Official statement on new drr commitments and initiatives

Presented by Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Indonesia

1. 
   Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) is a largest and oldest state-owned university in Indonesia which is very active in promoting scientific and policy research on disaster management as well as implementing community outreach programs. The University is also instrumental to support the successful post-2006 earthquake rehabilitation and reconstruction programs for Yogyakarta and Central Java Region.
   
2. 
   UGM is well connected with local government networks, and also currently appointed by the Directorate General of Higher Education of Indonesia as the national focal point for managing university network for student community outreach programs, in which one of the main focuses is in Disaster Risk Reduction effort to support the Sustainable Development Program in Indonesia.
   
3. 
   UN University has also appointed UGM as the host of the Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Yogyakarta in the Education for Sustainable Development (EfSD). One of the programs is on disaster management education involving various stakeholders.
   

1. 
   It was evident that there are significant gaps of knowledge and capacity in DRR between the national and local levels, thus UGM strongly commits to further support the capacity development program for both government and community at the local levels in Indonesia, through the establishment of National Geosciences Centre and the local Government Network.
   
2. 
   As the Main Facilitating Institution in Interdisciplinary Research on disaster mitigation under ASEAN University Network, and also as one UN Regional Centre of Expertise in the Education for Sustainable Development, UGM commits to support the improvement of community resilience program in disaster prone regions in Indonesia and ASEAN, through the interdisciplinary research program, with special emphasize on public education and community empowerment, development of community-based and low-cost indigenous technology for disaster mitigation and early warning system.
   
3. 
   All above those bring to UGM commitment to intensify the mission in research-based education with respect to Disaster Risk Reduction for Sustainable Development.