By Ntombi Mhlongo
Ministers responsible for Disaster Risk Management in SADC Member States are set to meet and discuss the implementation of related programmes and interventions.
According to a press release issued by the organisation, the Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday, May 25, 2023, to review progress on the operationalisation of SADC activities aimed at strengthening the region’s preparedness to address disaster risks and mitigating the impacts of disasters.
The ministers will also sign the Intergovernmental Memorandum of Agreement among the SADC Member States for the Establishment of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC). The meeting will receive reports on the implementation of disaster risk management programmes and the status of the implementation of the decisions of the SADC Summit of Heads of State and the SADC Council of Ministers.
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Peter Kazadi Kankolongo, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and Security of the Democratic Republic of Congo will preside over the meeting in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Committee of SADC Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management.
During the meeting, the ministers will discuss, among other issues, the development and operationalisation of the regional disaster risk financing facility and the operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre, which is based in Mozambique, and is aimed at coordinating humanitarian and emergency support to Member States affected by disasters.
They will consider the draft SADC Disaster Risk Management Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2030 as well as the Regional Multi-Hazard Planning Framework 2022-2030 and SADC Regional Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan 2022-2023.
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Also, they will further review the status of implementation of the activities of the Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Programme including the development of the SADC (RVAA) Strategic Plan 2023-2030, coordination and management of the RVAA System.
Established in 1980, the mission of SADC is to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development through efficient, productive systems, deeper cooperation and integration, good governance and durable peace and security; so that the region emerges as a competitive and effective player in international relations and the world economy.
Member States are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.