GNDR member spotlight: ASB South and South-East Asia

ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund) is a German disaster risk reduction (DRR) and humanitarian response organisation operating across South and South-East Asia. Since 2006, ASB has been working in Indonesia, later expanding to the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. A co-founder of the Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Network (DiDRRN), ASB champions disability inclusion in all areas of resilience, from DRR and climate action to humanitarian response.

We spoke with Chrysant Lily Kusumowarodyo, the Regional Director of ASB South and South-East Asia, to learn more about their journey to becoming a leader in disability-inclusive DRR and how partnerships with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) are helping reshape what inclusive resilience looks like in practice.

Can you introduce ASB to our network? What is your organisation’s mission, and what issues do you focus on most? 

ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund) is a German DRR and humanitarian response organisation. We’ve been working in South and South-East Asia for almost two decades: in Indonesia since 2006, the Philippines since 2014, and in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan since 2017. Our mission is to make disaster risk management, socio-economic development, climate action, and humanitarian response equitable and inclusive. We’re proud to have co-founded the Disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Network (DiDRRN) in 2012, together with other like-minded organisations, to advance practice-based advocacy in DiDRR. Everything we do is guided by a strong commitment to social equity: Ensuring that persons with disabilities not only participate but lead in DRR and humanitarian processes. We believe resilience is only possible when everyone, especially the most marginalised, is included meaningfully.

How does ASB approach disaster risk reduction and humanitarian work? Are there principles or values that guide your programmes?

Our approach is built on a simple truth: effective DRR must be disability-inclusive.

This realisation came early in our journey. In 2007, during a large-scale Safe Schools programme in Indonesia, a teacher told us her blind students couldn’t access our disaster education materials. That moment changed everything. We realised that while we were promoting safety, we were unintentionally excluding some people. From then on, inclusion became non-negotiable for us.

We’ve since partnered with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to ensure that inclusion is built in from the start, not added later. To guide our work, we apply what we call the “Five Inclusion Musts”:

1. Identification. Work with communities and OPDs to identify and map persons with disabilities so that no one is invisible in disaster planning
2. Accessibility: Remove barriers, physical, informational, and attitudinal, through inclusive early warnings, evacuation points, and communication tools
3. Capacity strengthening. Build capacity and confidence of OPDs to lead through training and organisational development
4. Meaningful participation. Share power and include OPDs in every stage, from design to implementation, monitoring, and policy dialogue, so they move from beneficiaries to active partners
5. Rights fulfilment. Align with global frameworks like the CRPD, Sendai Framework, and SDGs to embed inclusion in laws, budgets, and governance

These principles aren’t a checklist – they’re values we live by. As we often say, “Inclusion makes DRR smarter, fairer, and more sustainable.”

Why did ASB, as a mainstream DRR organisation, choose to focus so strongly on disability inclusion?

Because exclusion undermines resilience. Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by disasters, often facing barriers to information, mobility, and participation. But when they are part of the solution, communities become more prepared, innovative, and united.

We wanted to show that inclusion isn’t the job of disability-focused organisations alone. It’s everyone’s responsibility. As a mainstream DRR actor, we felt it was essential to lead by example and prove that inclusive approaches are achievable, practical, and beneficial for all.

“Inclusion is not a separate goal,” my colleague often says. “It’s the way to achieve effective disaster risk reduction.”

ASB South and South-East Asia is based in Indonesia, a country facing multiple disaster risks. How do you adapt your strategies to such diverse contexts and hazards?

Indonesia faces a wide range of hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, volcanic eruptions, so adaptability is crucial. We take a holistic approach that integrates DRR, humanitarian response, and socio-economic development into one resilience framework.

For us, resilience is about thriving, not just surviving. That’s why we combine climate adaptation, livelihood strengthening, and social protection in our programmes.

In coastal communities, we support inclusive climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods. In urban areas, we promote accessible infrastructure and inclusive governance. The key is collaboration, with OPDs, local authorities, and community groups, to ensure every solution reflects local needs and capacities.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in advancing disaster risk reduction, and how are you working to overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges is the ongoing perception that disability inclusion is the responsibility of specialised organisations. Despite the global commitment to “leave no one behind,” inclusion still isn’t consistently mainstreamed.

UNDRR’s 2023 global survey and the Sendai Framework Midterm Review show that progress on disability inclusion remains limited.

To change this, we focus on demonstrating inclusion in practice: showing governments and other DRR actors that it can be done. We share our tools, facilitate peer learning, and advocate for inclusive policy implementation. The goal is to make inclusion a standard expectation, not an exception.

Looking ahead, what are ASB’s priorities, and how does being part of GNDR’s global network support your work?

Looking forward, our priorities include strengthening inclusive community resilience, addressing climate-related risks, and expanding knowledge sharing and learning on disability inclusion in DRR.

Being part of GNDR’s network amplifies our impact. It connects us with thousands of practitioners worldwide, opening opportunities for collaboration, learning, and advocacy.

We’re particularly excited about GNDR’s Inclusion Knowledge Hub, currently being developed in partnership with CBM Global. ASB is already involved in early discussions on how we can contribute to this platform. It’s a fantastic opportunity to share lessons from our work with DiDRRN and support other members to mainstream disability inclusion in their DRR and climate adaptation efforts.

‘GNDR gives us the space to learn from others and share what we’ve learned,’ says Aliya, from the ASB team. ‘Together, we can make sure that inclusion isn’t just a topic, but a practice embedded in how resilience is built.’”

Any final reflections?

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that inclusion starts with awareness and partnership. Our own transformation began with one teacher’s comment nearly twenty years ago and it continues today through collaboration with OPDs and communities across Asia.

Main photo: Jumariah, a Deaf woman from Sigi, Indonesia, fills in her business calendar provided through ASB’s project to record income and expenses, strengthening women with disabilities and their financial literacy and management skills. (©ASB)