Knowledge exchange in disaster risk management: A comparative study between Indonesia and USA

Abstract The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami affected Indonesia with massive devastation and suffering. It ignited the largest international humanitarian response and recovery in history. Academicians, responders, civil servants, teachers, and all professions were awakened to the urgency of disaster risk reduction, mitigation, preparedness, and readiness. Indonesia then instituted disaster management law, established national, provincial, and local disaster management organizations, and started developing a disaster management workforce. The United States of America (USA) supported Indonesia’s 2004 tsunami response and recovery and continues to assist in capabilities enhancement. This research aims to explore how knowledge exchange through training, education, policy improvement, system development, and organizational management contributes to the whole society’s capacity. Our method includes a literature review, focus group discussions, and site visits to explore collaborations between governments, private sectors, civil societies, non-governmental organizations, and regular citizens to generate improved disaster preparedness and readiness. Recent US-Indonesia comparative study missions offer lessons and recommendations for urban planning and green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and readiness progression. Major findings through comparative lessons gained include the importance of developing incident management assistance team, supplemental response team, community emergency response team, regional office, biochemical hazard training, national interagency fire management, hazard and social vulnerability risk mapping, and incident workforce academy. New knowledge enrichment brings excitement and expectations, requiring competent human resource, financial, and policy investments. Capacity building must increase equity and resilience planning for vulnerable communities across the islands as Indonesia increases its regional disaster response contribution. Future implications would include prioritized efforts for short, medium, and long-term transformation in improving disaster management in Indonesia and continuing to collaborate with the USA in nurturing sustainability and resilience despite complex challenges in disaster risk management.