From 23rd to 24th July 2025, Sri Lanka hosted the Reflection Workshop of the Asian Preparedness Partnership (APP) at the Celestine Ballroom, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Colombo. This significant event brought together over 70 participants, including representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, and development partners across the seven APP member countries, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Myanmar.
The workshop marked a key milestone at the midpoint of APP’s Phase III (2023–2026), offering an opportunity to reflect on the progress made, challenges encountered, and pathways forward in sustaining National Preparedness Partnerships (NPPs). Discussions centered on strengthening coordination structures and refining long-term strategies to ensure the durability of NPPs beyond the project duration.
Participants shared country-specific updates on activities under Pillar 2, including sub-grant implementation and strategic action plans developed to localize disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate resilience efforts. Emphasis was placed on identifying effective financing mechanisms to support locally led initiatives and framing localized models that empower community leadership in disaster preparedness.
The workshop also spotlighted progress under Pillar 1, where countries shared insights from the Asian Disaster Readiness Fund (ADRF) and discussed how locally led interventions are shaping inclusive and scalable approaches to DRR. Best practices, success factors, and sustainability strategies were exchanged among countries, fostering mutual learning and regional solidarity.
The Reflection Workshop not only strengthened the bonds among APP countries but also reinforced the commitment to advancing localization as a core strategy for climate and disaster resilience. It laid the groundwork for the second half of APP Phase III and helped shape a shared vision for future collaboration across Asia.
