MOU between EMI and ICLEI signed

01-05-07

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative and ICLEI sealed the decision of both organizations to partner on capacity building and advocacy for disaster risk management. Dr. Fouad Bendimerad, Chairman of the Board of the Earthquakes and Megacities Initiative, visited ICLEI's International Training Centre on capacity building and advocacy for local disaster risk management. ITC Director Monika Zimmermann and Dr. Hartmut Fünfgeld representing ICLEI's Resilient Communities & Cities initiative discussed with Dr. Bendimerad a joint training initiative, which would draw on EMI's expertise to offer professional training to Members of ICLEI's local government network. Dr. Bendimerad and ICLEI Secretary General Konrad Otto-Zimmermann signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize the partnership. EMI is an international scientific organization based in Manila (Philippines), dedicated to the reduction of disaster risks in urban areas. It disseminates currently available scientific knowledge and technologies among policy and decision makers, other professionals and local government officials who have the primary responsibility over the management of risks in their cities. EMI has a network of worldwide scientific multi-disciplinary experts in the field. It has developed training modules and tools such as the MEGA-Learn package, MEGA-Plan, MEGA-Know and MEGA-Index. (These tools are available at www.earthquakesandmegacities.o rg.