Asia-Pacific leaders chart locally led disaster resilience

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Asia-Pacific leaders have outlined priorities for the next decade of locally led disaster resilience, calling for stronger institutions, easier access to financing and greater community influence over humanitarian programs.

More than 100 representatives from governments, civil society, the private sector, regional organizations and development partners attended the Localization Policy Dialogue in person.

More than 120 participants joined the event online.

The dialogue, titled “A Decade of Progress, Lessons, and the Way Forward in Asia and the Pacific,” examined the gains and remaining challenges in shifting disaster preparedness and humanitarian action toward local leadership.

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center and the Gates Foundation jointly convened the dialogue.

The Preparedness Partnership of Cambodia and ADPC co-hosted the event as co-chairs of the Asian Preparedness Partnership Regional Steering Committee for 2025–2026.

The gathering marked the 10th anniversary of the Asia Preparedness Partnership.

It also marked a decade since the World Humanitarian Summit underscored the importance of locally led humanitarian response and disaster resilience.

H.E. Prak Kimhong, deputy secretary-general of Cambodia’s National Committee for Disaster Management, welcomed the delegates.

He highlighted Cambodia’s efforts to strengthen community-level disaster preparedness through partnerships between national and local institutions.

“True resilience is co-created — you cannot make it alone.” H.E. Prak Kimhong, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Committee for Disaster Management

ADPC Executive Director Aslam Perwaiz opened the dialogue by emphasizing the need to consolidate the progress achieved over the past decade.

“The last decade has shown us localization is possible. The next decade must prove that it is irreversible.” Mr. Aslam Perwaiz, Executive Director, ADPC

Dr. Valerie Nkamgang Bemo, deputy director for emergency response at the Gates Foundation, called for continued investment in locally led institutions and partnerships.

Participants from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka shared examples of communities taking the lead in identifying risks.

They also presented experiences in preparedness planning, early warning systems and local decision-making.

The discussions emphasized that meaningful localization requires communities and local organizations to participate throughout program design, implementation and accountability.

Participants said local groups should not be treated only as recipients of aid or as implementers of programs designed elsewhere.

The dialogue examined how stronger institutions could help local organizations move beyond short-term, project-based participation.

Participants also discussed the importance of simplifying access to financing.

Transparent fund management was identified as another requirement for building trust and sustaining locally led initiatives.

Long-term capacity development was also cited as necessary for enabling local organizations to assume lasting leadership roles.

ADPC Director Dr. Sisira Madurapperuma called for a transition “from charity to investment.”

He said locally identified resilience priorities should be developed into credible and sustainable programs.

The dialogue concluded with a recommendation to establish equitable, transparent and locally led partnerships.

Under the proposed approach, communities and local organizations would meaningfully influence program design, funding decisions, implementation and accountability.

Participants also called for donor requirements to be adapted to local conditions.

They said sustained institutional capacity-building should support the shift toward local leadership.

The Asia Preparedness Partnership was launched in 2016 with support from the Gates Foundation.

The partnership brings together governments, civil society, academic institutions and the private sector through nationally owned partnerships in seven countries.

Coordinated by ADPC, the partnership promotes collaboration, knowledge exchange and locally led disaster preparedness across Asia and the Pacific.