PDC, CDC initiate National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment

– Prime Minister Mark Phillips lauds multi-stakeholder approach

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) has commenced its collaboration with the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) to initiate the National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA) – enabling the tools, scientific data, and evidence-based practices to effectively reduce disaster risks.

Commencing with a virtual workshop, over 60 participants from various entities and agencies in Guyana participated, including the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Red Cross, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), and the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).
For more than two decades, Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) has supported the most demanding governments and non-profit organisations worldwide, sharing in the mission to save lives and reduce disaster risk. As an applied research centre managed by the University of Hawaii, it is developing new technologies and best practices to help global partners effectively mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips has lauded the multi-stakeholder approach to such a venture, stating that the participants were crucial components of reducing disaster risk. He indicated that the 2005 flood was a turning point for Guyana’s approach to disaster risk reduction.
“Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to ‘Build Back Better’ in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction is one of the four priorities outlined in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which was adopted by Guyana,” said Phillips.
CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, stressed the importance of science and technology as crucial components in Disaster Risk Management. He also indicated that this assessment “aims to establish a national baseline for priority hazards and vulnerable communities and populations, with requisite mapping and analysis that aims to strengthen Disaster Risk Management (DRM) across all sectors.”
The Director General committed to a multi-stakeholder approach for DRM, and anticipates that the process would create wide-scale symbiosis. Craig additionally spoke about the urgency to have such a project bear fruit, considering the inevitable effects of climate change.
Meanwhile, Director of Global Operations for PDC, Dr Erin Hughey, stated that she is elated to start building a lasting partnership between her entity and that of the CDC and the other participatory stakeholders. She said the joint programme is primarily a true exchange of knowledge, and her team is eager to learn about the unique hazard environment of Guyana.
The members of the virtual workshop were then introduced to the NDPBA Project with an overview of how it operates in various facets. The goal framework was showcased, which highlighted the importance of accurate data, so that a bridge can be built which would connect the correct resources to meaningful information.
Participants also witnessed the layout of DRM software called DISASTERAWARE, and other technological advancements geared at aiding Guyana to prepare for and manage hazards and disasters.
A key feature of DISASTERAWARE is an Early Warning System which would disseminate alerts on hazard type, severity and geographical location. As presented by the PDC team, some of the NDPBA benefits would include: encouraging multi-agency cooperation and strengthening disaster management networks, providing necessary tools and data for disaster monitoring, promoting risk-informed decision-making and sustainable development, and aligning capacity development efforts with priority needs.
Several instances of how the system would work, if employed, were put on display, and participants were given opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback. Further, there was a brief demonstration of how the system actually works using real world circumstances such as forest fires.