Disaster Risk Reduction

One of the key lessons learnt from the 2011 disaster is that volunteers can provide a major impact in disaster response, if properly trained and organized. To prepare and empower citizens to respond as volunteers in the wake of disasters, PBV began implementing the Disaster Relief Volunteer Training Program across the country in November 2011.

• Disaster Relief Volunteer Training (Seminar or Online, 2 hours~ )
• Disaster Relief Volunteer Leader Training course (Intensive Workshop, 2 days)

These training sessions are held across Japan on a regular basis, and are designed to be accessible to anyone, regardless of background, experience or age. Whilst PBV organizes these training sessions for the general public, we also regularly hold customized sessions for corporations, universities, Social Welfare Councils and other civil society organizations.

This workshop aims to engage, educate and prepare families for future disasters through a 90-minute training session. In this interactive workshop, trainers cover the fundamentals (theoretical and practical skills/knowledge) in how to survive and help family/community members during the first 72 hours of a disaster. With guidance from the workshop trainer, participants formulate a disaster plan for their whole family which is specific to their community/neighbourhood and can be used in times of disaster. PBV has trained over 1000 households in disaster preparedness through this program.

*This program can be provided by online as well.

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, Ishinomaki City became a model case for disaster volunteerism as many stakeholder groups worked together to manage and coordinate over 1,100,000 volunteers. Government, civil and private sector actors collaborated to effectively coordinate disaster volunteers in an unprecedented show of multi-sector cooperation. This workshop and accompanying workbook are based on the experiences of Ishinomaki citizens who were actually involved in the post-tsunami response. Learning from real-life case studies and testimonies, this program serves to empower local communities and enhance their ability to coordinate external assistance in disaster time.

• Evacuation Center management/Operation Training
• Disaster Relief Volunteer Center management/Operation Training
• Disaster Relief Volunteer Center Matching simulation Game

PBV gives talks and seminars on the topics of the Great East Japan Earthquake, disaster volunteerism and other issues related to disaster risk reduction, as well as exhibiting booths at a variety of events. As of April 2024, PBV delivered over 980 lecture and seminars at schools, universities, local government and Companies’s conferences and events across the country.

Corporate Volunteer Network (CVN) is a network of corporations, NGOs/NPOs, and intermediary organizations that are engaged in the recovery of areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Meetings are conducted every 2 months to promote and strengthen cross-sector relations and to establish a multi-stakeholder platform to enhance Disaster Risk Reduction capacities. Over 100 companies and organizations have actively participated in the network as we continue to assist disaster-affected areas and work together to build disaster resilient communities. CVN has also published a booklet on disaster relief, which serves as a guide for private sector groups to contribute effectively in times of disaster.
CVN Homepage: http://cvnet.jp/
CVN’s Coordinating Organizations: PBV, IBM Japan, Sanofi, Nippon Foundation, Just Giving Japan & On the Road

JCC2015 is a coalition of over 100 civil society organizations working toward the 3rd United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, to be held in March 2015 in Sendai, Japan. The coalition aims to share the experiences and lessons learnt from the Great East Japan Earthquake with the international community and hopes to contribute to the building of disaster resilient communities worldwide. PBV is coordinating with private, government and civil sector stakeholders such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Office, Sendai City, and the UNISDR (United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction). Also, as a member of JCC2015’s Secretariat, PBV is taking an active role in the establishment of the HFA2 (Hyogo Framework for Action 2), the international framework for disaster risk reduction, in the build-up towards the conference.
JCC2015 Homepage: http://jcc2015.net/en/
JCC2015’s Secretariat: PBV, JANIC, Fukushima Beacon for Global Citizens Network & CWS Japan