Building the Resilience of the Education Sector to Disasters

Myanmar Education Recovery Program

UNESCO gives specialized policy advice and technical assistance to affected governments, UN agencies and non-profit organizations in reactivating the education system in post-disaster situations. It also serves a catalytic role, including advocacy, networking and participation in inter-agency activities, to ensure that educational needs are met in post-disaster settings. As part of the United Nations response to the Cyclone Nargis calamity, UNESCO’s Myanmar Education Recovery Programme (MERP) reflects this approach and complements the educational efforts of the Government of the Union of Myanmar and other national and international organizations. The programme activities are concentrated in areas where UNESCO holds particular expertise and where gaps have been identified by education actors and partners.

The MERP Initiative
MERP aims to enhance the resilience of the education sector in
Myanmar, by addressing both Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency
Preparedness as an integral part of education, particularly during
emergency recovery, to ensure a safe future through a community
based, participatory and multi sector approach.

Seeing Resilience through an Education Lens
The content of the information and training package developed under the programme will take the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) approach as seen through
an Education lens. The essential contents have been based on the following five priority areas:
1. Developing institutional base for disaster risk reduction in education
2. Identifying, assessing and monitoring disaster risks in the education sector
3. Building a culture of safety through DRR education
4. Reducing the underlying risk factors in the education sector
5. Preparing for effective emergency response and recovery in education
UNESCO Projects
At present, and in consultation with the Education Cluster and Ministry of Education, UNESCO is implementing the following projects:

• Capacity building for disaster response and resilience in education administration and management 
• Capacity building in community-based education in emergencies and disaster risk reduction (DRR) education for affected communities.

Disaster Preparedness and Response Education Working Group
UNESCO convened the Disaster Preparedness and Response Education (DPRE) working group, whose aim is to ensure the education response to disasters includes activities and systems that can help reduce risk, and mitigate the impacts of future disasters. It also ensures that DPRE activities are planned, implemented and monitored in a manner that support the reconstruction of safe and hazard-resilient schools and education buildings. The DPRE working group also distributes existing resource materials and best practices on disaster risk reduction in education relevant to Myanmar and education professionals working in the field in that country.
 
For further information contact:
Sardar Umar Alam
Project Manager
UNESCO Myanmar Education Recovery Programme su.alam[at]unesco.org