6TH SESSION OF THE AFRP ON DRR, 22-26 NOV MAURITIUS

STATEMENT OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

PREAMBLE
1.

The East African Community Secretariat wishes to congratulate the Government and
the People of the Republic of Mauritius for the excellent hosting and the reception
accorded to all delegates during the 6th Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk
Reduction and management here in Mauritius.
2.
East Africa Community also wishes the African Union Commission and the United
Nations Office for Disaster Reduction and Partners success in the on-going
preparations for the forthcoming World Forum on Disaster Risk Reduction Scheduled
for May 2017 in Cancun, Mexico.
3.
East African Community also wishes to recognize with appreciation the continued
support on implementing Disaster Risk Reduction Programme at the sub-regional level
provided to the Regional Economic Communities through the Africa Regional Office, in
particular the extension of Technical Assistance in form of Technical Advisor to the East
African Community Risk Reduction and Management Unit.
Where are we? What are the challenges? And what are our future plans?
4.

EAC has made significant progress in strengthening the Disaster Risk Management
capacities and made some milestone achievements, key among of them being the East
African Community Disaster Risk Reduction Act, 2016 and the Climate Change
Vulnerability Impact Assessment Study.
5.
I am pleased to inform you that the aforesaid Act was passed by the 4th Session of
the 5th Assembly held in Arusha on 10th March, 2016, paving the way for the region to
take necessary disaster preparedness, management, and protection and mitigation
measures as well as in handling disasters in a more co-ordinated manner.
6.
The Act is currently under consideration by Partner States officials and will be
assented to during the 18th Ordinary Heads of State Summit scheduled to take place
early next year.
7.
Under the Impact Vulnerability Assessment study, Climate Hot spots maps have been
prepared and the EAC Sectoral Council on Environment and Natural Resources
Management adopted the results.
8.
East African Community is in the process of Building a Climate Information Network
and User Interface to respond to the needs of priority stakeholders. Four thematic areas
have been identified a) Agriculture & food security; b) water resources & hydro climatic
disasters; c) weather and climate; d) land cover, land use change and ecosystems.
9.
We have started the process by designing a regional climate information network
through collaborative partnerships with other regional organizations such as FEWS
NET, RCMRD/SERVIR, and ICPAC with support from USAID.
10.
Last but not least, EAC has established a dedicated Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Unit under its structure at the EAC Secretariat under the Direct
Supervision of the Secretary General. The Unit reports to the Council of Ministers
through the Secretary General.
11.
The unit will play a key role in the implementation of the East African Community
Disaster Risk Reduction Act and the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the
Region

However, besides the achievements, there are still Challenges, which include the
following:
12.

Partner States are at different levels in Disaster Risk Reduction Legislation, which
complicates the harmonisation process.
13.
Lack of resources to support: (i) the integration of Disaster Risk Reduction into
education curriculum; (ii) Development of regional emergency response plans; (iii)
Development of web portal for depositing Disaster Risk Reduction and other related
emergencies; (iv) the operationalization of the established Disaster Risk Reduction
Unit at the EAC Secretariat; and (v) strengthening and harmonizing existing regional
early warning systems.
Other challenges include:
14.

Limited budget allocation to Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Programme

at both regional and national levels.
15.
Out-dated disaster maps
16.
Lack of harmonised mechanisms and coordination in addressing transboundary
disasters.
17.
Climate variability, which is impacting key sectors including water, agriculture, health,
wildlife and tourism, Energy and infrastructure.
What are our futures plans?
18.

The East African Community commits to implement its Disaster Risk Reduction Law
as soon as it is assented to and in line with the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk
Reduction. In this regard, the EAC priorities will be the following:
i. Strengthen existing institutional capacities and set up new institutions established
under the Act by 2018.
ii. Review the EAC DRR and Management Strategy 2012-2016 and plan of action in
accordance with the aligned African Programme of Action by 2017.
iii. Update disaster maps and map out disasters evacuation centres by 2018.
iv. Ensure DRR Programmes are people-centred.
v. Adopt best practice such as the Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction
(EcoDRR) Management approach for reducing disaster risks, and
vi. Harmonising mechanisms and coordination for transboundary hazards.

In conclusion
19.

EAC further reiterates its commitment to create the necessary conducive and
enabling environment to strengthen resilience of communities to disasters to ensure
sustainable development and poverty eradication, and to integrate, as appropriate both
disaster risk reduction and building of resilience into policies, plans and programmes.
20.
Therefore, the East African Community calls upon the African Union Commission, the
African Development Bank, the United Nations Office for disaster Reduction, the World
Bank and all our partners, to join EAC in walking the talk in order to have more actions
to support the communities that have entrusted us to serve them.