Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
AS the region moves to avert the effects of an impending El Niño-driven drought, SADC’s Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation in disaster risk management.
In a communiqué yesterday, SHOC announced its participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Strategic Policy Dialogue on Disaster Management (SPDDM).
The regional bloc said the engagement provided an important platform for strategic dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership-building among regional intergovernmental humanitarian institutions from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean.
“Held under the auspices of ASEAN’s regional disaster management cooperation framework, the Strategic Policy Dialogue brought together senior policymakers and practitioners to discuss emerging disaster risks, climate-induced hazards, innovations in humanitarian response, and opportunities for cross-regional collaboration,” said the regional body.
SHOC Director Mr Anderson Banda said engagements with global and regional disaster management institutions were essential to strengthening SHOC’s mandate as SADC’s regional humanitarian coordination mechanism.
“Disasters are increasingly complex, interconnected and transboundary in nature.
“Strengthening partnerships with leading regional disaster management institutions such as ASEAN’s AHA Centre provides valuable opportunities for mutual learning, innovation, and the exchange of operational best practices.
“These partnerships will contribute significantly to enhancing disaster preparedness, early warning, and coordinated emergency response across the SADC region,” he said.
Participation of the region formed part of SHOC’s broader strategy to establish strategic partnerships that enhance regional resilience and operational readiness across the region.
“The discussions highlighted the growing importance of integrated early warning systems, regional coordination mechanisms, risk-informed decision-making, and the application of technology in disaster preparedness and response,” said SADC.
The regional bloc said the discussions focused on sharing operational experiences in emergency coordination, strengthening humanitarian information management, and promoting collaboration on capacity development.
“A follow-up visit by a SHOC delegation to the AHA Centre is expected as both institutions seek to formalise areas of cooperation,” said SADC.
These engagements are expected to support future collaboration in areas including multi-hazard early warning systems, humanitarian information management, simulation exercises, capacity development, emergency operations coordination, and anticipatory action.
