THE African Risk Capacity, ARC, agency and the government of Djibouti have signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, to address persistent climate risks and to scale up national disaster risk management and financing efforts.

The MoU serves as a framework to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between ARC Agency and the Government, and to set out the terms and conditions under which the Government and the ARC agency will work together to address the impact of Extreme Weather Events in Djibouti, including through support provided by ARC Agency to the country, training of government personnel and other efforts in support of the country’s objectives.

With threats of prolonged drought and flooding, Djibouti is highly vulnerable to climate risk. The country has been ranked among the top 50 countries most affected by extreme climate events on the Global Climate Risk Index, and a drought lasting from 2008-2011 caused US $51 million in damage and US $157 million in losses.

“We are eager to join efforts with the government of Djibouti to address the persistent climate risks faced by the country, especially by rural populations,” Mohamed Beavogui, the ARC director general and the UN assistant secretary-general, said. “Extreme climate events can drive back years of development, but we can protect those economic gains by working together to identify and respond to climate risks before they become climate disasters,” he further stated.

The government of Djibouti has taken significant steps in addressing its disaster risk over the years. With the World Bank Global Fund for Disaster Risk Reduction, Djibouti developed the first comprehensive risk assessment programme in the Middle East and North African region.

As one of the original signatories to the ARC Establishment Treaty, the Government of Djibouti contributed to establishing the ARC as a specialised agency of the African Union. By deepening its partnership with ARC, the government is taking another step towards the strengthening of its disaster risk management programme.

“The government of the Republic of Djibouti firmly supports the ARC’s innovative and pan-African approach,” Hassan Omar Mohamed, the minister of the Interior of Djibouti, said. “We are ready to mobilise to help execute the ARC Programme in Djibouti.”

– Mar. 15, 2019 @ 13:25 GMT |