Strategic agenda 2020: Excellence in emergency management - Safer Pacific communities

The Strategic Agenda 2020 outlines the direction and intent of the Pacific Islands Emergency Management Alliance (PIEMA) - an alliance between Pacific Islands National Disaster Management Offices, the Pacific Islands Fire and Emergency Services Association, the membership of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council and the Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police.

The Strategic Agenda urges the strengthening of emergency management in the Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) to nurture a group of professionals committed to working together effectively on a foundation of trust, leadership and teamwork, and outlines the key strategies that PIEMA will concentrate its focus on over the coming five years. The guiding principles of the Agenda are the following:

1. encouraging the interoperability of emergency management agencies to work together at every level;
2. avoiding the creation of new arrangements by strengthening and streamlining existing structures and plans;
3. building and maintaining relationships, networks and trust;
4. encouraging the development of a professional emergency management service in PICTs;
5. increasing the professionalisation of current and aspiring emergency management practitioners;
6. aligning all training, where possible, to existing competencies to help emergency management practitioners to become more effective in the requirements of their roles;
7. advocating the adoption of an ‘All Hazards, All Risks, All Agencies’ approach that strengthens and builds the interoperability of all agencies associated with Emergency Management;
8. becoming a ‘learning organisation’ - don’t reinvent what is already available. Use the information and knowledge that currently exists;
9. adopting, adapting and leading regional and world’s best practice.