Information Networking

ICHARM promotes information networking

Since its establishment, ICHARM has been working to expand an information networking that is highly functional and worldwide. ICHARM has always been active in networking water professionals around the globe and collecting information and experience related to large-scale water disasters around the world for analyzing and sharing them internationally. Being its secretariat, ICHARM views the International Flood Initiative (IFI) as an integral part of the networking activity. Through the development and management of the IFI network, ICHARM has been leading the international effort in mainstreaming disaster risk reduction. Based on the Jakarta Statement, adopted by IFI in 2016, ICHARM and other IFI partners have been closely cooperating to assist Asian countries in establishing a Platform on Water and Disasters for water-related disaster risk reduction. The campaign has been publicized at various opportunities such as special sessions at the United States.

International Flood Initiative (IFI)

The International Flood Initiative (IFI) is a worldwide framework to promote collaboration in flood management among international organizations such as UNESCO, WMO, UNU and UNISDR. ICHARM has been serving as its secretariat.

On October 31, 2016, IFI hosted a side event in advance of the 8th High-Level Expert Panel on Water and Disaster (HELP), and the participants discussed the implementation strategy and the framework for action proposed to achieve better flood management throughout the world.

The meeting adopted the Jakarta Declaration to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration to further advance sustainable development and flood risk reduction. Based on the declaration, ICHARM is conducting activities to support countries in the establishment of the “platform” to discuss and formulate strategies for the reduction of disasters in collaboration with other IFI partners. This effort has already started in Asia-Pacific countries such as the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Pakistan, and is expected to expand to other countries.

For more information, please access the website;
http://www.ifi-home.info/

Asia Water Cycle Initiative (AWCI)

Human factors, such as globalization, population growth, poverty, urbanization and changes in land use, are aggravating the negative consequences of climatological, hydrological and meteorological hazards. Extreme climate events are also increasing water-related disaster risks faced by populations living in vulnerable areas. Losses are increasing in both developed and developing countries, and in this inter-connected world, the impact of an event can immediately cross borders, leading to cascading consequences, even in areas that are remote from the event. Repeated exposure to disasters is hampering sustainable development in vulnerable localities. AWCI (Asian Water Cycle Initiative) aims to promote comprehensive efforts to solve such water related problems in Asia, as one of Task Groups (TG1) of AOGEO (Asian Oceania Group on Earth Observations).

For more information, please access the website;
http://www.ifi-home.info/awci/index.html