Policy Briefs
In collaboration with CCOUC, Harvard FXB Center will write a total of 5 policy briefs throughout the course of this 2.5 year project. The drafting of these briefs will itself provide partners with a capacity building opportunity. This set of policy papers, regarding key issues facing disaster responders in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region more generally, will be aimed at governments, agencies, and the international community.
The first policy brief focused on findings from the Scoping Study to highlight the need for community engagement in disaster preparedness and response.
The second policy brief addressed psychological first aid, an area of training that first responders, doctors, nurses, and key stakeholders emphasized as important throughout the Scoping Study.
Case Studies
Harvard FXB, in collaboration with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, will develop a suite of creative learning tools that will be used in the Master of Public Health (MPH) programs at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University. Five detailed case studies will be generated in both print form and in an online/e-learning format. These innovative case studies will build an intense and creative learning experience to communicate lessons learned and best practices for future disaster response, strengthening education and training curricula.
Two case studies were completed in 2015. The first outlined the governance and humanitarian and response to the Nepal earthquakes that took place on April 25 and May 12, 2015. The Case Study highlighted the inherent vulnerabilities of the country including rapid urbanization, government instability, and gender roles in society. The second was an assessment of the Great East Japan Earthquake that took place on March 11, 2011 and resulted in a massive tsunami and a disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power facility. This study explored the historical preparedness of Japanese society and analyzes why the Great East Japan Earthquake was so devastating. Additionally, there was a focus on critical decision-making, especially among members of the government.
In 2016, the case on Hurricane Sandy was published, followed in early 2017, by a case on the Tianjin Explosions. The final case will examine crowds and stampedes.