TATTs Quarterly Report: July-Sept 2015

The program aimed to enhance the capacity of local disaster management agencies (BPBD) in target provinces to prepare for and respond to disasters. The program's first year of implementation concluded in September 2015. During the first two quarters, TATTs focused on establishment and program consolidation, including team recruitment and joint planning with local disaster management agencies. In the third and fourth quarters, TATTs teams began implementing a broad range of capacity development activities in line with joint work plans reflecting local Disaster Risk Management (DRM) needs and priorities. Activities included external training, ongoing in-house capacity building sessions, and day-to-day mentoring and support. Technical training conducted by TATTs during this period included Incident Command System (ICS) training rolled out to the Central Java Province in partnership with the United States Forest Service. Emergency radio training was conducted in Maluku, along with a comprehensive Information and Communications Technology (ICT) survey to identify and develop options for enhanced provincial DM communications systems. Planning and budgeting training was provided in Papua to assist the BPBD in better planning and implementing current and future disaster management activities. The TATTs Consortium partners were also active during this period, implementing a range of activities in support of the TATTs goal. The University Forum for DRR completed a comprehensive university capacity assessment in the target TATTs provinces and conducted a two-day planning workshop to present the results. Inclusion specialists, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB), held stand-alone Disability and DRR trainings in Central Java and Maluku, bringing together local DRR actors and Disabled People's Organizations. A new Consortium partner, Lingkar Association, was selected to assist with strategic national-level capacity development with the BNPB Training & Education Center. Lingkar will lead capacity development activities at the national level and ensure TATTs provincial-level training aligns with national curriculum. Once approved, Lingkar will mobilize a small team of specialists to focus on training curriculum and module review and trial, development of a national trainer/facilitator database, and assistance in the ongoing development of training accreditation and certification systems. Despite the disruption caused by the Islamic Fasting Month and Idul Fitri celebrations, a considerable number of activities were developed and implemented. TATTs is still working with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to finalize Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) arrangements. Interim arrangements are now being reviewed by the BNPB Planning Bureau. TATTs team members have been monitoring the impacts of drought and El Nino weather conditions at the provincial level. Other disasters, such as earthquakes in West Papua and Maluku, have impacted planned activities but also brought opportunities. Notable achievements during this period include the first provincial-level Incident Command System training held in Central Java in partnership with the United States Forest Service, and 15 technical trainings and 25 capacity development activities conducted at provincial and national levels. A total of 325 participants were involved in training, and more than 500 participants joined capacity development activities. The completion of a comprehensive university capacity review by TATTs Consortium partner the Indonesian University Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction (UF-DRR) was also a significant achievement. A successful call for proposals resulted in the selection of a new Consortium partner, Lingkar Association, to assist with strategic national-level capacity development with the BNPB Training & Education Center.