Skip to main content

Africa Zone: Development Operational Report 2013

Countries
World
+ 9 more
Sources
IFRC
Publication date
Origin
View original
  1. Executive Summary

Overall Project/Program Status:

Most of the activity during the first half of the year was in Disaster Management (DM), along with Health and Humanitarian Diplomacy (HD).
DM: Despite delayed incoming of funds for the Zone DMU programmes, much was achieved during the first half of the year. The Zone DMU team facilitated the launch of five emergency appeals, four revised emergency appeals and 20 DREF operations, after having provided technical assistance and quality control. Learning was promoted through evaluations or reviews of 18 emergency operations (10 emergency appeals and eight DREF operations). Communication with donors was furthered through publishing on the public web site of emergency operations updates (56) and final reports (25), following technical and financial follow up, collection of missing data and verification of information, as well as quality control.

The Standard Operational Procedure (SOPs) for Disaster Response in Africa Zone was agreed and finalized and will be disseminated early in the second half of the year. Additionally, the IFRC African Food Security Strategy was drafted.

Preparation for programme activities relating to Urban Disaster Risk Reduction (Urban DRR) have been done, including developing the concept, however actual implementation could not be initiated until donor funding would come forth. Additionally, the plans for developing and improving Regional Disaster response Team (RDRT) systems and development of DRR frameworks for Central Africa has been pending donor approval.

Key Issues

  • DM: Insecurity has negatively affected implementation of certain emergency operations, for example, in Central African Republic (CAR) and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

  • DM: There are logistical challenges with implementation in some countries, in particular in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Central African Republic (CAR) and South Sudan, for example, relating to infrastructure, security, and accessibility during rainy seasons.

  • DM: Funding towards programme activities was only confirmed five months into the year, which delayed the onset of certain activities, for example Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programmes, improvement of RDRT systems and surge capacity, development of contingency plans, and development of regional DRR frameworks.

Key Accomplishments

  • DM: Five emergency appeals were launched to respond to disasters and emergencies up to end of June, in the following countries (Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Sudan, and Chad). Please refer to the region specific sections below for a more detailed overview.

  • DM: 20 DREF operations were launched to respond to disasters up to end June, in the following countries (Kenya, Sierra Leone, Benin, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, Madagascar, Namibia, CAR, Republic of Congo, Uganda, Chad, and Sudan). Please refer to the region specific sections below for a more detailed overview.

  • DM: Standard Operations Procedures (SoPs) for Disaster Response in the Africa Zone were finalized and agreed with the Senior Management Team in Africa Zone and discussed with the ICRC. The SoPs define the internal arrangements of the Federation Secretariat for supporting National Societies who responds to disaster situations across Africa Zone, for a coordinated, effective and accountable disaster response.

  • DM: The draft of the Africa Food Security Strategy 2013-2017 has been finalized and is circulated for input among stakeholders (NS, PNS, IFRC, other key agencies). The finalized strategy will assist in planning and programming to prevent, address, mitigate and reduce impact of food insecurity for affected and high risk communities.

  • DM: A comprehensive analysis of food insecurity for the regions has been conducted, resulting in the identification of priority countries for scaling up food security interventions.

  • DM: 10 emergency appeal operations were evaluated, including seven food security operations in Sahel.

  • DM: Reviews were conducted for Eight DREF operations, enabled lessons learned and useful recommendations for disaster response programming.

Plans for second half of the year

  • Initiating the Urban Disaster Risk Reduction Programme, focusing on undertaking Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCA), Risk assessments, and implementing the livelihood component of the programme. A review of the legal base for the countries involved will be undertaken, looking at the legal aspects and foundations of the National Societies (NSs) for involvement in risk reduction and disaster response.

  • Development of an RDRT Strategy and organizing RDRT trainings.

  • Development of a DRR Framework for Central Africa region for programming and support to the NSs.

  • Development of contingency plans for three countries.

  • Undertake a food security evaluation for Sahel, focusing on RC/RC management, coordination and cooperation issues.

  • Evaluation of Nigeria, South Sudan and Kenya emergency operations.

  • Plans to undertake Review of DREF operations in Madagascar, Uganda, Ghana and Sudan.

  • Dissemination of the SoPs and other useful tools for disaster response, preparedness, risk reduction and resilience.

  • Continue to facilitate and support the process of launching emergency appeals, DREF operations and utilizing IFRC global, regional and national tools as a response to disasters and crisis in the Africa Zone.