Management Agency/World Bank Post-Disaster Need
6. Conclusions and recommendations
frameworks. However, implementation has re-mained a challenge due to institutional capacity.
At the national level however, the picture remains gloomy. Less than 50 per cent of Africa’s 54 coun-tries have either legislation or a policy relating to disaster risk management. Of those who have, the majority continue to focus on disaster prepared-ness and response, rather than disaster risk reduc-tion, demonstrating a very slow paradigm shift towards disaster risk reduction.
At regional, subregional and national levels, insti-tutional capacity remains a major challenge and therefore a priority. This means that the many tools for mainstreaming have not been taken ad-vantage of.
Nevertheless, despite the considerable progress in development of strategic frameworks and the existence of variety of tools and some good prac-tices for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction, the overall conclusion from the review is that disaster risk reduction integration/mainstreaming across Africa has not been significant. The main gaps and challenges to mainstreaming include lack of political commitment, insufficient awareness and understanding of global and regional disaster risk reduction frameworks, weak institutional capac-ity of disaster risk reduction structures at all levels and weak coordination mechanisms. A number of tools and methodologies including guidelines for disaster risk reduction mainstreaming are avail-able. However, there is limited awareness of these tools and most have not been put to use at sub-regional and national levels. There has also been also paradigm shift from reactive emergency preparedness mode toward a proactive disaster risk reduction approach. As most countries re-source limited and budget constrained, allocat-ing resources to disaster risk reduction is not a priority. In light of the eagerness and enthusiasm of humanitarian agencies to come to the aid of countries in disaster distress, there is little
incen-tive to act. Moreover, in Africa, disasters are mainly the slow-onset type, and most do not require too much urgency.
Many opportunities nevertheless exist for main-streaming at regional and subregional levels, through development frameworks, sectoral frameworks and partnerships.
6.2 Recommendations
The following recommendations are aimed at achieving enhanced mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction into development frameworks and ensuring effective implementation of risk reduc-tion and disaster management measures at re-gional, subregional and national levels. These recommendations are based on the findings in the report and incorporate those agreed upon at the pre-conference event on disaster risk reduc-tion mainstreaming, jointly sponsored by ECA, UNDP and UNISDR and held in the lead-up to the Fifth Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, which took place in Abuja, Nigeria, in May 2014.
6.2.1 Human, institutional and regulatory capacity for disaster risk reduction in Africa
Capacity to develop, coordinate and achieve ef-fective implementation of disaster risk reduction polices, legislation and programmes at the vari-ous levels should be strengthened. Such capacity should include the capability to harmonize these frameworks with those at regional and subregion-al levels, where applicable.
Institutional capacity for disaster risk reduction mainstreaming should be strengthened at all lev-els. The following need to be undertaken in this regard:
i) Tailored capacity development programmes, including training on disaster risk reduction mainstreaming and investment, for govern-ment departgovern-ments in charge of planning and disaster risk reduction, and other sectoral insti-tutions/agencies, the private sector, and NGOs should be developed and implemented;
ii) The development and use of disaster risk reduction mainstreaming guidelines, tools and methodologies should be strengthened and scaled up through targeted and results-oriented initiatives. In this regard, the African Union Commission and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, in partnership with regional economic communities, should raise awareness on and make the existing disas-ter risk reduction mainstreaming guidelines readily available. Such guidelines include Guidelines for mainstreaming risk assessment into development in Africa (African Union/
UNISDR, 2004). The African Union Commission should partner with the African Development Bank and United Nations agencies to help re-gional economic communities and member States to adapt and apply these guidelines for disaster risk reduction mainstreaming at sub-regional, national and subnational levels. Such support should involve awareness-raising and skills development, taking into account good practices on disaster risk reduction main-streaming and implementation;
iii) Disaster risk assessment and profiling and strategic information management and dis-semination for disaster risk reduction main-streaming should be strengthened, with spe-cial attention paid to key sectors.
6.2.2 Integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
Disaster risk reduction and climate change adap-tation should be undertaken in an integrated and coordinated manner to facilitate coherent actions and facilitate disbursal of resources for
enhanc-ing resilience of highly vulnerable groups and priority sectors. In this context, strong empha-sis should be placed on promoting institutional frameworks that are adapted to the implementa-tion requirements of disaster risk reducimplementa-tion and climate change adaptation policies. The creation of national agencies in countries such as Ghana and Nigeria could serve as models.
6.2.3 Information management and early warning systems
Strategic disaster risk reduction data centres should be established and strengthened to en-hance collection, management and accessibility of disaster risk reduction information at the sub-regional and national levels. This is crucial to ad-dressing the recurrent challenges in accessing dis-aster risk information and taking timely response.
A regional early warning system should be es-tablished and national and subregional systems should be strengthened. Moreover, mechanisms for sharing information and exchange of early warnings between meteorological services and disaster risk reduction agencies and experts should be established and strengthened. This would ensure that appropriate alerts are made to prevent, mitigate and ensure adequate disaster preparedness in the subregion.
6.2.4 Disaster risk reduction financing and investments
Mechanisms for disaster risk reduction investment by the private and public sector, public-private partnerships, and development partners should be strengthened and operationalized at all levels in order to increase the mobilization and alloca-tion of funding for disaster risk reducalloca-tion and response. The following should be specifically undertaken:
i) Planning and budgeting guidelines at the re-gional, subregional and national level as well as for sectors should incorporate criteria for
disaster risk reduction measures and funding.
Moreover, monitoring and tracking of disaster risk reduction investments, including through use of specific tools, should be strengthened;
ii) Governments should meet their commit-ments to allocate a percentage of their na-tional budgets to disaster risk reduction;
iii) Funds for climate change mitigation and ad-aptation, the green economy, sustainable development or the environment at regional, subregional and national levels should inte-grate and prioritize funding for disaster risk reduction;
iv) Disaster risk reduction and its financing should be integrated into foreign direct investment guidelines and ventures, and development cooperation frameworks, particularly for dis-aster prone sectors and areas;
v) A regional and subregional resource mobiliza-tion approach should be established and pro-moted to deal with transboundary risks and disasters, rather than individual approaches by countries or donors. Such an approach will enhance the coordination, efficiency and timeliness of interventions.