National Disaster Management Policy 2015.

The National Disaster Management Policy has the following vision: a sustainable safety-net for the protection of the citizens, assets and the environment from disasters. Its Mission aims to develop, coordinate and monitor disaster risk management programmes in order to minimize loss of life, damage to property and the environment.
The key guiding principles of this policy are that: Disaster Management is under the responsibility of every citizen; Government bears the primary responsibility for protecting people, infrastructure and other national assets from disasters; Disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation are integrated into the national development efforts at all levels; The development and strengthening of capacities for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation are top priorities for the Government; Effective national Early Warning System is the key in the success of disaster prevention, preparedness and mitigation as well as response; Effective environmental management promotes sustainable development; Promotion of sustainable development among vulnerable communities improves their resilience, thus making them contribute more to the national development; A national culture of prevention and preparedness is an essential component of multi-sectoral approaches to increasing disaster and climate change resilience and adaptation in the country; Disaster effects are selective, affecting mostly women, children, the physically-challenged and the elderly, hence specific consideration to these groups in disaster management shall be prominent at all levels; Mainstreaming gender issues and planning in assessments of different vulnerabilities and needs of men and women to ensure that disaster response is equal in the affected areas; The identification of hazards and the localities which they affect are key to effective disaster management.
Main goal of the Policy is to strengthen national capacities for effective disaster preparedness, prevention, response, mitigation and restoration in order to protect lives and livelihoods, property, environment and the economy at large.
The Policy aims at encompassing the disaster management cycle (preparedness, prevention, response, mitigation and restoration) as outlined below: develop and implement Disaster Risk Management (DRM) plans which will, at different levels, guide DRM and response activities in the country and respond to other national policies and planning documents; strengthen horizontal and vertical coordination mechanisms in order to effectively and efficiently implement the Disaster Risk Management activities and harmonize national efforts; develop and strengthen an integrated disaster risk management information and communication system in order to enhance timely decision making; establish and strengthen the monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure prudent utilization of resources as well as effective and efficient implementation of DRM programmes and activities; carry out, promote and coordinate research and activities relevant to DRM in order to advise the Disaster Management structures at different levels as they fulfill their mandates; provide administrative, logistical and management support services in order to facilitate effective and efficient operations of DMMU; put in place appropriate measures to respond to climatic changes such as implementing public educational and information programmes in order to increase awareness, resilience and adaptation at all levels.