2008 - Thailand - Strategic Conversation on Disaster Management

Strategic Conversation on Disaster Management

Bangkok, Thailand.  8 – 12 September 2008

35 disaster management specialists and leaders in the area of disaster management from evangelical agencies in 22 countries, came together for a week-long “strategic conversation” in Bangkok to discuss improved capacity building, coordination and response in the face of disasters.  Click here for a copy of the programme.

The meeting was hosted by the Micah Network and also involved Integral Alliance and the World Evangelical Alliance – 3 significant evangelical bodies committed to working together to ensure better responses from evangelicals to global disasters, through relief and development agencies and local churches.

Micah Network, World Evangelical Alliance & Integral Alliance

Micah Network is a network of more than 500 Christian relief, development and justice organizations, churches and individuals, comprising 320+ main members and 180+ associate members from 76 countries.
Integral Alliance is a global alliance of 14 Christian relief & development agencies, working together to present a more effective response to poverty worldwide.
World Evangelical Alliance is a network of churches in 128 nations that have each formed an evangelical alliance and over 100 international organizations joining together to give a worldwide identity, voice and platform to more than 420 million evangelical Christians.

Background

The 3 networks spent 18 months preparing for the discussion by holding meetings and consultations with their constituents and began to explore the key challenges ahead. At the outset, the following two goals were identified:

• Explore how the Micah Network (and its members who are relief and development NGOs) should interact and work with the local church in such contexts

Through a global process beginning with some of Micah Network’s South Asian members, and including several meetings between representatives from Micah Network, Integral Alliance and the World Evangelical Alliance, the following 4 strategic objectives for achieving these aims, were identified.

• Objective 1: Build capacity of local communities and churches in the world’s most disaster-prone countries to assist vulnerable people to prevent, prepare for and respond to the impact of disasters.
• Objective 2: Support Micah Network member agencies in each country towards a coordinated high quality disaster-management capability.
• Objective 3: Facilitate effective mechanisms for Micah Network members to respond multi-laterally to requests for assistance in case of a major disaster.
• Objective 4: Establish an effective Micah Network forum of members engaged in DM advocacy; and ensuring listening and learning.

Strategic conversation on disaster management

The purpose of the strategic conversation in Thailand was specifically to refine the 4 strategic objectives above and agree on the priorities and how to achieve them, as well as:

1. To build a shared vision

2. To deepen awareness and engagement with shared issues:

• Theology of disasters
• Christian perspectives on climate change
• The functions and added advantages of a DM network for Christian communities – global, regional and national levels
• Cross-cutting issues:
  • Gender
  • Disability
  • Preparedness
  • HIV

3. Formulate a three-year implementation plan which breaks down the objectives into achievable steps.

The strategic conversation came to a close after a week of intensive discussion and successful planning. Four important documents came out of the discussions:

1. Belief Statement (Foundational statements appropriate for use in risk and disaster management contexts)
2. Principles for engaging local congregations in disaster response
3. Strategic Objectives
4. Global activities for achieving the strategic objectives.