The African Union Commission Disaster Risk Reduction (AUC-DRR) team participated in a Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) training upon the invitation by Caritas Africa.  The exercise took place 25-30 September 2023 in Gaborone, Botswana.

The event brought together participants drawn from national Caritas organisations within the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA).

Fr. Rafael Sapato, the IMBISA Secretary, called for “close collaboration through working together for disaster preparedness”. Fr Sapato noted that effective risk management would strengthen resilience building. He also pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to prepare for adverse events by allocating adequate human and material resources.

Ms. Nomsa Dube, AUC DRR policy officer on monitoring and evaluation, said, “The AUC is leading efforts on the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 through the Africa Programme of Action (PoA).” Recognising the efforts by Caritas Africa, Ms Dube further called for increased education and awareness and investments in disaster risk reduction. She also pointed out the youth engagement and research opportunities through the Africa Youth Advisory Board on Disaster Risk Reduction (AYAB DRR) and the Africa Science and Technology Advisory Group on DRR (Af-STAG DRR). 

Speaking at the event, Ms Lucy Esipila, the Caritas Africa Secretary General, underscored the importance of the training, noting that it fed into the Caritas Africa Strategic Plan (2024-2030). She congratulated IMBISA for leading the way in raising awareness and advocacy on the disaster risk reduction agenda. She hoped the ToT would pave the way for similar training in Africa.

Welcoming the participants to Botswana, Archbishop Franklyn Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D., noted that drought, a prevalent hazard in Botswana, posed a significant challenge to the pastoralists in the country. He also referenced the 2022 heavy rains in Naledi that led to the loss of property and a 2008 fire that gutted the Nata Bird Sanctuary. He noted that wildfires and bushfires also pose a significant risk in the country.

Within the six days, the participants underwent intensive training on concepts, principles and practices in CMDRR, the link between disasters and development, participatory learning and action, participatory disaster risk assessment, and disaster risk analysis. On the fifth day of the training, the participants took part in a risk assessment field exercise, working closely with local community members.

At the end of the training, the officials of Caritas noted an increase in the number of disasters in the region, underlining that the disasters negate the progressive gains of resilience realised by local communities and following interventions by state and non-state actors. The participants also called for close collaboration with Regional Economic Communities (RECs), including the Southern African Development Community and national governments, to enhance global and continental disaster risk reduction agenda at the grassroots level for resilience building.

The AUC Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit and Caritas Africa have collaborated on awareness and advocacy on DRR through AYAB DRR at the Caritas@70 celebrations and DRR training for the IMBISA region, both held in 2021. In February 2023, the DRR Unit hosted a meeting at the AU headquarters, where both institutions discussed joint avenues for strengthening disaster resilience in Africa. 

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, Communications Analyst, 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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