ASEAN and Disaster Management Cooperation through AADMER in Southeast Asia

Abstract

This study examines ASEAN’s role in promoting disaster management cooperation in Southeast Asia through the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). The study employs a qualitative approach using a literature review to examine ASEAN’s institutional role, the implementation of AADMER, and the challenges affecting regional disaster response. Relevant academic literature, institutional documents, and previous studies were analyzed thematically to identify patterns concerning regional coordination, institutional capacity, and implementation effectiveness. The findings indicate that AADMER provides an important normative and institutional foundation for regional disaster management cooperation, particularly through common procedures for coordination, information sharing, and emergency response. The establishment of the AHA Centre has further strengthened regional coordination by facilitating disaster information management, needs assessment, and the mobilization of assistance. However, the implementation of regional cooperation remains constrained by the principle of non-interference, disparities in national capacities, bureaucratic complexities, and dependence on member states’ political and material commitments. These conditions demonstrate an implementation gap between ASEAN’s normative framework and operational practice. The study concludes that strengthening institutional capacity, simplifying cross-border coordination, and improving operational integration are essential for advancing ASEAN disaster cooperation from coordination toward a more responsive and integrated regional response.