The partnership aims to integrate traditional forms of knowledge and indigenous approaches to facilitating disaster risk reduction and social resilience within regional and national emergency response and disaster management strategies/policies. The partnership with stakeholders will offer workshops designed to highlight the policy gap in the disaster management strategies of Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Attention is drawn to considering the ways in which indigenous knowledge and practices might be adapted to shape disaster response frameworks, inform local and national governance and facilitate regional initiatives.

a. It is anticipated that potential partners will be part of the parallel or side event that highlights the value of indigenous approaches to disaster risk reduction (DRR). b. Offer participants the opportunity to register to be part of a 2nd, hands-on application session using their own planning templates for crises and integrating indigenous approaches into DRR plans etc., to be conducted at the JCDR. This would be seen as part of an ongoing partnership initiated at SIDS. c. Regional collaboration on relevant approaches to DRR.

The PRPC and the JCDR at Massey University, recognises the local expertise of regional organisations active in Disaster Management and Risk Reduction throughout the Pacific (e.g. SPREP, SPC, UNISDR). Although the workshop aims to showcase Massey University's strength as a centre that supports Pacific capability, the JCDR and PRPC are mindful that any undertaking conducted within the broader Pacific region should be conducted in partnership with key stakeholders. Accordingly the working party will contact relevant Pacific stakeholders to: - initiate collaboration in developing and finalising the workshop structure and framework- arrange co-facilitation of workshop activities - facilitate integration of relevant cultural factors within the workshop - foster workshop attendanceIn keeping with the wider mandate of the conference, the workshop organisers also welcome engagement and workshop participation from representatives and/or key stakeholders from Small Island Developing States located outside the Pacific region.

Partnership will be governed by Massey University's Pacific Research and Policy Centre (PRPC) and the Joint Centre for Disaster Research (JCDR).

- Joint Centre for Disaster Research, Massey University - National University of Samoa, Centre for Samoan Studies - Registration for partners open to stakeholders who wish to be part of ongoing training and workshops to be held at Massey University