The side event “Building a Culture of Preparedness for a Sustainable Future for All” held during the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development focused on the critical role of schools in disaster preparedness. Organized by UNDP and the Government of Japan in collaboration with ESCAP, UNESCO, UNESCO-IOC, and JICA, the event highlighted how schools serve as entry points to strengthen community resilience across the Asia-Pacific region. Participants shared lessons from nearly a decade of school-based tsunami preparedness under the UNDP–Government of Japan Regional Tsunami Project, which has engaged around 800 schools in 24 countries and trained over 221,000 students, teachers, officials, and community members since 2017.
Japan’s approach emphasizes embedding disaster preparedness into daily school routines so that responses become instinctive during emergencies. Mr. Tatsushi Nishioka, Deputy Chief of Mission to ESCAP, stressed that preparedness must feel normal, and schools are key to instilling confidence and rapid, instinctive responses among students and teachers. Local champions, including teachers, community leaders, government officials, and journalists, were recognized as crucial partners in implementing these initiatives effectively.
Teachers and community representatives shared practical examples of school-based disaster preparedness strengthening community resilience. In Thailand, Rajaprajanugroh 35 School was appointed an official evacuation center after successfully organizing evacuation drills, while in Bali, Indonesia, collaboration between schools and local communities reinforced preparedness plans and empowered students. Schools were highlighted as trusted community anchors, enabling multi-stakeholder coordination, raising awareness, and fostering knowledge-sharing among families and neighborhoods.
Beyond the school environment, initiatives have sought to make disaster preparedness accessible and engaging. Programs like Bali’s “Tsunami Amazing Race” promote learning through interactive activities, and the UNDP Thailand Media Fellowship trains journalists to communicate disaster risks and preparedness effectively. This strengthens evidence-based reporting and advocacy, ensuring that communities are better informed and able to respond to emergencies.
Looking forward, UNDP, ESCAP, UNESCO, and UNESCO-IOC are working to link schools to early warning systems through a Regional Roadmap on Tsunami Early Warnings and Education. This collaboration aligns regional policy, technical systems, and country-level implementation, reinforcing the connection between schools, warning systems, and communities. The discussions reaffirmed that disaster preparedness is an ongoing partnership with local communities, schools, and regional stakeholders, placing schools at the heart of resilience-building and ensuring communities are better prepared for future disasters.
