As part of SEHATI project’s commitment to fostering meaningful participation of at-risk groups, it consistently holds regular meetings of the Sub-Clusters for older people, persons with disabilities, and other at-risk groups (Sub-Cluster LDR). These meetings serve as a key strategy to ensure that the voices and needs of these groups are reflected in disaster management coordination processes. Beyond regular coordination agendas, the sub-cluster meetings are designed as collaborative learning spaces and platforms for information sharing among members, fostering stronger synergy and a deeper understanding of the issues faced by at-risk groups in disaster contexts.

Picture 1. Participants of the Sub-Cluster LDR second meeting

The second meeting of the Sub-Cluster LDR was held virtually via Zoom on 24 April 2025, focusing on the topic of data protection. The primary aim was to promote more up-to-date, sustainable, and accessible data management for at-risk groups, enabling its effective use in disaster response across Indonesia. The meeting engaged various organizations representing persons with disabilities, older people, and other risk groups, as well as humanitarian organizations. Representatives from Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD) from several regions including Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, and Sulawesi also participated. The discussions were dynamic, addressing critical issues such as data breaches, secure data management procedures, and the importance of periodic data updates. Participants emphasized that one of the main challenges is ensuring that disability data is continuously updated and integrated down to the village level so that disaster interventions can be precisely targeted.

Picture 2. Presentation on data protection delivered by Hijaz Jalil

During the session, facilitator Hijaz Jalil provided important insights on personal data protection in disaster situations. He highlighted that data protection must be an integral part of all stages of disaster response, from planning to evaluation. Key points included the need for specific policies and procedures, training for staff and volunteers on privacy and best practices in data management, the development of secure data storage infrastructure, and the establishment of inter-agency information networks equipped with shared security protocols. Hijaz also introduced the use of a 5W-based data collection template (Who, What, When, Where, Why) as a simple yet effective approach to ensure that collected information is relevant, structured, and easily analyzable for disaster response purposes.

The discussion also underscored the importance of developing a shared database to complement the resources of each organization. Hijaz Jalil emphasized, “No single organization can do everything in disaster management. Every organization has its limitations, which can be complemented by others.” Therefore, data integration and stakeholder collaboration are essential to ensuring a more effective and inclusive disaster response. With an open and well-structured database, each agency can access the necessary information accurately, avoid duplication of efforts, ensure that no at-risk groups are overlooked, and protect personal information from misuse.

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Author: Nila Pratiwi - Information and Communication Staff