Roles and Responsibilities in Preparedness – Key actors
National Government: National Governments have the overall responsibility for disaster risk reduction, and thus disaster response preparedness, in their respective countries. Member states who have signed the Hyogo Framework for Action, including Uganda, are responsible for its implementation, and regular reporting on progress.

ISDR Secretariat: ISDR is the coordination body for the implementation of overall disaster risk reduction policy in accordance with the Hyogo Framework for Action. Its core function is advocacy for disaster risk reduction; and to serve as an international clearing house for information on disaster reduction strategies.

UNDP: UNDP’s role is to support the implementation of disaster risk reduction policy at the country level. Its core function is building national capacities for disaster risk management, and providing technical expertise in support to capacity-building efforts (under the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery). Read More

OCHA’s role in Disaster Response Preparedness is strengthening disaster response preparedness at all levels, supporting the implementation of HFA Priority 5. This means:

1. Preparedness of OCHA to respond

2. Preparedness of the international humanitarian community to respond

3. Preparedness of regional and national authorities to respond (in collaboration with UNDP and ISDR)

With a focus on high-risk, low capacity countries.
 

Disaster Preparedness Initiatives Underway and Planned in Uganda

(for a full inventory of actors working in disaster response preparedness in Uganda, please refer to the Who Does What Where document)

The Ministry of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees serves as the Government of Uganda’s focal point for disaster preparedness, and thus the lead actor on preparedness in Uganda.
 

The Ministry is currently focusing on the imminent adoption of the draft National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management policy, and thereafter will concentrate on its implementation.

The Ministry hopes also to rapidly re-activate the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, to serve as the central coordination structure for DRR, and thus all preparedness activities in Uganda.
 

ISDR Secretariat, from its regional office in Nairobi, has supported the drafting and consultation process on the draft national policy. It is also supporting wider Disaster Risk Reduction strategy initiatives in Uganda, such as the recent consultation on Drought Risk Reduction strategy development. It is anticipated that ISDR will soon be called upon to support the re-activation of the Ugandan National Platform for DRR.
 

OCHA is preparing the international humanitarian community to respond by promoting a common understanding and analysis of disaster risk amongst the humanitarian community through the recent Disaster Preparedness Workshop; advocating for greater preparedness within the humanitarian community and undertaking Lessons Learnt exercises (e.g. the Floods Lessons Learnt). OCHA will continue work on this objective by supporting the development of overall preparedness plans by each cluster during Quarter 2, as well as supporting OPM to develop specific contingency plans for priority disaster risks, such as a potential recurrence of the Teso floods during 2008, with the full participation of the clusters.

OCHA will also support an UNDAC preparedness mission to Uganda, as requested by the RC and the Minister. This mission of experts from around the world will conduct a thorough review the current state of readiness of the Ugandan Government to coordinate and respond to disasters. Its recommendations will focus on the implementation of the national policy and will be presented to donors. In addition, OCHA Uganda will advocate for Ugandan nationals to be trained under the UNDAC system as soon as possible – thus allowing them to be deployed to, and learn from, major disasters around the world.

Other Initiatives in the Humanitarian and Scientific Communities are supporting Early Warning, Risk Assessment, Capacity Building and some community preparedness.

Gaps in Disaster Preparedness
 

The major gaps in Disaster Preparedness in Uganda are funding and community level preparedness and awareness raising.  OPM also lists lack of resources as a major constraint. OCHA will advocate for more community level preparedness. Linking preparedness work with Climate Change when discussing with donors also has strong potential to assist with bridging the funding gap for this important work.