Another successful and joyful training session has come to an end! ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre has conducted 14th Online AJCCBC Cybersecurity Technical Training, revolving around Malware Analysis and Network Forensics on 17-19 and 22 February.

The training was aimed to enhance the capacity of cybersecurity personnel in subjugating and minimizing the cyber threats. The training was held within a 4-day period, two days spent for each topics.

The participants from ASEAN Member States have greatly benefited from the training despite the pandemic that has been disrupting on-site training. It could be proudly stated that the training was not merely successful but also delightful.

The ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (Step 2) project is supported by the Government of Japan through through Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

The ASEAN Project on Disaster Risk Reduction by Integrating Climate Change Projection into Flood and Landslide Risk Assessment (ASEAN DRR-CCA) is an initiative under the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management Working Group on Prevention and Mitigation, supported by the Government of Japan through Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).

The project aims to demonstrate the integration of climate projections into flood and landslide risk assessment; and equip ASEAN Member States with tools and techniques on risk assessment and mapping for better land-use planning. This will ensure they are better equipped with appropriate solutions to address future risks.

The project will complement ASEAN objectives to achieve its objectives set under the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER), the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Critical to effort in developing ASEAN Public Health Emergency Coordination System (APHECS) is ensuring alignment with several new and ongoing initiatives of the ASEAN Health sector and its partners to fortify regional preparedness and response capacity. The design of APHECS will seek to complement the planned ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED), which is being supported by Japan, through Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF). The establishment of ACPHEED was announced by the ASEAN Leaders during the 37th Summit under Viet Nam’s Chairmanship on 12 November 2020. According to Mr. Dhannan Sunoto, former Director of the ASEAN Secretariat Cross-Sectoral Cooperation Department, helping to lead this USAID effort, discussions with representatives of the Japan-supported initiative were initiated last year and will continue. “When working with multiple partners, there is a risk of duplication or even contradiction across initiatives,” Mr. Sunoto explained. “At the same time, there is greater opportunity to achieve synergies and tap into a broader set of expertise, ideas, and resources.” He added, “Resources are a challenge for everyone these days; it is imperative we work smarter by working together and realising efficiencies.”

The ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) reflects the ASEAN Member States’ strong commitment to reduce disaster losses and respond to emergencies in the region in a collaborative manner. The new AADMER Work Programme (AWP) 2021-2025 was adopted at the 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM) held on 27 November 2020. The AWP 2021-2025 highlights the whole-of-society approach, charting a comprehensive direction for concerted ASEAN cooperation with other ASEAN mechanisms and international actors in the areas of disaster management, emergency response, and humanitarian assistance. The AWP 2021-2025 also emphasises disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation to address current gaps and challenges from the previous work programme.

The AADMER Work Programme’s implementation will be anchored on strengthening the relationship with ACDM Partners, including relevant dialogue partners, relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies, regional and international agencies, community-based organisations, NGOs, private sector, and individuals. New partners from the private sector, academia, think tanks, media, and faith-based organisations will be engaged as well. The ACDM and ASEAN Secretariat acknowledge the support provided by the Asian Development Bank, the Government of Canada, the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction in the development of the AWP 2021-2025

Article is available for download on The ASEAN Magazine – Issue 09, January 2021, page 34-35.

The 1^st ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN) was held via video conference on 21 and 22 January 2021. H.E. Dato’ Saifuddin bin Abdullah, Minister of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia, chaired the Meeting, and H.E. U Thant Sin Maung, Union Minister for Transport and Communications of Myanmar was the Vice-Chair. The Ministers also held consultations with their counterparts from China, Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK), India, the United States, and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The Ministers expressed their appreciation to Japan for its assistance in various areas of cooperation in 2020, including the ASEAN Conference on 5G Ecosystem Development, Developing Guideline and Common Standard of Smart Notification System for Natural Disasters, ASEAN-Japan Symposium on ADM2025, Information Security Workshop for Internet Service Providers, and the various cybersecurity training programmes, in which providing e-learning and making exercises available online is being worked on, delivered at the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre in Bangkok. The Ministers endorsed the 2021 ASEAN-Japan ICT Work Plan which contributes to the achievement of the ADM2025 which envisions ASEAN as a leading digital community and economic bloc, powered by secure and transformative digital services, technologies and ecosystem.

The ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre (Step 2) is supported by the Government of Japan through Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF).