Friday, 8 November 2024 – In a crucial step towards strengthening Rwanda’s resilience to natural and man-made disasters, the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, in collaboration with the World Food Programme, hosted the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Conference. This year’s event, themed “Understanding the root causes of disaster risks in Rwanda: from national policies and plans to proactive actions," brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from government, development agencies, civil society, academia, faith-based organizations, and the private sector. Their aim was to advance national strategies for managing disaster risk and promote a proactive and unified approach.

In his opening remarks, Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Albert MURASIRA, Minister in charge of Emergency Management, emphasized the government’s commitment to disaster prevention and preparedness. "The Government of Rwanda has put in place policies and strategies to prevent and reduce disaster risk while ensuring preparedness for effective emergency response," he noted, addressing the gathered stakeholders. "However, the implementation is in the hands of the stakeholders here present. We must increase awareness and information sharing about climate and weather patterns and risk factors at the central, local, and community levels."

Mr. Ozonnia Ojielo, UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, delivered a message on the need for collaborative efforts to strengthen disaster resilience. "Building resilience to disasters requires commitment from all sectors, and it is critical to establish strong networks that enable us to anticipate and respond effectively to emergencies," he stated. His words served as a call, urging participants to prioritize risk reduction initiatives within their sectors to collectively enhance Rwanda's preparedness and response capabilities.

Andrea Bagnoli, WFP Country Director in Rwanda, shared his commitment to advancing resilience efforts across the country, saying, "We’re engaging with the government and partners to drive resilience and proactive strategies for disaster risk reduction in Rwanda." His message highlighted WFP’s dedication to supporting Rwanda's goals of sustainable, community-led disaster preparedness.

The conference supported the recent adoption of Rwanda’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Policy by the Cabinet in May 2023. Participants were encouraged to align their activities with the national goals set out in the National Strategy for Transformation (NST 2), which prioritizes disaster resilience across sectors. The conference also aimed to generate actionable recommendations to enhance the country’s early warning systems and foster anticipatory action.

The conference produced actionable recommendations to strengthen Rwanda’s disaster management infrastructure, including anticipatory actions, improved early warning systems, and enhanced risk-reduction measures. Both MINEMA and WFP reiterated their commitment to building a resilient Rwanda that is well-prepared to respond to future crises.

This conference was one of the events commemorating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, observed globally on October 13 each year.