ANSO-DRR Steering Committee Meeting Held in Beijing

ANSO Secretariat

14 04, 2025

On April 7-8, 2025, members of the Second Steering Committee of ANSO-DRR gathered in Beijing to discuss strategic actions for disaster risk reduction over the next five years.

Group photo of the Second ANSO-DRR Steering Committee Meeting

Co-chaired by Acad. Prof. Cui Peng and Prof. Dr. Gretchen Kalonji, the meeting brought together distinguished experts from 15 countries, including China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Nepal, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Zealand, Hungary, Italy, Zimbabwe, US, UK and Japan, representing various international organizations, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the South Asian Alliance of Disaster Research Institutes (SAADRI), the Federation of African Engineering Organizations (FAEO), the Pan-American Federation of Engineering Associations (UPADI), and so on. Observers from the ANSO Secretariat, the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), International Research Center of Big Data for the Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS), Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment (IMHE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and China-Pakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences were also invited to this meeting.

Acad. Prof. Cui Peng and Prof. Dr. Gretchen Kalonji chairing the meeting

At the opening session, Prof. Gretchen Kalonji, co-chairperson of ANSO-DRR, elaborated on the purpose of the meeting. Prof. Kang Shichang, Director General of IMHE (as the host of the Secretariat for ANSO-DRR), welcomed all participants. Dr. Zhang Shizhuan, Deputy Executive Director of the ANSO Secretariat, highlighted the role of ANSO-DRR in promoting international collaboration in disaster risk reduction and wished the meeting a great success.

Prof. Kang Shichang and Dr. Zhang Shizhuan delivering opening remarks

Acad. Prof. Cui delivered a work report on ANSO-DRR over the past five years and proposed a work plan for the next five years. His report summarized the progress made in promoting international scientific and technological collaboration on disaster risk reduction and identified key tasks for the upcoming five years, including hazard monitoring and early warning, risk assessment, resilience building, and capacity building for young scientists.

During the meeting, members had lively and in-depth discussions on the future directions of ANSO-DRR, focusing on four strategic areas: better understanding of disaster risks; development of early-warning systems; building infrastructure resilience; and developing training & education programs for disaster risk reduction. The meeting called for closer international collaboration in these strategic areas. Consensus was reached on enhancing resource integration and mechanism innovation to improve global disaster resilience.

Established under the framework of ANSO, ANSO-DRR aims to mobilize global scientists and institutions to enhance inter-disciplinary research and collaboration on disaster mechanisms and risk management. It fosters education and training, and promotes international engagement of young scientists, while providing scientific guidance on disaster prevention, infrastructure resilience, and sustainable economic development, in the end to advance the UN Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals and a shared future for humanity.

Prof. Gordon G.D. Zhou of IMHE currently serves as the Secretary General of ANSO-DRR.

The Second ANSO-DRR Steering Committee Meeting session