Delivering aid and improving resilience through technological innovations in Asia Pacific

12 June 2015

Over 300 representatives from governments, UN agencies, NGOs, donors and private sector companies are gathering on 16-18 June at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok for AIDF’s annual Asia Summit. The event focuses on how technological innovation and best practice can contribute to achieving development goals in the region, as well as how to build resilience to disasters and to promote faster, safer and more effective emergency response that allows for greater community engagement.

Experts from across the development and disaster response community are attending to engage in topics that cover strengthening climate change preparedness and building community resilience, especially through innovation. The summit comes at an opportune time as the global community is discussing the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the climate change agenda.

The summit combines three interlinked days on Mobile for Development (16 June), Disaster & Community Resilience (17 June) and Aid & Response Operations (18 June) and is expected to provoke robust debate and frank information sharing and provides a platform for the formation of strategic partnerships and collaborations. The aim of the discussions is to lead to innovative solutions and best practice to tackle the problems surrounding the region, including recent disaster responses in Vanuatu and Nepal.

One of the conference key focuses is the use of mobile devices for development and humanitarian programmes. Mobile phones have become a powerful tool of communication rapidly closing the technological divide between developed and developing nations. The Nepal earthquake yet again reinforces how important communication is to disaster survivors. AIDF recognises mobile phones as enablers for stakeholders in development, especially for promoting financial inclusion, education, and health as well as facilitating faster, easier payments through mobile money. To this end, the summit will be addressing areas of mLearning, mHealth and mMoney as progressive approaches to sustainable development.

Sonja Ruetzel, Director, Aid International Development Forum commented: “It is widely accepted that the use of mobile devices, especially mobile phones, greatly benefit the ongoing communication with communities and a faster and more resource-efficient aid delivery. While most mobile projects are still on grassroots levels or in trial phases, there is a lot of opportunity to learn from each other and to build collaborations.”

This year’s event is supported by a wide range of strategic partners including:

Voice of America, IRIN News, ReliefWeb, AsianNGO and wide range of technology providers including Bullitt Group, HESCO, Inmarsat, SES Techcom Services, Singapore Technologies Kinetics, Sky Life Company, Motorola Solutions, NRS International, Eutelsat, Blackmores, The Aussie Mozzie Tube, ContenO, Ukrainian Helicopters.

Other partners include: the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), Inernet Society, SAFE Steering Committee, NetHope, Logistics Matters, International Stability Operations Association, Indonesian Business Council for Sustainable Development, The International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, Alliance and AMCHAM Thailand.

As an organisation AIDF aims to contribute by helping to build better networks and strong partnerships for cohesive and collective working relationships to build a better, safer future. For more information about the summit and registration option delegates can visit the event website: asia.aidforum.org.