NDMA and IRC Forge Partnership to Enhance Disaster Resilience in Pakistan

Islamabad, In a significant move to strengthen disaster resilience in Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) on April 16, 2024, at the IRC Pakistan office, marking a formal commitment to collaboration.

According to National Disaster Management Authority, the ceremony was attended by NDMA Chairman Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik and IRC-Pakistan Country Director Ms. Shabnam Baloch, along with Mr. Raza Iqbal. This partnership aims to integrate and enhance disaster management and resilience strategies across Pakistan, leveraging both NDMA’s operational capabilities and IRC’s global humanitarian expertise.

Chairman Malik highlighted the strategic import of this collaboration, noting that NDMA’s National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) has provided a comprehensive outlook on potential hazards and emergencies expected in the next six months. This information will serve as a critical base for both organizations to effectively strategize and prepare response plans.

The scope of the partnership includes strengthening community-based disaster risk management/reduction models, creating a toolkit of best practices, and developing anticipatory actions. It also involves consultations on innovative programs and stakeholder engagement to enhance resilience among communities, civil society organizations, and local institutions.

Additionally, the collaboration will extend to policy advocacy, providing technical support to academic groups focusing on disaster management, preparedness, and resilience, and aligning these efforts with multi-sectoral climate adaptive initiatives. NDMA and IRC will jointly host engagements to disseminate findings and share learnings with relevant stakeholders at national and provincial levels.

Ms. Baloch expressed a strong commitment to the partnership, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters, particularly in the Pakistani context.

Both leaders affirmed their dedication to advancing the resilience agenda through tri-party partnerships that incorporate state institutions, civil society, and community inputs into decision-making processes. This strategic alliance is set to enhance the preparedness and response mechanisms in Pakistan, ensuring a more resilient society in the face of future challenges.