Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa (GECEAO) - 10th Annual Regional Consultation, 31 May – 2 June 2016, Saly, Sénégal

In the continuous effort to improve preparedness related to disasters and to strengthen the capacity of governments to respond effectively, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for West and Central Africa (OCHA ROWCA) and the National Service of the Civil Protection of Guinea Bissau are organizing the 10th Regional Consultation of the Regional Committee for Disaster Management in West Africa (GECEAO). The Consultation will be held in Saly, Senegal from 31 May to 2 June 2016.

This 10th regional consultation will focus on the following key themes:

• ECOWAS’ Disaster Management Agency Model;
• Early warning systems and risk monitoring;
• Strengthening of epidemics surveillance in West Africa: best practices and lessons learnt;
• The five year plan of the West Africa Disaster Preparedness Initiative (WADPI);
• Governments’ guide on Disaster Response Preparedness – Minimum Preparedness Actions;
• Civil-military Cooperation in Disaster Response;
• Implementation of the Sendai Action Plan and update on ongoing Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives;
• Key outcomes of the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS): what does it mean for West Africa;
• ECOWAS’ Emergency Response Team Roster update.

Experts will exchange with participants and share various tools available for emergency preparedness, response and coordination.