National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management 2008 – 2018.

The National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management is a national action plan with a multi-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Action Plan is 10 years between 2008 and 2018. The overall purpose of the National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management is to increase resilience to natural and human-induced hazards with a whole-of-country approach in order to ensure a safer environment for existing and future generations.
This Action Plan stresses on key sectors for disaster risk management; such as planning, finance, local government, environment, fisheries, health, agriculture, tourism, public utilities, private sector, and civil society organizations. Disaster risk management will be mainstreamed into national and local policies, plans, budgetary provisions and decision-making processes. The participation at national, local and community levels will be encouraged with a consultative approach. The role and capacity of key community groups and non-governmental organizations will be increased to enable them being more active in local-level risk management. Institutional capacity building will be enhanced to strengthen organizational arrangements for disaster risk management at national and local government levels. The National Emergency Operations Center infrastructure will be strengthened to better prepare for and respond to disasters. Community preparedness and response plans will be developed in the Outer Islands for emergency preparedness and response. Furthermore all focal points and agencies will have contingency plans. Early warning and emergency communication systems will be developed for all hazards at all stages. Access to safe and adequate clean water will be ensured at all times through effective freshwater resources management. Water infrastructure will be improved to reduce water wastage and contamination as well as to health risks. Water storage mechanisms will be developed for reducing the impact of water shortages resulting from hazardous events. Integrated coastal zone management will be strengthened for efficient environmental management and resilience to hazards. Coastal hazard and vulnerability assessments will be conducted for monitoring coastal systems to restore its ecological and environmental resilience. Strategies will be developed for increasing and diversifying local food production to increase economic self-reliance and decrease dependency on the mainland during periods of isolation caused by natural hazards. Accordingly the resilience of livelihoods to disasters will be increased. Public awareness campaign will be conducted on disaster risk management, basic emergency response procedures, water-related risks, coastal degradation, and food security. Disaster risk management education and awareness program will be integrated into the formal education system. A special fund for disaster risk management will be established through the establishment of separate disaster risk reduction and disaster management revolving special revenue fund under the Office of the Chief Secretary.
The Office of the Chief Secretary shall be responsible for leading the development and implementation of the Disaster Risk Management National Action Plan in cooperation with the National Disaster Committee, National Action Plan Task Force, non-governmental and civil society organisations, local government and other community leaders. The National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management Implementation Unit will be established under the Office of the Chief Secretary and will coordinate and lead the implementation of the National Action Plan for Disaster Risk Management in close consultation with the National Action Plan Task Force.