The Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy’s Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit of African Union Commission (AUC) hosted an orientation meeting for the new members of the Africa Youth Advisory Board on DRR and of the Africa Science and Technology Advisory Group (Af-STAG DRR). The meeting was held on 10 -11 July 2023 at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The outgoing members of both groups also attended to hand over the mandate to the incoming cohorts. The recruitment of the Board followed a rigorous exercise that attracted a high number of applications. The AUC established the Boards first in May 2019.

At the event, Mr Gatkuoth Kai, the AUC Technical Coordinator for DRR, expressed his satisfaction that all the new members were qualified and skilled to take over from the outgoing Boards, who set the bar very high over the past four years.

Dr Julius Kabubi, a programme analyst with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for Africa (ROA), welcomed the new members and assured them of the institution’s support in carrying out their mandate.

The new Af-STAG and AYAB DRR members also voted in their Executive Committees to steer their DRR engagements. They also developed their work plans for the following year.

The Member States represented in the new Af-STAG Board include Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Comoros, Egypt, Eritrea, the Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Namibia, Senegal, Togo and Zimbabwe. AYAB DRR welcomed new members from Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Gambia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, Togo and Zimbabwe.

AYAB DRR to meaningfully engage young Africans (up to 35 years) in DRR processes on the continent. Af-STAG DRR an advisory and advocacy body created by the African Union in 2019 to promote the engagement of educators, scientists, researchers and technology experts in the development and implementation of regional and national disaster risk reduction policies, strategies, and plans.

The Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE) Directorate hosted a farewell ceremony for the outgoing Boards on Wednesday, 13 July 2023.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Gatkuoth Kai| Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction| Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, | E-mail: KaiG@africa-union.org | WhatsApp: +251 909537884

For media enquiry:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communications Directorate | African Union Commission|+251-911-630 631; Molalett@africa-union.org

Ms. Maryanne Muriuki, Communication Specialist, Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, AU Commission. Email: MuriukiM@africa-union.org

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org
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