ReliefWeb

OVERVIEW

• East and Central Africa (ECA)—comprising Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda—faces a range of natural disasters and complex emergencies. Environmental hazards, including disease outbreaks, drought, and floods, negatively impact health, livelihoods, and food security. In addition, factors such as conflict, climate variability, slow economic development, political instability, and limited government capacity can further increase communities’ vulnerability to disasters.

• USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) supports DRR programs that build the capacity of vulnerable communities to prepare for emergencies. USAID/OFDA also integrates strategic, context-specific DRR components into response programs designed to strengthen community resilience and improve preparedness, mitigation, and emergency response capacities in ECA. In FY 2013, USAID/OFDA provided nearly $48 million for DRR projects throughout ECA, including programs that integrate DRR with disaster response.

STAND-ALONE DRR PROGRAMS IN ECA

In FY 2013, USAID/OFDA’s ECA team provided more than $3 million for stand-alone DRR initiatives that improve preparedness and aim to mitigate and prevent the worst impacts of disasters. USAID/OFDA provided additional funding for regional and global stand-alone programs that include activities in ECA to strengthen disaster preparedness and response. At the regional and country levels, USAID/OFDA and implementing partners engaged communities, national and local governments, international and regional organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to develop effective strategies—tailored to the needs of at-risk populations—to reduce the risk of disasters. These programs all reflected USAID/OFDA’s commitment to support capacity development; strengthen linkages among risk identification, monitoring, early warning, and early action; and expand partnerships and joint programming. Analysis of existing capacities and social, economic, and environmental trends guided programs. When possible, USAID/OFDA programs addressed underlying causes of recurrent disasters, including environmental degradation, rapid urban growth, and climate change.