ICLEI Africa brings local element to national and regional planning of DRR in SADC
2011/18/10

SADC’s annual disaster risk reduction and preparedness consultative workshop took place in Seychelles last week, 10-14 October 2011 on Mahé Island.

Priscilla Rowswell from ICLEI Africa attended and participated in the workshop among 60 other workshop participants, including 13 Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member states, United Nations agencies, international partners, non-governmental organisations, donors and civil society representatives.

The first aim of the planning workshop was to launch the SADC Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Platform, which will strengthen and build upon existing partnerships within the region and ensure dissemination and sharing of information between regional, national, provincial and local levels.

The second aim of the workshop was to discuss among member states and partners the necessary preparedness measures needed to meet possible emergencies in the foreseeable future.  It was stated by Mr Kennedy Masamvu, SADC’s  Senior DRR Liaison Expert, that 70% of disasters faced by this region are climatic related resulting in flooding and droughts, emphasising the need for adequate planning and preparedness measures for the next rainy/cyclone season for 2011/2012.

Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Transport, Mr Joel Morgan stated in his opening speech that recently countries of SADC’s mainland have been experiencing and suffering from either too much rainfall or too little causing famine and food security issues. He then added that the island states are facing water pressures and are having to invest heavily in desalination plants due to the insufficient fresh water resources.

During the workshop member states of the SADC region were given the opportunity to present and showcase the national institutional structures and contingency plans for the coming season. They also showcased best practices and mitigation measures to reduce disasters for the foreseeable future. It was confirmed that the regions share common issues of concerns and through the necessary partnerships expertise can be identified to build upon, strengthen and improve structures to ease the impact of disasters.

Delegates of the workshop participated in the celebrations of International Day for Disaster Reduction on 13 October 2011. The celebration ceremony commenced at a local school in the southern parts of the main island, Anse Royale Primary School – a school that was greatly affected by the 2004 Tsunami.

The school has since set up a campaign with regard to disaster risk reduction, setting up committees to organise activities at the school level that is hoped to reduce risk and injury in the case of a disaster striking again. In keeping with the United Nations theme for this year’s Day for Disaster Reduction, five organisations signed the United Nations Children’s Charter, a pledge to prioritise children in disaster risk reduction programmes.

On Friday, 14 October 2011, the workshop proceedings were wrapped up with recommendations that were highlighted during the week’s topical sessions, recommendations and actions for member states and partners to take into consideration during the planning and implementation of DRR activities in their respective countries. The next annual meeting is anticipated to occur the same time next year; location is still to be confirmed.