The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EP&R) Team, in partnership with the World Bank Tokyo Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Hub and the Government of Japan, will host the EP&R Academy in Tokyo and Sendai from April 20 to 24, 2026. The Academy is designed as a peer-learning and technical exchange platform for government counterparts and World Bank (WB) teams working to strengthen national emergency preparedness systems. It brings together international practitioners, WB operational teams, and Japanese experts to compare institutional models, share operational lessons, and address readiness challenges.
Through interactive sessions, simulation exercises, and field observations, participants will apply global and country-level experience to identify and plan for improvements in their own countries. The program covers institutional and legal frameworks for emergency coordination; the design and operationalization of Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs); multi-hazard early warning systems and information flows; risk communication and community preparedness; and simulation and tabletop exercises to strengthen inter-agency decision-making.