Improving Flood Disaster Response Capabilities Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

  The International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) conducts human resource development for overseas government officials and researchers using our research findings on water-related disasters. In normal times, we provide training for people around the world by visiting their communities and countries. However, the global spread of COVID-19 has made such visits difficult. This situation has prompted us to develop e-learning programs to continue supporting people overseas in improving their disaster coping capacity. The following are two examples of e-learning training implemented in different regions of the world.

(1)The Niger and Volta River basins of West Africa

  ICHARM developed local experts in West Africa in developing a Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) for the Niger and Volta River basins (Figure 1) and provided an e-learning-based "specialist training" program from August 2020 to January 2021. We also conducted a higher level of training named "trainer training" in February 2021 for those who completed the specialist training. This training aimed to develop trainees into "facilitators," who will play a vital role in connecting the latest science and technology with local communities.

  FEWS for West Africa is designed to simulate possible flooding and inundation in both basins by inputting satellite rainfall data into a rainfall-runoff-inundation model constructed on the Data Integration and Analysis System (DIAS) and then provide users with flood information in real time.

  Using information provided by FEWS, we conducted e-learning training for the Niger River Basin Authority (NBA), the Volta River Basin Authority (VBA), and representatives from 11 countries in both river basins. The training materials were prepared in English and French, the participants' native languages (Figure 2)

  We conducted the specialist training four times for 288 participants, out of whom 197 completed the training. The trainer training took place twice with 44 participants, out of whom 30 completed the training. Passing a proficiency test was the requirement for the successful completion of each program.

  The installation of FEWS and the e-learning training programs should be recognized as one of the good practices for improving the flood management capacity of government officials and other local experts, and are expected to be disseminated not only in West Africa but also in many other flood-prone countries for more effective flood risk reduction.

(2)Davao City, Philippines

  In Davao City in the Philippines, ICHARM has held e-learning programs and online workshops to support local experts and practitioners in flood forecasting and warning as well as climate change adaptation planning to improve flood disaster resilience. Our goal in this effort is first to develop an online knowledge integration system (Figure 3) that integrates real-time flood monitoring and forecasting information as well as information concerning climate change impact assessments and then train participants to become "facilitators" by providing e-learning training in which they learn science and technology, including the knowledge integration system, which are essential to take the lead in projects.

  The e-learning course and workshops were held between April 19 and May 17, 2021, and offered a meaningful opportunity for both the participants and ICHARM. They studied hard to master the contents through lectures, tests, and thematic research, while ICHARM had fruitful discussions with them, which clarified new local needs and insights to plan and execute improved activities. Twenty-nine people participated in the program, and 21 completed it. We will continue to improve the knowledge integration system in collaboration with local experts and practitioners and help them strengthen flood disaster resilience through practical training.

(Contact: Water Hazard and Risk Management Research Group)