Governance of Disaster Reduction Priorities and Organizational Arrangement for the Implementation of HFA Martin Owor Assistant Commissioner Head of Disaster Devision Office of the Prime Minister Uganda

Regional Governance of DRR During the preparation of the WCDR, AU/NEPAD, AfDB have jointly studied the disaster situation in Africa, with support of UN/ISDR Africa, and developed, based on the study findings, three major outcomes : Africa Regional Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction; Guidelines for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Assessment in Development; A Plan of Action for implementation for the Africa Regional Strategy on DRR;

Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa Africa Regional Strategy on DRR aims to: Increase political commitment to DRR; Improve identification and assessment of disaster risks Enhance knowledge management for DRR Increase Public Awareness of DRR Improve governance of DRR institutions Integrate DRR into emergency response management

Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa Guidelines for Mainstreaming Disaster Assessment into Development provide: key principles for disaster risk reduction in development themes and sectors, including poverty reduction, agriculture, environment management, water resource management, land use planning, infrastructure development, gender issues, HiV/AIDS and other health Issues and climate change adaptation. key guiding principles and guiding questions for governance and institutional aspects, risk identification, knowledge management, risk management applications, integrating disaster risk reduction in development investment decision making, preparedness and emergency management and integrating DRR in development themes and sectors.

Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa A Plan of Action has been developed for the implementation of the regional strategy, with the guidelines as a tool. The plan of action is focusing on activities underlined under the strategic directions of the six objectives set by the Africa Regional Strategy on DRR. (see the strategy for details of strategic directions). The Plan of Action is for a period of five years and it is in line with the five thematic areas of the WCDR. The plan of Action will be implemented by the joint efforts at national, sub-regional and regional levels with support of international communities.

Disaster Risk Reduction in Africa To follow up the HFA, some areas of priorities have been identified at regional, sub-regional and national levels: AU has identified six development areas where they see as priorities as a follow up of HFA. National platforms identified areas of priorities to promote the subject of DRR and its mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction. A forum of national platform focal points has been created and agreed to meet twice a year at regional level to share information and experience and discuss the way forward. ADB is in consultation with UN/ISDR Africa on how to implement the guidelines developed and increase the capacity of its staff for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in development activities. ECOWAS is starting to address disaster risk reduction, focusing on strategy, policy and legal framework. IGAD is planning to facilitate the capacity building of national governments. An Advisory group will be established, with its first meeting to be held on June in Nairobi. Higher level Advocacy has been carried out by the joint efforts of UN/ISDR Africa and national platforms

Main Constraints in Achieving Progress The main constraints in implementing the HFA and Africa Regional Strategy on DRR are: Lack of capacity for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction at national and community levels; Lack of seeds money for carrying out Africa Plan of Action which aims to implement the Africa Regional Strategy on DRR, which is in line of the five priority areas of HFA; Limited capacity and knowledge of UN country offices of HFA and DRR

Expectations from the ISDR System to Support the Process of Implementing the HFA To mainstream disaster risk reduction for sustainable development, we would expect the ISDR system under the leadership of USG, to do the following: Increase the understanding of and commitment to DRR among the heads of state and government through GA and ECOSOC meeting; Increase the understanding of and commitment to DRR among the heads of UN agencies and heads of UNDP country offices; Make the DRR an integral part of all development policy-oriented documents such as UNDAF and PRSP and a required element for all development programmes; Increase the capacity of UN country offices in DRR so that they are in a position to support national processes for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction in development policies and programmes; Consider to increase the capacity of UN regional presences, If this is difficult, the UN may consider to set up a joint Regional Center for disaster risk reduction….

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