James Kpargoi, Jr. reports on training session to commence this week as part of a three year 'West Africa Disaster Management Capacity-Building' project for institutional development and cross border disaster management cooperation in three national societies in West Africa. It is organized by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Swedish Civil Contingency Agency (MSB).
According to the Liberian Journal, the objective of the West Africa Disaster Management Capacity-Building Project is centred on improving and strengthening the National Societies disaster management capacities in risk reduction-mitigation, preparedness, and response. It calls for concerted cooperation between the partners including the IFRC, Swedish Red Cross, Swedish Civil Contingency Agency and the three National Societies.
Kpargoi reports that in Liberia, the project is now at the Activity 5 level which calls for the development of an Early Warning System and identifying a pilot community. Already, Nimba County has been identified for the pilot of the Early Warning System (EWS) development and implementation. Nimba was selected due to its vulnerability to disaster, especially flood and storm.