The Directorate of Research, Monitoring & Evaluation of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), has on Tuesday, 31st January 2023 embarked on a series of monitoring exercises on NDMA’s Regional, District and Chiefdom Disaster Management Committees in Bombali, Kambia, Port Loko, Kailahun, Pujehun and Kenema to review their activities in the year 2022.
The monitoring exercise is in line with the directorates’ mandate to review the activities of the above-mentioned structures to identify existing challenges and gaps for action; improve project development and implementation at the local level, optimize budget allocation and enhance the Agency’s activities in risk reduction and preparedness activities before disasters occur in their respective localities and strengthen their data management systems. The exercise also seeks to enable the Agency better respond to disasters when they do occur and manage damage and loss to help vulnerable communities across the country build back better.
NDMA’s Director of Research, Monitoring & Evaluation, Abu Bakarr Bangura while making his opening statement in Port Loko said he was happy to visit the established local structures of the NDMA. Mr Bangura highlighted the significance of data management. He said strong data management systems help to minimize potential errors in all phases of the disaster management circle and enable the NDMA to map disaster-prone areas and offer relief and response initiatives to disaster-stricken communities.
Mohamed Malapi Aliue Tarawalie, Chairman of the Beke Loko Chiefdom Disaster Management Committee (CDMC), Port Loko District said since the formalization of their CDMC by the NDMA in 2022, they have established community by-laws in some prone arears which gears towards reducing the hazards people are exposed to. He further said that they didn’t just develop those by-laws, but also put monitoring systems in place to enforce compliance.
“We meet regularly as a committee and discuss potential threats within our communities. We have developed several local laws that have helped in minimizing the surrounding risks. We thank the NDMA for recognizing the fact that community stakeholders play a pivotal role in the mitigation and preparedness of a disaster. This visit, undoubtedly, will improve our knowledge in data management and help us plan and prepare better for emergencies.” He said
Since its inception, the NDMA has established, in accordance with sections 20, 22 and 25 of the NDMA Act of 2020, regional, district and chiefdom disaster management committees throughout the country with a mandate to prepare in respect of the region/district/chiefdom, a plan for the prevention of disasters and for mitigating the effects of disasters.
With support from the UNDP, the NDMA started the rolling out of the establishment and full operationalization of these committees in 2021 and has established the following committees nationwide: Northern Region Disaster Management Committee, North West Region Disaster Management Committee, Eastern Region Disaster Management Committee, Bombali District Disaster Management Committee, Port Loko District Disaster Management Committee, Kenema District Disaster Management Committee, and eight (😎 chiefdom Disaster Management Committees each in Pujehun, Port Loko, Kambia and Kailahun Districts.
The establishment of the remainder of the other regional, district and chiefdom disaster management committees remains central to the activities of the NDMA for the year 2023.
