AUC Disaster Risk Reduction Unit Participates in a training organised by Caritas Africa

The African Union Commission Disaster Risk Reduction (AUC-DRR) Team Participates in Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction Training

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 from 25-30 September 2023 in Gaborone, Botswana.

Participants from National Caritas Organizations Attend the Training

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

Collaboration for Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Building

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.

AUC’s Efforts on Disaster Risk Reduction

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).” Recognizing 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).

Importance of the Training

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.

Challenges Faced by Botswana

Welcome 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.

Training Content and Field Exercise

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.

Call for Collaboration with Regional Economic Communities

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 realized 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 the global and continental disaster risk reduction agenda at the grassroots level for resilience building.

Previous Collaborations between AUC DRR Unit and Caritas Africa

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.

Contact Information

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 | Web: au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social, and environmental shocks and disasters.
   • Indicator: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
   • Indicator: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Indicator: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
   • Indicator: Number of countries with mechanisms in place to enhance policy coherence of sustainable development.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs addressed in the article include:

SDG 1: No Poverty

The article mentions the need to build resilience and reduce vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and disasters, which aligns with Target 1.5 of SDG 1.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article discusses the importance of reducing the number of deaths, people affected, and economic losses caused by disasters, including water-related disasters. This aligns with Target 11.5 of SDG 11.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The article emphasizes the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters, which aligns with Target 13.1 of SDG 13.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The article highlights the importance of collaboration and partnerships between different stakeholders to enhance the global and continental disaster risk reduction agenda. This aligns with Target 17.17 of SDG 17.

The specific targets identified based on the article’s content are:

• Target 1.5: By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social, and environmental shocks and disasters.
• Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.
• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

The indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets are:

• Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Number of countries with mechanisms in place to enhance policy coherence of sustainable development.

These indicators can be used to track the impact of disaster risk reduction efforts and partnerships in reducing vulnerability, deaths, and economic losses caused by disasters.

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Fuente: au.int

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