The Asia Pacific Gateway for Disaster Risk Reduction and Development has been proposed as a regional hub that: provides quick and easy access to networks and organizations doing work in disaster management and specifically disaster risk reduction in Asia Pacific. promotes mainstreaming DRR into development planning identifies disaster management services available to governments in the region facilitates value-added regional level analysis, networking and information sharing supports and encourages multilingual submissions and information sharing. provides a number of online services that supports existing networks in their work

PRIMARY USERS National Disaster Management Authorities play a pivotal role in disaster management and disaster risk reduction. Among other responsibilities, they are tasked with: developing National Disaster Management strategies, plans, and guidelines, building Disaster Management and DRR capacities with line ministries as well as with provincial and sometimes local authorities, acting as national focal points for international initiatives like the Hugo Framework for Action As a result the Gateway will focus on NDMA/Os as the primary user group for the information and services provided. Other groups will also find the information useful. Regionally aggregated data and information will be of interest to academic and research institutions. Line Ministries interested in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction with their work will find relevant information and support. NGOs doing work in the field will find resources available on the site that will support their work. While the Gateway will be available to the general, members that log on will have access to online discussions and functions not available to the public.

BUILDING ON EXISTING RESOURCES As a Gateway this initiative will profile and build upon existing online resources. Examples of networks that the Gateway will work with include: (i) the DRR Project Portal for Asia and the Pacific (ADB, ISDR ADPC), PreventionWeb (ISDR), Pacific Disaster Net (Pacific Disaster Risk Management Partnership Network, SOPAC, UNDP, OCHA, International Federation Red Cross), etc. Types of information that can be aggregated at the regional level from these networks include: DM Policies, Legislation, Strategies and Plans Roles and Responsibilities of NDMA/Os Publications + Training Material Events and News consolidated in a regional calendar Contacts Disaster Management Services available to member states in the region (like DALA, Help Desk for Integrated Flood Management, etc.) Resources and services will be more targeted as feedback is received from users.

CONTRIBUTING TO THE GATEWAY ESCAP welcomes contributions from member states and development organizations that support compilation of materials. These contributions can include: publications/documents and training materials case studies contacts of who's who list of relevant services available from donors, etc to member states moderators for online discussions on topics of interest assistance with regional level analytical work done with materials brought together by the Gateway Initiative identification of useful websites and networks that can be profiled on the Gateway

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Preminda Fernando Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Tel: