Puntland Disaster Preparedness and Management Framework.

This Disaster Preparedness and Management Framework is a multi-sectoral document aiming at (i) representing a roadmap for operationalizing and reaching the disaster management goals in the Puntland, and (ii) serving as an integrated document for all stakeholders’ participation in this Puntland task. The Vision at the basis of this Policy is to transform the Puntland into a resilient and secure society, in which the impact of hazards would not hamper development and the ecosystem and will further ensure the provision of a better quality of life through effective emergency and disaster management services. This will be achieved by (i) creating a socio-economic, legal and institutional environment that is conducive to disaster management; and (ii) effectively mainstreaming disaster management issues into Puntland policies as well as in sector-specific development programs and projects. The document identifies the following 8 priory areas for actions (1) institutional, legislative and policy frameworks; (2) hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment; (3) Early Warning Systems (EWS); (4) disaster preparedness plans; (5) integration of disaster risk management in development sectors; (6) public awareness and education; (7) capacity development; (8) communication and transportation.
The disaster management is strictly related to the protection of the environment. In this regard, the main interventions proposed by the document are (i) establish a documentation and information center responsible for collecting, managing and disseminating reliable information on disaster and risk reduction; (ii) develop a monitoring system together with an evaluation program; (iii) prepare multi-hazard disaster preparedness and response plans at national, regional and district levels to ensure requisite levels of preparedness and functioning of sectoral response plans; (iv) integrate mitigation and disaster risk reduction in all development programs; (v) establish partnerships with media and community organizations for dissemination of disaster risk management agenda and incorporation of the same in education curricula; (vi) create a cadre of trained and skilled professionals and disaster management practitioners with requisite knowledge and capacity; (vii) build an adequate transportation network for speedier disaster response.
To create an inclusive economic and social growth, this framework will assist everybody in the development sector of the country including youth organizations, children, women, vulnerable groups with special attention paid to special interest groups like schools (formal and non-formal) and people living in highly disaster prone areas.
As for Governance, it will be necessary (i) invest in institutional capital (e.g., capable, accountable and transparent government institutions for mitigating disasters); (ii) define the mandates and inter-relationships of various organizations across sectors and administrative levels; (iii) promote good coordination, information sharing and cooperation among institutions involved in risk reduction.