SADC calls for climate crisis collaboration

SADC countries, including Zimbabwe, have underscored the importance of regional collaboration and integration in addressing the widespread climate change-related crises affecting the region.

Last week, the SADC Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Management convened in Victoria Falls, where they reached a consensus on the urgent need for a co-ordinated SADC disaster preparedness plan, robust early warning systems, resilient communities, and accelerated implementation of the Sendai Framework to effectively respond to crises.

The devastating impact of El Niño-driven drought, compounded by the impending danger of La Niña conditions, puts the region in a precarious state that requires collaboration.

Speaking during a Southern Africa El Niño Roundtable, ministers from member states concurred on the need to raise awareness about the current regional situation. It was highlighted that the SADC region requires over US$6 billion to address humanitarian needs caused by climate change disasters, which have led to debilitating droughts and disease.

SADC Deputy Executive Secretary Ms Angele Makombo N’tumba said the humanitarian crisis requires scaling up efforts to carry out resilience work.

She noted that climate or weather-related disasters such as droughts, tropical cyclones, and floods are becoming more frequent and happening simultaneously and are projected to continue. Vulnerability, coping capacities and the ability of communities to recover are eroded, perpetuating the cycle of vulnerability and poverty.

Ms N’tumba said SADC relies heavily on natural resources for livelihoods and economic growth, yet over-reliance on natural resources and over-population has resulted in unsustainable utilisation, leading to environmental problems such as landslides.

“SADC Member States are often challenged to respond to one disaster after another. We may recall the case of Madagascar, which was responding to one of the most devastating droughts in the South while the rest of the country received more than one tropical cyclone within the 2023/24 season.

“We have noted that Member States grapple with a number of challenges in building resilience to disaster risks, including limited resources and preparedness measures due to overstretched capacity among others. It is no secret that disasters are not going anywhere, and as a region, we need to implement the development agenda in an emergency mode, which is why resilience building is key,” she said.

SADC recently approved the Regional Resilience Programme, which is expected to facilitate the enhancement of resilience building among the most affected populations. Member states are expected to leverage the provisions of the Strategy and roll it out.

“We are committed to strengthening our capacity to be prepared for disaster risk and effectively respond to save lives and mitigate impact to critical infrastructure,” said Ms N’tumba.

The Roundtable aimed to review progress on the implementation of interventions in response to the regional El Niño-induced drought disaster and provide a platform for promoting stronger co-ordination and preparedness efforts in response to various climate shocks, including the upcoming La Niña climate phenomenon.

In attendance were ministers from the region, the SADC Humanitarian Emergency Operation Centre, the SADC DRR Unit, the SADC Secretariat, the Regional Anticipatory Action Working Group, international cooperating partners, and United Nations agencies.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, who chaired the session, called for awareness of the current regional humanitarian situation, mobilising resources for life-sustaining humanitarian assistance and resilience building, and fostering collaboration with development partners and other actors to transition from emergency assistance to sustainable support.

“The region has to ensure that the estimated 57 million people who are food-insecure, according to the SADC Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Programme Synthesis Report for the 2023/24 season, have to be fed. As policymakers, we ought to ensure that no one dies of hunger during this El Niño period. We are pleased to note the various interventions by our development partners in areas such as Anticipatory Action, African Risk Capacity insurance, and resilience building projects, which are assisting affected communities and preventing them from engaging in negative coping strategies,” said Minister Garwe.

He said vigilance in preparedness, mitigation, and response to disasters associated with the season is of paramount importance in the wake of the current La Niña season, which is associated with risks of flooding, cyclones, hailstorms, and strong winds. The minister said the ultimate goal is to enhance systems both at regional and country levels to co-ordinate disaster risk management with a view to saving lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, and property.

Malawi Minister of Agriculture Samuel Kawale said: “The El Niño disaster has highlighted the importance of regional integration.”

Zambia Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa said disasters have occasioned a trail of devastation, while resilience needs adequate funding and should encompass all sectors, including energy. Ministers from Botswana, Madagascar, Lesotho, and Eswatini concurred on the need for a collaborative approach.