ARC launches platform dedicated to gender and disaster risk management

Thu, May 13, 2021
By editor
4 MIN READ

Women

By Anthony Isibor.

THE Africa Union, AU, under the African Risk Capacity, ARC has launched a media platform dedicated to research on Gender and Disaster Risk Management.

At the launch on Tuesday, May, 11, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, Group director-general, GDG, Africa Risk Capacity, expressed his excitement over the successful launch of the Gender and Disaster Risk, Management, GDRM, platform.

He said it that the collaboration with the AU Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, AU WYD, and the AU Directorate of Disaster Risk Reduction, AU DRR, in launching the flagship initiative that brings together all stakeholders under the same ‘roof’ for the purpose of ensuring gender-transformative actions in DRM

The African Risk Capacity is composed of a capacity-building arm and a parametric insurance affiliate is a proud specialized agency of the African Union established to help member states to plan, prepare for, and respond to climate change-related disasters.

“At ARC, we believe that disasters do not discriminate; and we know that adopting an equal opportunities approach to disaster risk management is a win-win for families, communities, and Government.

“For us, understanding how gender relations shape women’s and men’s response capacities is critical to our disaster risk reduction work.

“We are very mindful of the challenges faced by women and men during and post catastrophes especially in terms of roles and responsibilities towards recovery.

He also expressed his unreserved commitment to ensuring the success of the initiative.

“We are equally excited and committed to working with other stakeholders, partners, governments, civil society, NGOs, etc to continue ensuring that gender perspectives are integrated into every step of our country engagement to promote adaptation and resilience in a sustainable manner.

“We strongly believe in the importance of the Gender and Disaster Risk Management Platform in effectively addressing gender gaps in DRM through a seamless flow of knowledge development and management between the beneficiaries, experts, and decision-makers.

“Let me conclude by renewing our commitment at ARC to hosting the Secretariat of the Platform through our Gender Unit, and to providing the necessary support in the coordination, facilitation, and program development to make the platform a true success,” He said.

On her own part, Josefa Sacko, AUC’s Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, added that the Gender and Disaster Risk Management, DRM, platform would address the various issues as they affect women and girls in Africa.

“Mainstreaming Gender in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) policies and actions is therefore critical in strengthening the resilience of these vulnerable groups.

“Disasters have disproportionate impacts on gender and particular age groups. Women, the elderly, youth, children, and people living with disabilities are disproportionately affected. With the rise of natural and climate-induced disasters on the African Continent, these groups are expected to bear the brand of disasters.

He said that “In attempt to commence policy discussions on mainstreaming DRM, including CCA in relevant policies, the African Union Commission’s Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy under the Department for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, AUC’s Directorate of Women, Gender, Youth, AU WGYD, and the African Risk Capacity, ARC, have been working together to ensure the integration of gender equality and women empowerment issues in the disaster risk management and financing landscape through the establishment of a Gender and Disaster Risk Management Platform, GDRMP.

“Through this platform, the AU Commission intents to strengthen partnership for effective Disaster Risk Management, including relevant Ministries of AU Members States, Regional Economic Commissions, International Organizations and Development Partners, Research Institutes and the Academia, the Private Sector and Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, and women rights organizations among others,” She said.

He thanked all the stakeholders and actors who contributed substantially to the establishment of this platform, which according to him is dedicated to one of the most vulnerable sections of the society to disasters.

– May 13, 2021 @ 17:07 GMT

A.I

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