EAHA DM 3.2: Policy Framework for Disaster Management - Captions

This is a remix of 3.2: Policy Framework for Disaster Management narrated by Roy William Mayega (Makerere University). The original video (without captions) can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8t_TqnsiUQ. This video is part of a learning module from the East Africa HEALTH Alliance called Public Health Emergency Planning and Management for Districts. The full module and the video transcript can be accessed at http://openmi.ch/disaster-mgmt. Copyright 2009-2019 Roy Mayega (Makerere University). The video, transcript, and module are all shared under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 3.0 License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/.

(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.