POA

Output2

2-1	Develop and prepare the program of the regional collaboration drill with project working group
2-2	Conduct the regional collaboration drill every year in AMS
2-3	Compile recommendations on regional collaboration on disaster health management based on the discussion and knowledge sharing through project activities
2-4	On site practice is conducted when disaster occurs in ASEAN (if possible).
2-5	Collect & Share Lessons Learned from responses for actual disasters in ASEAN

Output3

3-1	Formulate project working groups for regional collaboration tools and other activities.
3-2	Develop a draft regional SOP and minimum requirements for disaster health management with the project working group
3-3	Prepare databases of emergency medical teams of AMS
3-4	Draft framework of health needs assessment in emergencies with the project working group
3-5	Facilitate the endorsement process of all regional collaboration tools by ASEAN SOMHD or relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies
3-6	Study on possibilities of ASEAN Collective Approaches for ASEAN-EMT

Output4

4-1	Present outcomes of the Project activities at academic conferences such as JADM, APCDM and WADEM
4-2	Hold an academic seminar

Output5

5-1	Prepare training plan, curriculum and materials on disaster health management and emergency medical system based on needs survey with the project working group
5-2	Conduct trainings on disaster health management and emergency medical service for AMS
5-3	Conduct monitoring survey and evaluation on capacity development on disaster health management in each AMS
5-4	Conduct a study tour in Japan for AMS
5-5	Conduct training program in Japan for the Thai counterpart personnel

Inputs
[Japanese side]

[Experts]

(1) Long-term Expert

1. Chief Adivisor
2. Project Coordinator

(2)Short-term Experts(Consultant)
(3)Japanese Advisory Committee

1. Provide advice and technical support to JICA on the project management.
2. Join the project working groups / sub-working groups
3. Participate in the regional collaboration drills
4. Conduct advisory survey

[Local cost]

1. Expense mutually agreed upon as necessary

Inputs
[Thailand side]

[Personnel]

1. Project Director(NIEM), Co-Project Director(MOPH)
2. Project Manager(NIEM), Co-Project Manager(MOPH)
3. Counterpart Personnels(CPs) who are working with JICA experts for the implementation of the activities of the Project
4. Administtarative Personnels who are supporting for CPs and JICA experts

[Facilities and Equipment]

1. Project office space for JICA experts
2. Facilities and equipment necessary for trainings/regional drills
3. Equipment mutually agreed upon as necessary

[Available data and information related to project]

[Local cost]

1. Expense mutually agreed upon as necessary