Online meeting with international and national staff [multiple countries]
On 3rd June, members of SEEDS Asia Headquarters, including Chair Prof. Rajib Shaw, project staff in Bangladesh, Myanmar, and intern student of Niigata University participated in an online meeting.
Close communication was initiated among team members of each project, particularly after most of the programme/project activities were carried out remotely last year, but this was the first time for all members in different locations to gather together since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opening the meeting, Chair Prof. Shaw made a remark saying, “It is the role of SEEDS Asia as an organization specializing in disaster risk reduction, mitigation, and reconstruction, to consider the pandemic as a “disaster”, and emphasize the importance of not only responding to the disaster, but also strengthening preparations. Rapid advancement and innovation of technology were made during the pandemic to enable remote work. Let us each share our unique experiences in developing and implementing new approaches in project management” His words encouraged the members to deliver challenges and learning they had during the pandemic.
Depending on the political stability and infection status of each country where SEEDS Asia is operating, different approaches have been used for each project. However, common issues were also found among different projects, such as how to organize online DRR training sessions. Learning from each other made us realize the importance of listening to the views of members working in the project sites and sharing information and ideas, in order to adapt ourselves and respond to changing situations. Also, the meeting allowed staff members, who had had limited interaction between project staff members due to the pandemic, to renew our determination to remotely work on our projects despite the pandemic.
SEEDS Asia will continue to promote exchanges and cooperation between staff members in each project site for better and effective project management. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation, and hope for your continued support and guidance.
