EU and ASEAN sign new agreement on Disaster Management

Today, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič and Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs, Nararya Soeprapto witnessed the signing of an agreement on disaster management between the EU’s department for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and ASEAN’s Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).

This agreement will further strengthen cooperation between the EU and ASEAN countries in in preparedness and response to disasters by:

• Exchanging knowledge and best practices between ASEAN and the EU;
• Deploying and exchanging experts;
• Developing training programmes.

“The agreement is proof of how concrete, results-orientated cooperation can strengthen disaster management and emergency response efforts on different sides of the world. The EU is proud to have been a longstanding partner of ASEAN and the AHA Centre since the outset of the Centre’s establishment. And over the years, the AHA Centre has become a knowledge hub on disaster management in ASEAN,” said the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, H.E. Janez Lenarčič.

“This agreement between DG ECHO and the AHA Centre demonstrates our commitment to elevate the partnership of two regions in the field of disaster management and emergency response. Together, we can enhance speed, expand scale, and strengthen solidarity in responding to emergencies with the spirit of One ASEAN, One Response. We look forward to working with our colleagues from Europe in realising a more disaster resilient global community,” said Mr Lee Yam Ming, Executive Director of the AHA Centre.

Most recently, the EU has been accompanying the development of the AHA Centre through a long-term support programme titled “Integrated Programmes in Enhancing the Capacity of the AHA Centre and ASEAN Emergency Response Mechanisms” (EU-SAHA). With an EU contribution of €7.2 M (2020-2025), EU-SAHA supports four areas:

• Strengthening institutional capacity, corporate policies and management of the AHA Centre;
• Enhancing operational capacity of the AHA Centre in monitoring, preparing and responding to disasters;
• Increasing preparedness and Respond-As-One capacities of ASEAN;
• Enhancing professionalism through standards and certification.