On Wednesday, the 8th Meeting of the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Coordination and Harmonization Council (CHC) will be held. The CDM-CHC comprises of regional and national representatives from among donor partners, national ministries and disaster office, sector institutions and organization and was established in 2007 to provide guidance on CDM implementation at the regional and national level.
Discussions at this meeting will focus on a plan of action for strengthening CDM Governance and best practices for mainstreaming CDM particularly at the national level.
The CDEMA Coordinating Unit which has been designated the lead Agency by CARICOM for promoting CDM will present progress reports from a regional perspective. Two presentations are expected to generate much discussion and these are Regional Climate Change Implementation Plan and the plan and the proposed process for articulating the CDM Strategy beyond its current implementation period which ends in 2012. CDM partners will also have an opportunity on Wednesday to highlight key programming initiatives being executed in the region
On the second day, there will be a review of the USAID Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance/Latin America and the Caribbean (OFDA/LAC) 2009 – 2012 Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy. This consultation, through support provided by USAID/OFDA in collaboration with CDEMA, is expected to yield concrete opportunities for USAID OFDA support of national work programmes and regional interventions and institutional collaboration with USAID OFDA in the delivery of the CDM Strategy.
Friday’s Meeting will begin with an opening ceremony which will give recognition to Partners support to the CDM Harmonisation Implementation Programme. It will also set the tone for the remainder of the day’s proceedings where the focus will be on identifying an appropriate mechanism for promoting national adaptation of a model CDM policy in CDEMA Participating States. A national CDM policy is pivotal to providing the framework for integrating CDM into all policies, programmes, plans and ongoing activities at national and community levels. Participation in this consultation is expected to be broad based with multi-sectoral representation from the national level of those holding sector portfolios on the CARICOM Quasi Cabinet including a Gender Affairs representative.
Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) is a holistic approach adopted by the Governments of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the management of all hazards to reduce the risks and losses associated with natural and technological hazards as well as the effects of climate change.
The CDM Strategy implementation is supported through The Comprehensive Disaster Management Harmonized Implementation Programme being implemented by CDEMA in partnership with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. It is a harmonized, multi donor programme and since 2008 has received significant financing from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), UK Aid for the Department of International Development and the Australian Agency for International Development. The Australia Agency for International Development (AusAID) will also be contributing to the programme from July 2011.
For information please contact:
Ms Cisne Pascal, Programme Coordinator
CDM Harmonized Implementation Programme: Phase 1
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)
Building No. 1 Manor Lodge Complex. Lodge Hill.
St. Michael, Barbados
Telephone: (246) -425-0386/88
Fax: (246)-425-8854
Email: