A team from the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit of the African Union Commission (AUC) participated in a Field Visit on the implementation of the Africa Programme of Action for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Region. The team undertook the 25-28 September 2023 visit in Gaborone, Botswana.

The mission was undertaken under the Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance in African Regions, Countries and Communities, which is a component of the Intra-African Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) Natural Disaster Risk Reduction (NDRR) Programme funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF 11). 

The AUC team visited the SADC Disaster Risk Reduction Unit and was received by Mr Alex Banda, Senior Advisor, SADC DRR Unit. Mr Banda noted that progress is underway with the ongoing process of recruiting the project staff for the 11^th EDF project. The SADC’s component of the 11^th EDF NDRR is supported by the European Union (EU). The SADC DRR Unit is collaborating with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), to implement the project in the region.

The project will support the Operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) in terms of equipment, setting up the screens and servers, and training for the SHOC Staff. SADC has also established the Emergency Response Team (ERT). Through the project, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) will train the SADC Standby Force to support disaster management in the region and beyond. 

SADC has an Early Warning System (EWS) in various sectors, including Peace and Security, Vulnerability Assessment for Food Security, and Weather and Climate. The SADC Climate Services Centre plays an advisory role to SADC regarding weather forecasting. The centre provides operational regional services for monitoring and predicting extremes in climate conditions developing and disseminating meteorological, environmental and hydro-meteorological products. In turn, the products contribute to improved disaster risk management in the region and help to ensure Member States are better prepared for weather and climate disasters, conservation and protection of natural resources.

Other programmes being implemented in the SADC region include the Urban Resilience Programme, and the Climate Resilience Programme funded by the World Bank, among others.

The AUC team also visited the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) of the Republic of Botswana. NDMO is housed under the Office of the President and is tasked with preparing and updating disaster risk reduction policies and operations, disaster preparedness, and maintaining a comprehensive Disaster Management Information System. The team met with Mr Tebogo Modiakgotla, the National Disaster Risk Reduction focal point. The official pointed out drought, wildfires and floods as the common hazards the country faces.

Mr. Tebogo also noted SMS alerts as a best practice in the country, whereby significant success has been achieved with the citizenry taking the early warning seriously since sending out SMS alerts is rare. The National Disaster Management Office also engages the meteorology department through the SADC Climate Services Centre. The NDMO regularly partners with the Botswanan Red Cross for district-level and community interventions.

The NDMO has a good track record in drought management and identification of mitigation measures could be significant in experience sharing with other African countries and regions. The National Policy on Disaster Management, first drafted in

1996 and revised in 2009, was again revised in 2020 and mentions the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. The policy is yet to be approved. The utilisation of technology in disaster risk reduction, especially in mapping and assessments, remains a challenge. Fire authorities still face a significant challenge reaching high-rise buildings during fires.

The AUC Disaster Risk Reduction Unit will conduct field visits in other Regional Economic Communities over the coming months.

About Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance in African Regions, Countries and Communities

The Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance in African Regions, Countries and Communities is a component of the Intra-African Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Programme funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) by the European Union (EU).

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

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