World Tsunami Awareness Day and 25^th Meeting of the Advisory Council to the Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami resulted in widespread loss of human life and livelihoods, severe damage to infrastructure and ecosystems and large economic costs. Following this disaster, leaders across Asia and the Pacific recognized the criticality of coordinated and long-term preparedness and prevention efforts to mitigate the impacts of disaster risks.

Established in 2005, the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness represented a regional commitment to strengthening early warning systems. As a result, 23 countries have directly benefitted through building regional and national end-to-end warning systems for coastal hazards. By pooling resources, the Trust Fund facilitates South-South cooperation to strengthen disaster resilience in high-risk, low-capacity countries and to ultimately reduce disaster loss and damage.

Marking 20 years since the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the 25^th Meeting of the Advisory Council will provide an opportune moment to discuss the strategic direction of the Trust Fund 2025-2030 together with the recommendations from the Evaluative Review, on 4 November in Hyderabad and online.

The following day, marking World Tsunami Awareness Day, Advisory Council members and observers will be invited to participate in a national tsunami mock drill and witness first-hand the impacts of Trust Fund supported programming in Odisha State.

Provisional Agenda

4 November – Hyderabad* and Online (Hybrid)

1. 25^th Meeting of the Advisory Council to the Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness
1. Opening Remarks
2. Adoption of the agenda
3. Adoption of minutes of the 24th Advisory Council meeting
4. Statements of Council members
5. Trust Fund Evaluation and Cost-Benefit Analysis
6. Tsunami Preparedness Capacity Assessment and 20^th Commemoration of the Indian Ocean Tsunami
7. Draft Trust Fund Strategy 2025-2030
8. Financial matters and new programme concepts proposed for consideration
9. Other matters and closing
2. Tour of Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) at Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Sciences (INCOIS)

5 November – Odisha* (In-Person only)

1. National Tsunami mock evacuation drill
2. Conversations with Tsunami Ready community champions