Habari
Tanzania has made significant progress in national disaster risk reduction strategies
THE government is working on establishing a national Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) financing framework to improve national measure and leverage regional and international DRR financing opportunities.
The revelation was made by Deputy Minister, in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs and Coordination), Hon. Ummy Nderiananga, during her keynote address to the 9th Africa Regional Platform and the 8th high-level meeting on DRR held in Windhoek, Namibia on Thursday, 24 th October 2024.
According to the deputy minister, disaster risk mainstreaming in development plans and budget has been implemented in key sectors including health, infrastructure, education, agriculture and natural resources.
She told participants at the meeting that Investing in disaster risk reduction has been the government priority whereas strategic guidance has been put in place through National Five-Year Development Plan 2021/22–2025/26 and Guidelines for Preparation of Plans and Budget for all sectors to ensure disaster risk is mainstreamed in the planning process.
Moreover, she added, measures to enhance preparedness for response and build back better through early warning systems for various hazards have been taken. “Tanzania has established Emergency Operation and Communication Center Situation Room, which is also the first national situation room under the African Union's Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme,’’ she noted.
Also, Ms Nderiananga informed, disaster risk management in health systems have been strengthen through the establishment of the Public Health Emergency Operations Center at national and some regions. Same efforts have been made in other sectors including transport, agriculture, water and education for community resilience.
The deputy minister further told participants that Tanzanian government under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan encourages more efforts to accelerate implementation of the Sendai Framework and the Programme of Action for its implementation in Africa. “Regional bodies need to strengthen mechanism for generation of risk information due to the transboundary nature of disaster and climate risk,’’ she said adding: “Investment is required to improve regional and international cooperation through technical and financial support on disaster risk reduction in areas of research and planning, technology for early warning and emergency operation communication for early action, critical infrastructure resilience and clean energy.’’
“Under the leadership of Dr Samia, I would like to assure you the highest commitment of the United Republic of Tanzania in ensuring that we continue to build a disaster resilient nation while contributing to the regional and global initiatives, facilitation and promotion of disaster risk reduction and adaptation to climate change,’’ she noted.
During the working session, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Jim Yonazi presented a paper on Taking the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Action System (AMHEWAS) from Continental to National.
Tanzania recently inaugurated its National Emergency Operations and Communication Centre (EOCC) Situation Room in Dodoma, a significant milestone for national disaster preparedness.
During the discussion, Dr Yonazi told participants that Tanzania is the first country to integrate the AMHEWAS into national disaster risk reduction strategies. “This was done through inauguration of Emergency Operation and Communication Center Situation Room in Dodoma in June 2024, with generous support from UNDRR, AUC and CIMA Research Foundation with funding from Italian government,’’ he said.
According to the PS, this has enhanced capacity to monitor, forecast, disseminate and improve early warning for early action for community resilience.
“Tanzania has made significant progress in integrating AMHEWAS into our national disaster risk reduction strategies to implement early and anticipatory actions in line with Early Warning for All initiatives,’’ he said adding that the establishment and the inauguration of National Situation Room together with integration of the MyDewetra platform have strengthened resilience and enhanced our ability to prevent and respond to disasters.
Moving forward, he insisted Tanzania will continue to invest in advanced DRR technology, capacity building, and community engagement. “We are confident that Tanzania will be better equipped to manage and mitigate the risks posed by future disasters,’’ noted Dr Yonazi.
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