Stakeholders harps on National Platforms for DRR

The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and its stakeholders recently wrapped up three-day meeting at the Senegambia Beach Hotel on the establishment of the National Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

The Concern Universal (CU) Country Director, Patricia Wall, informed the meeting that Concern Universal currently is running DRR projects aimed at addressing climate-related hazards and chronic development challenges that undermines community resilience.

She said their interventions include provision of water and sanitation, environmental protection, livelihood improvement, and disaster management training in major local languages.

The CU has been operating in The Gambia since 1993 and since then its programmes have changed strategically as a result of the dynamism in the global development arena, said Patricia Wall.

"One of CU's objectives is to reduce disaster risk in community and build sustainable resilience to both human made and natural made disaster."

The CU country director said they have taken on board strategic actions and directions similar to those in the National Management strategy and policy and in the most recent programme - the DRR and climate change adaptation strategy.

Omar Badjie Heads of Programmes at Action Aid The Gambia, said: "If the platform is functional and effective, the frequency and magnitude of disasters in this country will significantly reduce despite the climate change challenges."

ActionAid's vision is to see a world free of poverty and injustice in which every person enjoys their rights to a life of dignity.

"To attain this, ActionAid works with the poor and excluded people in six thematic areas to strengthen their capacities in ensuring that they take charge of their own development processes," he said.

Albert Cox Chairman National Technical Advisory Group of the National Platform expressed gratitude to National Disaster Management Agency and ECOWAS Commission in particular for initiating this pilot project.