This free to attend three-day forum has been designed to promote, facilitate and enhance understanding of how stakeholders can effectively use ICT to mitigate the effects of natural disasters.

It aims to reduce the vulnerability of nations and regions to natural disasters, as well as help increase the capacity of policy makers, ICT regulators, private sector actors and civil society organisations to prepare and respond effectively to natural disasters at local, national and regional levels.

Endowing stakeholders with a comprehensive understanding of how ICT can be effectively used in the event of disaster will ultimately save lives and mitigate the devastating impact of natural disasters on the socio-economic infrastructure of a nation and region. This is why The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) are co-organizing the Using ICT for Effective Disaster Management Caribbean Forum 2006, which is supported by the Caribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations (CANTO), and hosted by the Jamaican Office of Utilities Regulation. The event is to take place 26th & 28th September in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

The first two days of the Forum will see participants witness and discuss presentations by the World’s leading experts in disaster management. On the third day, stakeholders will work together to produce log frames that will highlight how they can use ICT to effectively manage disasters.

The Using ICT for Effective Disaster Management Log Frames will prove to be effective tools for those currently developing national disaster management strategies, which will be the focus of discussions for the final afternoon.

 

• Improve your understanding of how ICT can be used to enhance stakeholders' efforts in all four phases of disaster management

• Benchmark your existing systems and plans against internationally-recognised best of class systems and best practice

• Develop practical tools that will form an important part of your own disaster management strategies and initiatives

• Build effective working relationships with many national and regional stakeholders in effective disaster management and mitigation

• Become part of a peer reviews mechanism that can enhance national and regional coordination for disaster management

• Examine key case studies concerning the use of ICT in disaster management

• Receive comprehensive updates on what various organisations have learnt from their recent experiences with the Asian Tsunami and other disasters

• The World's leading experts on disaster management and mitigation

• Officials from the Caribbean’s national and regional regulatory authorities

• ICT Ministers

• Ministers responsible for disaster management

• Representatives from civil society and community based organisations

• Senior representatives from regional coordination and intergovernmental bodies.

• Senior representatives of multilateral and bilateral organisations.

• Leading members of the private sector