Our Vision is

1. The Commonwealth Programme on Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management by Julius N. Kaberere, Advisor, GIDD/ComsecPresented at the Regional Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Commonwealth Africa,Kampala, Uganda, 2nd November, 2009

2. Our Vision is Every Commonwealth country will have institutional capacities for effective democratic governance and sustainable development

3. Governance & Institutional Development Division • GIDD programmes are mostly demand-led, with an emphasis on South–South cooperation. • The work programme fits within the framework of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s current 4-year Strategic Plan and is developed in consultation with the national Primary Contact Points as well as the Divisional Points of Contact. • It responds to requests from governments for technical assistance through: • advisory services provided by in-house experts. • provision of experts to fill specific development needs in the short or long term • knowledge networks • training, and capacity enhancement

4. How we deliver our programmes • Technical assistance & capacity building : Technical assistance & placing of experts that range from a few days to two years. • Public service development and public sector management: • Designs and implements strategies for improving governance systems, administrative restructuring and integrated public policy management; • assists governments in building the capacity for sustained public sector reform. • Integrated packages of policy advice and training focus on improving performance in the public sector, restructuring public enterprises, promoting public-private sector partnerships for infrastructure and service delivery; • Public expenditure management

5. Heads of Government noted with concern the devastating and increasing impact of natural and man-made disasters on human lives, infrastructure and economies. They called for action at the national, regional and international levels to strengthen disaster management through increased capacity for disaster preparedness, early warning systems, risk mitigation and post-disaster recovery and reconstruction. In this context, they welcomed the proposal to develop a Commonwealth Programme for Natural Disaster Management, through which member countries could cooperate in capacity building for disaster risk reduction and disaster response management. They requested the Secretary General to develop a mechanism for establishing and operationalising the proposed initiative in consultation with member states. Background – CHOGM Mandate on disaster risk reduction & management

6. 76. Heads of Government emphasised the critical importance of effective, timely and equitable humanitarian action in support of disaster affected populations. In this regard, they called on member countries to support efforts to further strengthen the international humanitarian response system, including the proposed extension of the UN Central Emergency Revolving Fund and the strengthening of the UN humanitarian coordination system. They noted that international strategies for disaster reduction should take due cognisance of national policies and establish partnerships upon the request of countries concerned so as to support and complement the national programmes of affected countries.

7. Building blocks of the Comsec programme • Complimenting existing international efforts; • Strengthening government institutional capacities for mainstreaming risk reduction & disaster management; • Knowledge networking and sharing of best practices, which may include using ICT’s in disaster management; • Priority needs of least developed countries and small states, who are members of the Commonwealth; • Health sector support during recovery and reconstruction phase; • Mainstreaming & integration within Comsec existing initiatives; • leveraging funding & support from other actors.

8. Mainstreaming and Integration • Long and short term experts to provide technical assistance through a range of modalities to strengthen capacity at all levels; • Advocacy at international and national levels to raise awareness and encourage consensus for integration of disaster risk reduction and national development planning; • Advisory services in assessment of need and specialist thematic areas to support DRR; • Training at national, regional and pan-Commonwealth levels

9. Recent Comsec supported projects on Disaster Risk reduction & Management • Recent capacity building programs in Asia and Africa, with emphasis on mobilising HR for DR&DM. • Support to Grenada nutmeg industry; • Expert technical assistance to Guyana following the floods in Dec. 2004 / Jan2005; • Technical assistance to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan following the earthquake in October 2005; • Technical assistance to the Republic of the Maldives following the tsunami in Dec.2004; • Project Hope, Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre;

10. Commonwealth Connects Programme: ‘Rebuilding after the Tsunami: Using ICTs for Change’; • Disaster warning and response systems in small island developing states; • Project Hope, Northern Uganda Youth Development Centre; • Support to member countries in mitigating the impact of HIV/Aids, including for Information Education & Communication (IEC) programmes. (CYP’s Youth Ambassadors for positive living in Zambia).

11. Mobilizing technical support for the Tsunami affected countries • The Secretary General mobilised support for the affected countries (funding, materials and technical expertise); • Several Commonwealth member countries provided bi-lateral assistance; • Some countries provided extra budgetary resources to the Secretariat to support relief and emergency support projects; • Governments of New Zealand and Malta provided funding for relief and reconstruction projects for the Tsunami affected countries. Photo credits – Sri Lanka Export Development Board

12. Volunteer Roles in Recovery and Reconstruction – Maldives experience • Support in assessing reconstruction requirements and needs in the affected areas; • Provided inputs into short and medium/long-term national reconstruction strategy and an overall national reconstruction plan; • Supporting development & strengthening of the national disaster plans to enhance capacity to deal with future natural disasters; • Support to the health sectors through recruitment and secondment of CSAP volunteers (24 Medical workers); • Supporting programmes on environmental management & recovery in the agricultural sector. Photo credits – Sri Lanka Export Development Board

13. Training and capacity building programmes • Collaborative forums on specific themes – Effective use of ICT’s for Disaster Management • Integrating DRR Messages in our other programmes • Regional Conference on Comprehensive DRR and DM

14. First International Disaster Management programme under STCTP • The programme was designed in response to the needs of member states in developing institutional capacity in disaster risk reduction and disaster management both at country, regional and pan-commonwealth levels. • It was specifically designed to train senior public officials mainly drawn from disaster management organisations/agencies and other institutions with the responsibility for supporting disaster risk reduction and disaster management so as to enhance capabilities of member states in managing the disaster cycle.

15. First International Disaster Management programme under STCTP

18. We hope to continue this capacity building programmes in partnership with member states and other organisations CTO, UNISDR, ITU etc.