Rwanda is taking part in an African conference focused on reducing disaster risks and strengthening resilience across the continent.
The International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Africa opened in Mozambique on Tuesday, October 13.
President Daniel Francisco Chapo officially opened the conference, which was organised by the African Union Commission, the Government of Mozambique and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner attended the opening ceremony. The country is represented by ACP Egide Mugwiza, Director General in charge of Response and Recovery Operations at the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA).
The conference comes as African countries work to strengthen preparedness for hazards including floods, droughts and storms, which can cross national borders and disrupt communities, livelihoods and infrastructure.
In Southern Africa, the 2015–2016 drought and Cyclones Idai and Kenneth in 2019 highlighted the need for stronger regional coordination. SADC’s 2022–2030 disaster risk management strategy prioritises early warning, preparedness, response and recovery, alongside climate adaptation and urban resilience.
The discussions also connect to the African Union’s programme for implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, a global plan running from 2015 to 2030.
It calls for countries to reduce disaster losses by understanding risks, strengthening governance, investing in prevention and improving preparedness for effective response and recovery.
Rwanda has also been working to link early warnings with timely action.
In September, MINEMA reported that a national training brought together about 50 participants to improve how weather and climate information is produced, shared and used in preparedness and decision-making.
For Rwanda and its regional partners, the challenge is to turn these strategies into practical measures that reach communities before disasters strike, and help them recover when they do.
