One UN Joint Programme: Strengthening National Disaster Preparedness and Response Capacity

National Context

Tanzania is prone to natural and human-made hazards including drought and agricultural pests, floods and earthquakes. Disasters affect livelihoods, destroy infrastructure and cause food insecurity and health problems. The drought of 2005-06, the Northern Tanzania floods of 2006-07, followed by the recent outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in February 2007, Zanzibar floods and cholera outbreaks occurring almost every year in the last decade, are all reminders of disaster potentials. In addition, based on the migratory patterns of birds, avian flu is considered an emerging threat, with East Africa identified as a risk zone.

Persistent and emerging disaster risks have highlighted the need to strengthen national structures in Tanzania to minimize these risks, prepare for potential disasters and support the building of sustainable capacities to manage a response in case a disaster strikes.
In the spirit of UN reform and the UN Development Assistance Framework, the vision of the UN in Tanzania is closer cooperation of UN agencies in supporting the Government in disaster management. A step in this direction was taken with the development of the Joint Programme to support disaster risk management efforts in both mainland and Zanzibar.

Objectives and outcomes

The overall goal of this joint programme, which is part of the One UN Programme, is to enhance national capacity to reduce vulnerability and mitigate disasters. The focus is on strengthening institutional, organizational and individual capacities of the Government to conduct better disaster preparedness. The programme builds on the achievements reached so far and takes advantage of the existing strengths and opportunities involving all administrative levels, from national to community levels.

The National Strategies for Growth and Reduction of Poverty (MKUKUTA for mainland and MKUZA for Zanzibar) articulate that the targeted growth is aimed to be strong enough to withstand two separate threats: Firstly, external shocks such as trade deficits and unpredictable commodity prices and secondly, shocks due to natural or man-made disasters. In addition, The National Disaster Management Policy (2004) and the National Operational Guidelines for Disaster Management (2003), set the policy framework, which aims to develop adequate capacity for coordination and cooperation for comprehensive disaster management among key players at all levels. Mainstreaming disaster management activities as an integral part of development programmes in all sectors is the goal.

Tanzania has endorsed the Hyogo Framework of Action, and the African Union Regional Disaster Reduction Strategy, which clearly commit countries to addressing disaster risks in a proactive and participatory way.
The One UN joint programme will cover the following focus areas in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar: 
     1.  Support in assessment of risks and immediate capacity needs
     2.  Capacity development and coordination of disaster preparedness and an institutional framework for disaster risk management
     3.  Strengthen inter-sector coordination and mainstreaming
     4.  Strengthening disaster preparedness and response at District and Community levels and public awareness programme

The coordination will be led by UN agencies and will be implemented by respective government institutions, guided by the principles of:
     •    National ownership and implementation
     •    Integration and alignment of disaster risk reduction with National Development Strategies
     •    Upstream policy advice and capacity strengthening has priority
     •    Sustainability of disaster reduction systems and capacities in Tanzania on   all administrative levels.

Capacities in management of disaster risks and disaster impacts will be enhanced for both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar. Greater consciousness of disaster risks among the population of the country and improved coordination in management of disasters across institutions and organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, is expected. 

This two-year programme is preparatory assistance that could lead to a larger long-term programme through mainstreaming of disaster risk management into overall national strategies such as MKUKUTA and MKUZA and the funding of disaster risk management activities through the direct budget support mechanism.