This training programme designed for staff of national disaster offices, is intended to increase their understanding of the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy and Framework and the CDEMA CU approach to supporting national level programming for CDM implementation. Another component of the training seeks to address the Regional Response Mechanism and its interaction with the national system. The programme also allows the CDEMA team to become more familiar with the national disaster management system of the Participating State.
This training has been supported by the CDEMA Coordinating Unit as a part of its outreach initiatives to CDEMA Participating States.
Elizabeth Riley, Deputy Executive Director of CDEMA, who has responsibility for training said: “This orientation is historic since it was the first to be delivered at our new facility through the Regional Training Centre and is a part of CDEMA’s ongoing initiative to strengthen Country Centred Programming. One of the critical results has been an increased understanding by the CDEMA team on the nuances of the disaster management system in Suriname, its programming priorities and most importantly how we can better support that Country in preventing or reducing losses from hazard impacts.”
Colonel Jerry Slijngard, who led the three member team from the NCCR expressed his satisfaction and appreciation for this orientation. “This was extremely useful, for we now have a better understanding of how to make effective use of the opportunities for increased cooperation with and support by CDEMA,” he said.
Colonel Slijngard and the other team members, Dulci .Duurham, Office Manager and Max Ooft, Policy Officer, Consultant also paid courtesy calls to the Department of Emergency Management, Barbados Defence Force and the Barbados Fire Service.