The ECOWAS Policy for Disaster Risk Reduction is an international sectoral policy of ECOWAS. Its main objective is to facilitate sustainable integration and development of West African States and Governments through promoting and supporting effective disaster risk management that helps create safer and resilient communities in social, economic and environmental terms. Its objectives include to provide an inter-governmental framework for collaboration and partnership for ECOWAS Member States in Disaster Risk Management; promote integration of disaster risk reduction into ECOWAS Member States National Development Policies, Plans and Programmes; facilitate ECOWAS Member States to develop and strengthen institutions, mechanisms and capacities for building resilience to hazards; promote incorporation of risk reduction approaches in emergency preparedness, rehabilitation and recovery programmes of ECOWAS Member States; and enhance the contribution of disaster reduction to peace, security and sustainable development of the sub region. The Policy comprises five areas of focus and associated strategies and priority actions as follows: enhancing disaster reduction by making it a development priority with the requisite institutional capacities; reducing disasters by improving identification, assessment, monitoring and early warning of risks; building safe and resilient societies by enhancing the use of knowledge; reducing underlying risk factors by addressing priority development concerns through disaster reduction interventions; and improving effectiveness of response through stronger disaster preparedness. The ECOWAS Secretariat, acting through the Disaster Management Unit, is responsible for devising sub-regional indicators for national authorities to report on. These indicators will represent milestones in implementing the Policy and in achieving agreed outcomes and impacts. The Secretariat will report on progress towards achieving the Policy and the objectives of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction to member countries and development partners. National governments will have primary responsibility for monitoring the Policy at the country level, using participatory approaches. Sub-regional disaster management service institutions will provide scientific and specialized data and information to facilitate identification, assessment and monitoring of hazards.
2006-08-01