UNITAR PHPO Delivered Training Course on Flood Emergency Management
Participants selected from Rivers and Delta states have participated in a 5-day training titled Flood Emergency Management in a Changing Climate, which held from October 5-9 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
The training was aimed at creating a flood resilient society through capacity strengthening for emergency coordination management, recovery and reconstruction programmes in the event of a flood disaster, and instill a proactive approach for preparedness for possible future flood events in Rivers and Delta states, and other parts of Nigeria.
The training drew a total of 25 participants from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the two states such as Ministries of Special Duties, Environment, Health, Power, Water Resources, Housing, officials from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) of Delta State, as well as other relevant agencies and stakeholders critical to effective management of flood disaster and other risks associated with climate change.
Declaring the training open, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Special Duties, Mrs. Ibaniba Briggs-Iti said the government believed that the training would help to expose personnel to necessary skills required to confront the challenges of flooding. She noted that the training was a very important avenue to garner new skills in flood disaster management, share experience, and get exposed to better ways of doing things in the field.
In his speech, UNITAR Nigeria Head, Larry Boms (PhD) highlighted that the course was organized in collaboration with two of its partners to bridge gaps at three major levels regarding flood disaster management which the recent incidents of flooding in Nigeria have helped to expose more clearly, including the following:
Ø Individual (skills and knowledge vested in people, communities and frameworks that allow an organization deliver its mandate)
Ø Organizational (internal policies, system and strategies, procedures and frameworks that allow an organization deliver its mandate)
Ø Enabling Environment (leadership, political will, legislation, and systems that allow performance).
He informed the gathering that UNITAR will continue to work with governments and other stakeholders to see that impacts of flooding are minimised in any part of the country when they occur.
The course, facilitated by two resource persons from the Asian Disasters Preparedness Center (ADPC), Bangkok, Thailand, focused on the following broad areas: Relationship between global climate change patterns and impending flood risk at local level; Practical experience at international, national and local levels for flood hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment; Challenging issues for flood preparedness, emergency response coordination and recovery, and; Importance of an integrated approach for flood risk reduction.
The course delivery explored multiple participatory methodologies such as presentations and case studies, group assignments, video sessions, discussions, and other interactive methods. Participants (divided into two groups based on their state of origin) also had the opportunity to prepare flood emergency preparedness plans for their respective states (Rivers and Delta).
At a closing ceremony marking the end of the training, participants expressed appreciation to UNITAR for organizing the course. It was evident that the course had achieved its main objective regarding the building of capacity for effective flood emergency management.