UNCT WORKING GROUP ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT

The Working Group on Disaster Management will review OCHA (Office for Humanitarian Affairs) recommendations for more effective UN disaster response, with a view to strengthening the UN agencies’ capacity to support the government.

Collaboration on Cross-cutting Issues

The Disaster Management Task Force (FAO-led with ILO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, WHO, WB) was trained on UN procedures and experience in disaster response and preparedness and was briefed on government policies and capacities for disaster response and management. The briefing was conducted by the National Disaster Coordinating Council.

It also coordinated with the Department of Agriculture on responses to disasters affecting agriculture; and discussed with donors the possibility of providing assistance to disaster-affected areas.

The UN Country Team was involved in the following activities where human rights was a key issue:

• Sponsorship of a national position paper and forum on Racism in preparation for the August conference.

• Forum on human rights-based approach to a Common Country Assessment and UNDAF, as an initial discussion on the concept of a human-rights-based approach to UN development, to be followed by training for all staff in 2002.

• UN agencies’ participation and support for the Human Rights Day celebration, including a film festival.

Membership