The National Emergency Operations Center at the National Disaster Management Authority in Islamabad hosted a 15-day capacity development programme on climate change and disaster management that ran from 27 October to 14 November 2025. PODA staff completed the course alongside professionals from across the sector, taking part in technical sessions and practical exercises designed to enhance disaster management capabilities at national and community levels.
Senior experts from NDMA and the National Institute of Disaster Management delivered sessions that examined institutional structures, national response mechanisms and coordination frameworks. The programme integrated core Disaster Management concepts with Pakistan’s hazard profile, international DRR frameworks and anticipatory action approaches, emphasising how community-based strategies strengthen resilience in vulnerable areas.
Operational readiness components included search and rescue procedures, rapid need assessment methodologies, simulation exercises and emergency response planning. Practical technical training covered remote sensing and GIS applications, image processing and the importance of proper metadata for situational awareness. Participants also explored risk communication, media management and behaviour-focused engagement techniques to improve public messaging during crises.
PODA shared its community-centred work during the course, presenting on humanitarian response, climate education and women’s leadership initiatives. One presentation highlighted cultural considerations in humanitarian operations, underlining how respect for local customs, beliefs and community dynamics improves trust and the effectiveness of assistance. PODA’s field experiences supporting flood-affected families were used to illustrate culturally informed response that enhanced both reach and impact.
Hands-on lab sessions and an exposure visit to the SUPARCO headquarters provided practical insight into national space-based assets and technological tools used in disaster scenarios. The training also linked climate change and infrastructure resilience discussions to national and international policy frameworks, reinforcing the need for integrated planning across agencies and communities.
The course concluded with certificate distribution to participants, marking a renewed emphasis on capacity building and continued collaboration between government bodies and civil society to advance Disaster Management practice in Pakistan.
