INTRODUCTION

A two-week course to develop skills for LEADERS in the field of disaster risk reduction…

 LEADERS is a capacity-building course for professional development in the disaster risk reduction field which offers a balance between the development process, wide-ranging mitigation issues, effective preparedness and efficient response. 

In its twelfth edition, and the second time offered in English, the course will provide participants with practical tools which will enhance their effectiveness in implementing risk reduction programs.  In order to achieve this goal, participants are expected to play an active role in implementing the agreements reached during the Second World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan 2005, which calls on nations to commit to a strategic and systematic approach to reducing vulnerabilities and risks to hazards. 

Disaster risk reduction methodologies will be examined by reviewing best practices, discussions, simulations, lectures, interactive participation through shared experiences, and expertise in the region throughout the two-week course.

OBJECTIVES

1. To introduce participants to the concepts, mechanisms and issues involved in risk identification, management and reduction at the sectoral and national levels.
2. To provide participants with tools for strategic management,  advocacy and leadership in disaster risk  reduction.
3. To share relevant risk, hazard and emergency-related experiences, promote networking, and introduce robust coordination mechanisms at the sectoral, national, regional and international levels.

Ideal Participants: Geared toward participants who are stakeholders in risk reduction issues, including but not limited to:  Health Disaster Coordinators, National Disaster Coordinators, public sector managers and other counterparts who deal with mitigation issues, as well as academics who work in disaster mitigation topics. Originally designed for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the course expects to attract participants primarily from the Caribbean, but also professionals in the field from other parts of the world.

Duration: Two-week intensive course from 20 November to 1 December 2006 in Kingston, Jamaica.
During the training, applicants will be expected to share their experiences and actively participate in all sessions.

Sponsors: The LEADERS course has been developed, organized and promoted as a collaborative venture between the Pan American Health Organization, the regional office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, The Regional Center for Disaster Risk Reduction of the University of the West Indies and with the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Response Agency (CDERA).”