Sierra Leone: National disaster preparedness and response plan (NDPRP)
The purpose of the National Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan (NDPRP) is to establish a comprehensive all-hazard approach to national incident management spectrum of activities including preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery. The plan incorporates best practices as shown in other regions of the world.
- The National Response Plan provides a framework of interaction between the State, Non-Governmental Organisations, United Nations Agencies, Private sector, Community-Based Organisations and Youth Groups.
- The plan establishes a mechanism to maximise the integration of incident-related prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
- It provides a focus for inter agency and inter governmental emergency preparedness, planning, training, exercising, coordination and information sharing.
- It spells out the process and methodology for implementing and managing national recovery and mitigation programmes and support / technical services.
- The plan is meant to maximise efficient utilisation of resources needed for effective incident management and critical infrastructure/key resources’ protection and restoration.
- It is intended to improve incident management communication links and increase situation awareness across the public, private and Non-Governmental Organisational structures.
- The plan is geared towards an improvement in coordination and integration of national (and international), provincial, district, private sector and NonGovernmental Organisation partners.
- The plan points out the means of central government support in the form of resources to local effort with the view of saving lives and properties and the protection of public health and safety.
- Thus, the plan establishes assumptions, policies, concept of operations, roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders’ institutions.