EU-ACP initiative leads to natural disaster risk reduction
By Reinhard Jacobsen
The African, Caribbean and Pacific-European Union Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Program (ACP-EU NDRR) launched in 2011 has worked to build climate and disaster resilience in ACP countries, where the impacts of climate change are increasingly visible, says a new report.
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According to the activity report, in Africa, twelve country-level projects were active in FY18. In response to country demands, the Program supported an increasing number of urban resilience projects. Support was also provided to projects integrating Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) into development planning, and to projects assessing disaster risk, and improving climate services. The Program also supported two Post-Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNA), one in Somalia and one in Sierra Leone.
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Projects implemented by the ACP-EU NDRR Program have resulted in significant additional investments in DRM, notes the report. Since 2011, the Program has leveraged nearly $2 billion through co-financing, through enabling in leveraging, and through informing in leveraging. In FY18, four new cases of enabling in leveraging, and eight new cases of informing in leveraging were identified.
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The achievements are: 30 out of 79 ACP countries have integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the national planning process; and 20 countries have developed risk tools to guide vulnerability reduction and emergency preparedness.
Besides, three river basins have enhanced their flood risk management capacity; six sub-regional lead institutions have functioning Disaster Risk Reduction capacity; 20 countries have access to operational early warning systems for natural disasters; and 15 countries have developed risk financing and insurance strategies.
In addition, 20 countries have developed national capacity for Post Disaster Needs Assessments; 15 countries have undertaken multi-stakeholder assessments and recovery planning; and five countries have effectively implemented Disaster Risk Reduction in the recovery phase.
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