Empowering Disaster Resilience
Saba Noor
Empowering Disaster Resilience: UN OCHA in collaboration with PDMA Sindh
and other Partners Spearhead Successful Pilot Capacity-Building Session in
Sindh
Hyderabad, 29 January 2024 – A transformative collaboration unfolded in
Hyderabad as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (UNOCHA) in Pakistan, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA),
and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Sindh, united with
IOM, UNFPA, ACTED, Muslim Hands, Agha Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), and
Islamic Relief. Together, they orchestrated a one-day pilot capacity-building
session for the District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs) of Hyderabad,
Dadu, Jamshoro, Khairpur, and Naushro Feroz in the Sindh province.
The initiative aims to elevate the capacity of the District Disaster
Management Authorities, the linchpin of disaster preparedness and response at
the district level. This pivotal undertaking draws inspiration directly from
the insights gained during the Floods 2022 Response, underlining a commitment
to continuous improvement and adaptation in disaster management strategies.
A comprehensive cohort of senior officers actively engaged in the event,
representing entities such as the National Disaster Management Authority,
Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Pakistan Met Department, District
Disaster Management Authorities, Directorate of Health, Women Development
Department, and sector leads. Their collective involvement underscores the
collaborative spirit that drives this crucial endeavor.
This pilot session sets the stage for an extensive capacity-building
training scheduled for April 2024. This future initiative will encompass
emergency response, disaster preparedness, mitigation, and a holistic
enhancement of DDMA capacities. As highlighted by Imdad Hussain Siddiqu,
Director (Operations) PDMA Sindh, during the workshop, "This is a
significant step towards building resilience at the grassroots level through
DDMA."
The event concluded on a high note, receiving expressions of
appreciation and heartfelt thanks from the NDMA and PDMA Sindh Director
(Operations). This acknowledgment underscores the success of the pilot activity
and paves the way for continued collaboration in fortifying disaster resilience
across districts.
