ISDR on-line dialogue to assess progress towards disaster risk reduction
An on-line dialogue to discuss key-elements for "Assessing progress towards disaster risk reduction within the context of the Hyogo Framework” is now open on the ISDR website untill 10 October 2005. The dialogue will explore the views of actors directly engaged in identifying, applying and using indicators to monitor progress in disaster risk reduction issues within the context of the Hyogo Framework. The ISDR secretariat is organizing the on-line dialogue with partners to respond to the need to define generic indicators and guidance for progress reporting. National platforms and managers, Task Force members as well as NGOs, national societies of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, project managers, UN agencies and programmed officers and other interested stakeholders are invited to take an active part in the discussion.
If you want to participate you can consult: www.crid.or.cr/Conference/HFDialogue/registration.htm
See www.unisdr.org/HFdialogue

Workshops in Bangkok on public awareness
A planning workshop on public awareness and the education component of the early warning-strengthening project was organized in Bangkok by ISDR on 7-8 September. The meeting brought together approx 35 participants from a wide range of regional actors, including, ADRC, ADPC, UNESCAP, UNDP,OCHA, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNESCO-IOC, WMO, IUCN, Asian Pacific Broadcasting Union, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), IFRC, as well as Asian disaster reduction and response network (NGO). The participants shared experiences related to public awareness and education and discussed the plans to implement the component 3 of the ongoing Flash Appeal on Early Warning project over the next 10 months. Synergy was found with other ongoing initiatives and partners that were not directly linked to the project, such as IFRC, UNICEF and the Asian Disaster Reduction and Response Network (ADRRN). For more information, contact: palm@un.org

Information kit on micro finance: Ask for your hard copy
Micro finance is a tool that has successfully been utilized to improve livelihood options and reduce poverty. It has been used very little so far as a tool for reducing risk vulnerability to natural hazards. Leading up to the International Day for Disaster reduction (12 October 2005), the ISDR secretariat will promote dialogue with the micro finance community on the possibility of using these tools to reduce disaster risk and increase community resilience to disasters. The information kit is now available in hard copy, to receive it please contact: leonib@un.org.
The kit is also available on the website:
www.unisdr.org/eng/public_aware/world_camp/2005/2005-press-kit.htm

Assessment Expert Missions to Indian Ocean Countries
ISDR-PPEW (Platform for the Promotion of the Early Warning) participated in a series of Inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission leading multidisciplinary assessment missions in Thailand (18-20 August) and Bangladesh (22-24 August). IOC, ISDR, WMO, ESCAP, the Japan Meteorological Agency, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) were among the main participants. The mission team acknowledged the effort made in the two countries and gave practical recommendations on how to improve various areas of work. The next step will be to prepare a consolidated report, which will analyze the results of the missions and extract recommendations for capacity building activities at national, sub-regional, and regional levels. The report will be ready in November prior to the ICG Hyderabad Meeting to be held 12–16 December. For more information contact: onoy@un.org

Third Regional Conference of the Central American Coordination Center for the Prevention of Natural Disasters (CEPREDENAC)
The Third Regional Conference of the Central American Coordination Center for the Prevention of Natural disasters took place in El Salvador, 15-19 August and focused on disaster reduction policies in Central America. ISDR-LAC provided information on recent developments within the context of the Hyogo Framework, and discussed with a number of key players how to create conditions to strengthen inter-institutional networks and national platforms for disaster reduction. Mr. David Smith (Panama) has been appointed as new Executive Secretary of CEPREDENAC. He will begin his duties on 1 October. For more information you can also consult : www.ceprenac.org

Update on the preparations for the International Workshop on Strengthening the Resilience of Local Communities in Coastal Areas to Water Related Natural Disasters, Copenhagen, Denmark, 16-18 November 2005
In order to promote the dialogue between governments and decision makers and actors at local community in six countries affected by the 26 December tsunami, the Danish Government is hosting this international Workshop in collaboration with a number of international and regional ISDR partner organizations. Consultations have been ongoing in the region and a preparatory roundtable was held in Geneva to further define the scope and outputs of the Workshop. The Workshop will contribute to strengthen community disaster reduction into public policy and link coastal zone management, livelihood development process and disaster reduction. It is expected that, based on country papers and good practices the outputs will also support the reconstruction efforts in the region.
For more information and to contribute good practices please contact: Palle Lindgaard Jørgensen (plj@dhi.dk) and Søren Dreyer ( SDR@cowi.dk)

Enhancing an Early Warning System for Pacific Island Countries
A regional planning workshop entitled 'Enhancing an Early Warning System for Pacific Island Countries' took place in Suva, Fiji, 5-6 September 2005. The workshop, organized by SOPAC and involving country representatives, experts from regional and international organizations, allowed for a discussion on the current status of regional early warning capacities and the development of a regional framework for action in relation to early warning systems. For more information please contact: Atu Kaloumaira (atu@sopac.org), SOPAC secretariat.

Japanese initiative to build an information exchange network for DRR implementation strategies
As a follow-up action to the Hyogo Framework for Action, the Japanese government organized a first workshop in Geneva on the 16-17 August to build an Information exchange network for disaster risk reduction, implementation strategies, good practices and technologies. The project which includes three regional workshops is jointly organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan, the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED), and the ISDR Secretariat and aims at establishing mechanisms to identify, collect and analyze worldwide technologies, tools and effective practices on disaster reduction. Two other regional workshops will take place on 14-15 November in Nepal, and in December in Costa Rica or Washington. A final international workshop will be held in February 2006 in Japan.