Toyota Foundation 2023 International Grant Program
Joint development of citizen disaster prevention empowerment program in Asia
In Southeast Asian countries, sustainable development is hindered by repeated disasters. Until now, disaster prevention measures and recovery and reconstruction support for the region have focused on technology transfer and hard infrastructure development from developed countries, but going forward, there is a need for autonomous and continuous activities to be promoted by local citizens in collaboration with various local stakeholders (NGOs, universities, and local governments). To achieve this, it is an urgent task to train key people who will be the axis of local activities.
This program is a consortium of universities in six Southeast Asian countries and Kansai University of International Studies.Asian Cooperative Program (ACP)will expand the disaster prevention education program that has been developed for students to a program for training local disaster prevention leaders in collaboration with research institutes, citizen groups, NGOs, etc. Research institutes and local communities will work as continuous counterparts, and the two-pronged system of training and awards for citizens who will play a key role in disaster prevention in each region will lead to the realization of a safe and secure society.
Grant period: November 2023 to October 11 (2025 years)
Total grant amount: 870 million yen
Project target countries: Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia
Participating organizations: Kansai University of International Studies, Gadjah Mada University, Atma Jaya University of Yogyakarta, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Asian Disaster Reduction Center, FM WaiWai, CODE, Plus Arts, Bocomi Badrang, Lintas Radio Station, Negrepan Village, Kasongan Village, Mercy Malaysia, Yan River KAMC
Toyota Foundation International Grant Program Citizen Workshop Malaysia
Asian Civil Disaster Prevention Forum - Evacuation drills using ICT
Citizen Workshop: Evacuation Drills Using ICT
A public workshop entitled "Evacuation Drills Using ICT" was held in the Yang district of Kedah, Malaysia. Approximately 60 people, including residents and experts, participated.
Date and time: Thursday, August 28, 2025, 8:00 - 14:00
Location: Yang District, Kedah, Malaysia
Organized by: Asian Civil Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (ACDRI)
Co-organized by Kansai International University, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Atma Jaya University of Yogyakarta, Gadjah Mada University, Kampung Aceh Management Center (KAMC), Jerai Geopark Guide Association, Pen duduk Yan
A disaster drill utilizing ICT was conducted in the Yang district of Malaysia. The drill aimed to improve the community's disaster response capabilities and was conducted using geoBingAn, a disaster information sharing system developed by Taiwan's GeoThings company. The Yang district was hit by large-scale flash floods in August and October 2021, resulting in six deaths and damage to over 2,000 homes. Learning from these events, this drill was conducted under the assumption that flash flooding had occurred due to heavy rain.
"geoBingAn" is linked to "WhatsApp," a communication app widely used in Malaysia, and its major feature is that it allows for real-time sharing of information on disaster damage and needed supplies. During the training, residents evacuated to mosques as evacuation shelters, while posting information on the damage situation in each area, evacuation status, and injured people on the system. Local leaders and the KAMCKampung Aceh Management Center (KAMC) also used the system to simultaneously distribute information to residents and identify their needs. In a post-training review, participants shared positive feedback, saying, "We would like to continue using geoBingAn in the future, as it allows for instant information sharing," confirming its effectiveness.
The 3rd Asian Civil Disaster Prevention Promotion Conference was held
The 3rd Asian Civil Disaster Risk Reduction Promotion Conference was held at Universiti Utara Malaysia on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
At the meeting, a report was given on an evacuation drill using ICT conducted in Malaysia, as well as the status of the creation of national versions of the "ACDRI Disaster Evacuation Guidebook." It was also decided that the next public workshop would be held in Kuroshio Town, Kochi Prefecture.
Presenter
- Outline of Toyota Project - Empowering Local Communities for Disaster Resilience using ICT(Dr. KAWAWAKI Yasuo, Assistant to the president for International Affairs, Kansai University of International Studies)
- Review of the ICT Disaster Evacuation Drill in Yan River Village (Mr. Kuo-Yu slayer Chuang, GeoThings, Taiwan)
- DRR Initiatives: Community Perspectives & Practices (Mr. Muhammad Ali Sobri, Jerai Geopark Guide Association)
- Developing community based disaster evacuation modul(Dr. Khaerunnisa, Head of Master of Architecture Study Program, Architecture Department, Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta)
Toyota Foundation International Grant Program Citizen Workshop Indonesia
Asian Civil Disaster Prevention Forum - Evacuation drills using ICT
Citizen Workshop: Evacuation Drills Using ICT
A public workshop entitled "Evacuation Drills Using ICT" was held in the Kampung Jogoyudan district of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Approximately 100 people participated, including citizens, the Local Government Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and experts.
Date and time: Saturday, September 2024, 9 7:8 - 00:15
Location: Kampung Jogoyudan
Organized by: Asian Civil Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (ACDRI) Co-organized by: Kansai International University, Atma Jaya University of Yogyakarta, Gadjah Mada University, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Asian Disaster Reduction Center, BPBD, KTB JOGOYDAN
The aim of this evacuation drill was to "improve the community's disaster response capabilities through the effective use of ICT," and the drill was conducted using the " GeoThings ", a community disaster information sharing system developed by GeoThings (Taiwan).geoBingAn"geoBingAn" is a system that uses the widely used communication app "WhatsApp" in Indonesia to exchange information on the disaster situation and needed supplies.
Training is Cold Lava(*)The drill was conducted under the assumption that a major earthquake had occurred. Residents evacuated to a community hall that had been set up as a shelter, and posted information on the damage and evacuation situation in each location, as well as information on injured people. Local leaders and BPBD staff simultaneously distributed information to residents and identified their needs. After the drill, all participants reflected on the experience. One BPBD staff member commented, "We would like to continue using geoBingAn in the future, as it allows for instant information sharing."
- Cold Lava: A volcanic mudflow is a phenomenon in which volcanic ejecta and water mix and flow on the surface of a volcano. It can occur when volcanic ejecta melts snow or glaciers, pyroclastic material flows into bodies of water, a crater lake overflows, hot water overflows from the crater, or volcanic ejecta flows due to rainfall. Its flow speed is said to reach tens of kilometers per hour.
Evacuation drill
Information sharing on geoBingAn
The 2rd Asian Civil Disaster Prevention Promotion Conference was held
The 2nd Asian Citizen Disaster Risk Reduction Promotion Conference was held on Saturday, September 7th, at the GOR KEBON NDALEM JOGOYUDAN community hall in the Kampung Jogoyudan district of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, with 16 participants in person and online. At the conference, reports were given on the ICT-based evacuation drills conducted in the district, and proposals were presented for the creation of the "Asian Citizen Disaster Risk Reduction Leader Training Course Textbook."
It has also been decided that the next public workshop will be held in Malaysia.
Kick-off meeting (January 2024)
The kickoff meeting was held on Sunday, January 28th at the KOBE Co CREATION CENTER, the University City Kobe Industry-Government-Academia Collaboration Platform Exchange Hub, with 41 people participating in person and online.
The event kicked off with opening remarks from ACP Chairman Atsushi Hamana (President of Kansai International University) and a message from Kobe Mayor Kizo Hisamoto. The founding statement was signed by ACDRI members, including representatives from Gadjah Mada University, Atma Jaya University (Indonesia), and Universiti Utara Malaysia (Malaysia). The international workshop, which connected the Japanese venue with Malaysian and Indonesian civil society groups and NGOs online, shared each country's challenges and good practices in civil disaster prevention, followed by a poster session by participating organizations. The event then led to a public workshop titled "Community Disaster Prevention in Japan," with a bus tour of the HAT Kobe area and an on-site tour of HAT Kobe's disaster prevention facilities.
Establishment of the Asian Civil Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction Initiative (ACDRI)
ACDRI was established with support from the Toyota Foundation's 2023 International Grant Program with the aim of expanding ACP's educational programs to include training disaster prevention leaders in communities around the world in cooperation with research institutions, civil society groups, and NGOs.
The members are practitioners and community leaders from three countries: Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The main activities are:
- ① Cultivating citizen disaster prevention leaders (holding workshops, etc.)
- ② Teaching material development (program course design, creation of educational materials)
- 3) Educational materials archive (stock of digital content in multiple languages)
- ④ Certification (issuance of certificates) and recognition (recognition of good practice), etc.
Through this, we aim to improve disaster prevention capabilities at the citizen level. Furthermore, we aim to further expand the target countries to include Southeast Asian countries.
ACDRI Founding Statement (PDF)
Project conceptual diagram
Logo
LogoThe key concept of"Diversity"is. this is,ACDRIThe company aims to respect diverse viewpoints and opinions and express the harmonious attitude that recognizes the value of each. Additionally, the dandelion seed-shaped logo symbolizes the increasing awareness of disaster prevention among citizens, which is spreading throughout the world.
Overall project schedule
Citizen workshop schedule
- January 2024 Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture
- August-September 2024 Yogyakarta, Indonesia
- August-September 2025 Kedah, Malaysia
- November 2025, Kuroshio Town, Kochi Prefecture
Link
Kobe Shimbun (2024/1/29)
Kansai International University establishes promotion council to develop disaster prevention skills among citizens across borders; collaborates with universities in Southeast Asia to “realize a safe and secure society”
