(English captions by Trisha Paul, University of Michigan.)
In this section, we shall look at the policy framework for disaster management with a perspective
of Eastern Africa.
In the first part, we shall look at the frameworks for disaster risk reduction.
Risk reduction emphasizes management of disaster risk.
It is the systematic development and application of policies, strategies and practices to minimize
vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society, and to avoid (prevent) or to
limit (mitigate and prepare) for adverse impacts of disasters, within the broad context
of sustainable development.
Risk reduction is a mechanism to reduce vulnerability.
It is a multi-sectoral and inter-institutional process.
It requires synergies between sustainable development and risk reduction.
Examples include vulnerability and risk assessment, institutional capacities and operational abilities.
Assessment of differential vulnerability for critical facilities, infrastructure, use of
effective early warning systems, and the application of many different types of scientific, technical,
and other skilled abilities.
In many countries, disaster risk reduction has not been prioritised in disaster management
but there is a current shift in paradigm.
Key instruments for disaster risk reduction include the national development policy, the
poverty reduction strategy papers, programs for implementation of Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs), and UN-country instruments including country cooperation frameworks and United
Nations development assistance frameworks.
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is an all-encompassing entity that involves all sectors at national
level.
The national plans should therefore be the driving force of disaster risk reduction.
They provide an overall development framework for implementing a national vision, they identify
national development concerns, and they should define development goals and opportunities,
and bring together all sectoral plans under a single framework for disaster risk reduction.
Poverty reduction strategies are essential in disaster risk reduction, and they should
be articulated in a number of documents in countries.
They include national development policy plans.
In some countries there are annual economic and social plans.
The national budget is also important.
Public sector investment programs and poverty reduction strategy papers.
There are also regional frameworks for disaster risk reduction including the African Union
framework for disaster response, the Inter-governmental Agency for Development early warning framework
(IGAD), the East African Community Early Warning Mechanism, the Great Lakes Framework
for Disaster Response, and the Regional Disaster Management Centre of Excellence.
These are frameworks that you should learn and try to find out the key provisions of
these frameworks.
There are also international frameworks for disaster risk reduction, the key being the
Hyogo Framework for Action (2005-2015) which aims to build resilience of communities and nations
to disasters.
The SPHERE standards are instruments for ensuring quality of response.
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and the UN under the UNDP has a number of
instruments that provide for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Strategic goals of the Hyogo framework include effective integration of disaster risk reduction
into national policies, plans and programming at all levels, strengthening of institutions
and capacities at all levels, and systematic incorporation of risk reduction into the design
and implementation of emergency response and recovery plans.
In the second part of this presentation, we shall look at the framework for disaster response
and coordination.
Most countries in the region have national policies or mechanisms for disaster management.
How is coordination of disasters implemented in your country and in your district in particular?
Elements of the post disaster phase include response, that is decision and actions taken
during and after disaster, and they include immediate relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
The framework should contain objectives and goals of the response, framework for coordination, logistics and
supply management, communication and information management, survivor response mechanisms, security and
human rights, emphasis on most vulnerable populations, emergency operations management, and then
rehabilitation and reconstruction
Institutional frameworks for disaster response should exist at the national level, regional and provincial
level, district and sub-district levels.
On the national level, all countries have a central coordinating office. Some key sector
ministries have a coordinating structure for disaster management in line with their sector
mandate.
Usually the coordinating body is an inter-ministerial committee or task force for disasters that
cut across sectors.
On the national level, the usual structure is the Office of the Prime Minister or the
Sector Ministries, or Office of the President and Line Ministries.
At the districts, there is usually a District Disaster Management Committee.
On the sub-district level, there are sub-district disaster management committees or these have
not yet been set up in many countries.
Ministries and sectors in the response.
Sectoral policies on disaster response may be sourced from, health ministries, agriculture/animal
sector ministries, education, roads, water, housing, home and internal affairs, and the defense
ministries.
There may be sub-national by-laws in relation to decentralisation and the management of
disasters in districts.
Responsibilities at the national level, the structure should be responsible for overall
policy formulation and national guidance, planning, coordination, resource mobilisation,
technical support, hazards mapping, reporting, and research.
In regions, zones, provinces, and districts, disaster management committees are necessary.
There could be regional and provincial level structures.
The informal sector may also be involved as well as the public sector, and in these we
have specific teams.
The roles of the districts include assessment, planning, implementation, resource mobilization,
and information gathering.
Roles of sub-district levels include the need for availability of village and community structures.
These are the usual first responders, and they take charge of the local response.
They should be in charge of creating local awareness and community surveillance.
Other actors include UN Agencies, International Agencies and NGOs (non-governmental organisations),
Faith-based organizations, Community Based Organisations in a single society.
Coordination is an important cross-cutting element of disaster management.
There is need to create a central source of guidance, a unit of command.
Establish clear leadership and create coordinating bodies that are related to the command structure.
Why coordinate?
Avoid duplication.
Avoiding wastage of resources.
The rationale is that there are many actors involved in service provision during emergencies
and there is a potential for confusion, competition, and duplication.
The goal is to achieve greatest impact through management and integration of activities and
ensure that priorities are shared and to rationalize services by establishing common standards
among all actors and to ensure communication occurs amongst stakeholders.
All actors should work in harmony with the established policy framework.
Disasters are political.
Policy emphasizes the role of government, the role of the executive, and the role of
local agencies.
Challenges.
Do you know any challenges likely to affect coordination of disaster management, especially
at the district level?
Challenges of coordination include multiplicity of actors, divergent views and policies, divergent
interests, linkages, and resources.