Overview
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is highly vulnerable to disasters and humanitarian crises that are a result of climate change and variability, among other factors. The region is highly susceptible to floods, droughts, storms, pest and disease outbreaks, and epidemics, all of which have a severe impact on lives and livelihoods.
Crises do not only occur on a national level; any response must therefore also take place at a transboundary one. SADC is uniquely empowered to support effective disaster responses for the region and enable member states to prepare for, and respond to, emergencies. Pegasys led the team to develop the framework for exactly that kind of coordinated and collaborative approach.
The Challenges
The project began in November 2019, unfortunately just before outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic. What started as a six-month project turned into 16 months, with the resulting change in scope requiring the implementation of an online training platform where SADC member states can continuously engage with the training materials, in their own time and at their own desks. This new tool multiplies the potential positive impact of the online platform, as opposed to in-person training only. One of the SIMEXs was a simulation of a contagious disease outbreak in the SADC region. While COVID-19 had not yet been considered as one of the specific disasters, a disease outbreak was simulated, providing a positive training platform for the real-world variables.
Disasters do not respect the man-made borders between countries. But in the absence of region-wide preparedness and response institutional and coordination mechanisms, countries often find it challenging to adequately address cross-border events in a cooperative and collaborative fashion. In the case of this project, all SADC member states were eager to be involved. They participated actively in the initial in-person workshops, and virtual events (workshops, SIMEX and virtual training), commending SADC and the team for designing the deliverables of this project.
The Solution
Working with SADC Secretariat’s Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, supported by the World Bank, Pegasys assisted in strengthening and standardising SADC’s regional disaster preparedness and response mechanisms. The Pegasys-led team developed a programme with the following core components:
FACT-FINDING: Pegasys conducted a SADC regional and national hazard, response and preparedness analysis. This included detailed country and regional risk and capacity assessments, and mapped a wide range of natural and climatic hazards across the region.
BUILDING THE FOUNDATION: Pegasys put together a roadmap for coordinating and mobilising the rollout of regional humanitarian, early warning, relief and recovery resources. This included development of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Emergency Response Team (ERT) and SADC Standby Force Contingency Plan; a communications strategy; and a regional emergency roster, which mapped out the technical expertise selection procedures, enabling responsive actions at regional levels for timely interventions.
CAPACITY BUILDING: Pegasys developed an online training portal that offered emergency response essential kits and tools. This included mechanisms for knowledge management and information sharing, and hazard-based simulation exercises (SIMEX) guidelines and scripts for country-level disaster simulation exercises and a regional- level simulation exercise. Pegasys also developed specific training modules, such as one for the Emergency Response Team (ERT).
FUNDING: Pegasys devised a financial sustainability plan and created the SADC Regional Disaster Preparedness and Response Fund. This also included SADC Disaster Preparedness and Response Fund Guidelines, culminating in the sensitisation of the SADC member states on the assessment and utilisation of Regional Disaster Preparedness and Response Fund; a fund resource mobilisation strategy; and a fund monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system.
There is now a standard set of understanding and processes – both communication and emergency response-related, and fund-related – to address any major disaster event. There is a common understanding across SADC of what is possible, what can be done, and how it should be done.
Dr Maryna Storie, Principal
THE RESULTS
The project produced a documented set of aligned processes, procedures and tools to support the SADC DRR Unit and all member states in their efforts to prepare and respond to disasters, through institutional and coordination mechanisms.
The project created a roadmap for mobilising and coordinating the processes, protocols, funding and expertise needed for an effective disaster response. It formed an emergency response team and established standard operating procedures for SADC’s joint operating centre, with communication strategies to enhance early-warning and risk communication within member states and across the region. It also developed a SADC fund, with agreements in place regarding its distribution, monitoring and evaluation.
It positioned SADC as a regional body that responds quickly and effectively to member states’ needs, while creating a space in which they can engage with each other for harmonised and unified disaster preparedness and response.
Ultimately, this project ensured that those who are hardest hit by disaster events in the SADC region can communicate the support they need, and then receive it – quickly and effectively.
