BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE– The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku says disaster risk management remains one of the biggest challenges for small economies.
Masuku further said Eswatini will further institutionalise systemic risk monitoring through the development of a disaster risk management monitoring framework as well as through the implementation of the Global Risk Framework in collaboration with the UNDRR.
“Eswatini will continue to work with UNDRR and SADC to improve understanding of risk, which is one of the priorities of the Sendai Framework for DRR. The country will also launch a National Platform for DRR which will ensure active and meaningful participation of communities and all sectors of our economy in disaster risk reduction,” said Masuku.
He was speaking when addressing a high-level meeting on the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030 at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, under the theme: ‘Working Together for a Resilient Future’.
The meeting is an opportunity for countries to reflect on their progress against the Sendai framework.
In addition he said while the country is on course to develop a disaster risk management fund, there are already concerns that it may not be adequately capitalised to meet the cost of loss and damage caused by the impact of climate change. This calls for climate change and DRR practitioners and institutions to work together to prevent duplication, and maximise use of limited resources.
“The Kingdom of Eswatini recognises that disaster risk management should be part of all Government policy and programs as sustainable development will be elusive without it. In this view, DRR has been included in the Water Management Policy of 2017, Drought Management Plan 2019, and the 2022 National Development Plan as well as many other Government plans,” he said. On the side-lines of the meeting, the DPM also attended a side event focused on children’s participation in DRR. He has also had a private meeting with a special representative of the UN Secretary General where issues of mutual collaboration were discussed.
