Establishing APEC Emergency Preparedness Capacity Building Center

Submitted by Chinese Taipei

02/13/2018|

Establishing APEC Emergency Preparedness Capacity Building Center (hereinafter referred to as "EPCC")

To invite and invest joint efforts on improving regional resilience against natural hazards

I. Background:

Key elements to ensure sustainable economic growth is to minimize possible interruptions on economic activities, including adverse impacts by natural disasters. In the last 15 years, APEC member economies have faced tremendous challenges to business operations due to natural hazards, and physical and social vulnerabilities.

In light of this, and recognizing the collaborations among Emergency Preparedness Working Group (EPWG), Small and Medium Enterprises Working Group (SMEWG) and Policy Partnership on Science, Technology and Innovation (PPSTI), Chinese Taipei proposes to establish the EPCC with a view to build a platform for APEC EPWG to strengthen innovation and capacity building for emergency preparedness.

Recently, joint efforts have been made by member economies to implement practical and scientific-based training programs and to establish local knowledge databases in disaster risk reduction.

To facilitate cross-fora collaboration on cross-cutting issues related to capacity building for emergency preparedness, the EPCC will provide human capacity investment and establish a knowledge transfer scheme to strengthen regional disaster resilience for both public and private sectors to enhance emergency preparedness using Information-Communications Technology (ICT). Under the oversight of EPWG, the EPCC will seek cross-fora collaboration with the PPSTI, SMEWG, TPTWG, TWG, TELWG, CTWG, HWG, and ABAC to ensure their contributions.

The EPCC is a key initiative supporting the 2015 APEC Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.

II.  Importance of the Initiative: to establish a center for promoting capacity building on demand base

This proposed initiative meets the objectives of the APEC Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Preparedness and Response in the Asia-Pacific Region (2008), and the APEC Disaster Risk Reduction Framework (2015). It will undertake capacity building planning and consultation activities and provide tailored and timely knowledge-based information to enable APEC economies to mitigate the possible impacts of disasters.

Relevance to APEC:

In 2014, APEC Ministers and ABAC business leaders highlighted the importance of implementing Business Continuity Planning (BCP) to “build sustainable and resilient communities” by “investing in human capacity building”.

In 2015, Senior Officials noted in SOM1 the importance of the science and technology in enhancing regional digital preparedness on natural hazards to safeguard communities and business in the Asia-Pacific.

In January 2015, at the 7th EPWG meeting, Chinese Taipei’s proposal to establish the EPCC was welcomed and noted by EPWG as one of its new initiatives [2015/SOM1/EPWG/038 New initiative - APEC Emergency Preparedness Capacity Building Center (EPCC)].

The EPCC will also advance the cross-fora goals of APEC Blueprint on Connectivity and be instrumental in finding solutions to supply-chain resilience and enhancing safe trade facilitation in the Asia-Pacific region. This initiative is also in complies with and echoes APEC Leaders’ instructions over the years for capacity building for disaster resilience and reduction of the cost of disasters.

III. Project Implementation

Chinese Taipei will provide operation funds to support the administration and training programs of the EPCC.  The EPCC will plan and host an annual capacity building event. The theme of the annual activity should be approved by EPWG, and will take reference from APEC’s priorities, and related issues.

IV. Expected Outcomes:

In 2015, the EPCC will focus preparations on supporting two of APEC’s activities, “Investing in Human Capacity Building” and “Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities. In future years, the EPCC pursue innovations in the area of disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness. It will directly benefit both public and private sector of APEC economies.  The beneficiary will include the economy using big data and open data on emergency preparedness.

 

Hereby mandates and agrees that the terms of reference for the establishment, functions, and operation of the APEC Emergency Preparedness Capacity Building Center (EPCC), as followings:

PART I Establishment

ARTICLE 1

The Office of the APEC Emergency Preparedness Capacity Building Center (hereinafter referred to as "EPCC") shall be established in New Taipei City, Chinese Taipei.

The EPCC functions under the guidance and supervision of EPWG. EPCC should report its work plans, programs, activities, initiatives and outcomes to EPWG on a regular base. Prior to any initiatives or engagements on cross-fora cooperation, EPCC should seek approval from EPWG by written notice.

The EPCC should operate in full compliance with APEC regulations and established practice, including APEC Guidelines on Managing Cooperation with Non-members.

The APEC nomenclature should be observed in all proceedings, activities and outputs of EPCC, including working papers, conference documents, reports, books, brochures and newsletters, and etc. in electronic or hard copy form.

 

PART II Goal and Mission

ARTICLE 2

Goals of EPCC

The global tendency to pursue maximized benefits of sustainable economic development is to minimize all possible interruptions, which could attribute to natural disasters. Within the first 15 years of the 21st century, natural hazards are an emerging factor that could bring tangible setbacks to business operations and severe causalities to the whole of civil society. To address the importance of keeping APEC member economies development and resilience, in 2014, APEC Ministers and business leaders of ABAC highlights importance of BCP implementation to “build sustainable and resilient communities” by “investing in human capacity building”. In March 2015, the “APEC Disaster Risk Reduction Framework” highlights” sustainable development” with “private sector’s involvement” for active disaster risk reduction, better emergency preparedness and “Build Back Better” recovery.

Chinese Taipei proposes to establish the EPCC with a view to build a platform for APEC EPWG to strengthen innovation and capacity building for emergency preparedness, and meeting the demanding needs of member economies in this field.

Missions of the EPCC

Through all-hazards approaches to emergency preparedness, the mission of the EPCC is to support and strengthen the disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness efforts of APEC economies through:

  • Hosting of well-structured capacity-building activities: to developing a sustainable program to promote disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness in accordance to EPWG’s mandate and guidance as well as the proposals and priorities of APEC member economies;
  • Establishing knowledge database: collecting best experiences, science and technology to support policy and decision making;
  • Enhancing public-private-people partnerships in disaster risk management by actively introducing new technology and concepts as well as highlighting contributions from experts and professionals of governments, academia and practitioners, where appropriate;

 

PART III Organization

ARTICLE 3

The EPCC shall Include the following within its organization:

  1. An Executive Director
  2. Friends of EPCC
  3. Administrative Staff
  4. Departments; and
  5. Visiting Specialists

 

PART IV Executive Director

ARTICLE 4

There shall be one Executive Director (hereinafter referred to as "the ED"), who as the head of the EPCC, shall be responsible for management of the EPCC and its affairs.

The main responsibilities of the ED shall be:

  • To lead and supervise all EPCC capacity building and activity programs, and monitor the synergies of programs’ outcomes;
  • To recruit distinguished visiting specialists, researchers, scientists, advisors, administrative staffs as required;
  • To attend the EPWG meetings and other meeting on behalf of EPCC;
  • To provide the strategic and annual implementation plans;
  • To report the activities and current situation of the EPCC to the EPWG on a regular basis
  • To refer to and follow the guidance from the friends of EPCC; and
  • To coordinate the EPCC activities.

 

PART V Friends of EPCC

ARTICLE 5

Composition

  • The Friends of EPCC provides strategic and operational guidance to the EPCC with a view to ensure the EPCC operates in line with the mandate and priorities of EPWG.
  • The Friends of EPCC shall be composed of representatives from APEC EPWG Member Economies that show interest in the EPCC program on voluntary basis.

ARTICLE 6

Functions

The primary duties of the Friends of EPCC shall be to provide the EPCC with guidance on both strategic and operational level.

 

ARTICLE 7

Sessions

  • Executive Director shall invite the Friends of EPCC to contribute to the EPCC Annual Meeting or capacity building activities.
  • The Administrative Staff are responsible for providing EPCC information to the Friends of EPCC.

PART VI Administrative Staff

ARTICLE 8

Composition

There shall be the Administrative Staff under the ED to assist for the operations of the EPCC.

  • One Deputy Executive Director.
  • Program Directors
  • Researchers
  • Secretary General
  • Advisors
  • Consultants
  • Technicians/MIS Managers; and
  • Office Managers

 

ARTICLE 9

Functions

The primary duties of the Administrative Staff shall be:

  • To share, promote and organize capacity building on emergency preparedness and related information;
  • To plan, discuss and design activities of the EPCC;
  • To propose suggestions on training programs, symposia, and implementation plans provided by the EPCC;
  • To publish Training Materials; and
  • To maintain the APEC EPWG Satellite website.

 

PART VII Departments

ARTICLE 10

The EPCC shall be comprised of the following Departments:

  • Program on Capacity Building Planning and Development
  • Operations
  • Management Information System
  • External Collaborations
  • Others if applicable

For each Department, its supporting human resource composed of full-time and part-time personnel or volunteers depending on the nature of aims, deliverables, efficiency, effectiveness and availability.

 

ARTICLE 11

Capacity Building Planning and Development

The main functions of the Capacity Building Planning and Development Department shall be to synthesize the research efforts with practices and implement capacity building programs to meet the needs of APEC region in line with EPWG mandates and carry out goals of the APEC Disaster Risk Reduction Framework on providing APEC-agenda-based planning for both private and public partnership in emergency preparedness from user perspectives (i.e. Program of BCP, Big Data, Open Data and etc.)

Furthermore, the Capacity Building Planning and Development Department shall organize the research or implementation projects on different subjects and coordinate all-approach and inter-disciplinary efforts.

 

ARTICLE 12

Operations Department

The Operations Department shall be responsible for all matters related to the administration of the EPCC, including:

  • Project Management;
  • Human Resource Development and Management;
  • Training and Curriculum, Development Activities and Seminars, and Workshop Planning and Implementation; and
  • Accounting, Financing, Publication, Information and Communications.

 

ARTICLE 13

MIS (Management Information System) Department

The main function of the MIS Department shall be to synthesize the efficiency and effectiveness among systems and maintain the EPWG Satellite website as a regional platform to serve the needs of APEC economies in providing integrated valued-added support of quality information in capacity building and emergency preparedness.

 

ARTICLE 14

External Collaborations Department

The main function of the External Collaborations Department shall be to synthesize and coordinate the resources to mitigate duplicated effort in Emergency Preparedness.

 

PART VIII Affiliated Visiting Specialist

ARTICLE 15

The EPCC extends Visiting Specialist positions to the leading institutions based on specific projects.  The Affiliated Visiting Specialist shall be, scientists from APEC Member Economies.

The Affiliated Visiting Specialists shall be responsible for directing the capacity building projects and reporting related results or outcomes on a regular basis to the EPCC. In addition, the Affiliated Visiting Specialists shall present their findings as publications of EPCC.

As necessary, the ED shall offer contract-based, full-time research positions to Affiliated Visiting Specialists.

 

PART IX Activities

ARTICLE 16

The EPCC shall organize the following activities:

  • Program on Capacity Building Planning and Development
  • Certified Program / curriculums
  • Internship
  • Exchange of Information, Communication
  • Publications

 

ARTICLE 17

Capacity Building Planning and Development Programs

  • The Capacity Building Planning and Development Department shall develop Capacity Building Planning and Development programs.
  • The Capacity Building Planning and Development Department shall cooperate with the Affiliated Visiting Specialists on the Capacity Building Planning and Development programs.
  • The EPCC shall invite experts in the areas of capacity building to be covered to act as lecturers, mapping out a series of training courses focused on specific subjects / themes.
  • The invitations shall be extended to all APEC Member Economies.

 

ARTICLE 18

Publications

EPCC may publish the following publications:

  • Annual reports
  • Training Materials
  • Specific research reports
  • Major event reports
  • Visiting specialists reports on outcomes / findings
  • Internship reports
  • Certified program reports
  • Journals; and
  • Newsletters

 

ARTICLE 19

Annual Reports

The annual reports shall be published yearly and shall cover the activities on a regular basis in both printed and electronic formats.

 

ARTICLE 20

Training Materials

The EPCC Training Materials shall be published on a regular basis and be uploaded to the APEC EPWG Satellite website for reference and consideration.

 

ARTICLE 21

Specific Research Topic Reports / Major event reports / Visiting Specialists’ reports on outcomes or findings / Internship reports / Certified program reports / Journals / Newsletters, and etc.

Research contributions from different experts shall be consolidated and published according to the nature of the reports as a special issue publication or journals and shall be uploaded to the APEC EPWG Satellite website for reference and consideration.

 

ARTICLE 22

The EPCC shall attend the meetings of the APEC EPWG Working group meetings, other APEC fora meetings and collaborative institutions’ meetings to share the outcomes of EPCC.

 

PART X Funding

ARTICLE 23

The EPCC shall receive funding from the following sources, where appropriate:

  • Voluntary contributions from governments of the APEC Members;
  • Other contributions and Donations.

 

PART XI Entry into Force

ARTICLE 24

The present Terms of Reference shall come into force upon intersessional circulation for endorsement by the APEC EPWG members and the original of which shall be deposited in the archives of the APEC Secretariat.