The two-day workshop on the Nagaland Disaster Risk Reduction Roadmap (NDRR) 2023-2030, organized by the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), commenced at the Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, on August 8, 2024.
In his speech, Advisor for New & Renewable Energy and NSDMA, Z Nyusietho Nyuthe, highlighted that Nagaland is located in one of the most vulnerable seismic zones, with land that is weak and exposed to multiple disaster risks such as landslides, floods, earthquakes, forest fires, and strong winds. He stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister and Chairman of NSDMA, Neiphiu Rio, the NSDMA has developed the Nagaland Disaster Risk Reduction Roadmap, with the hope of securing the future of Nagaland against these risks. Nyuthe added that the NDRR is a policy document designed to achieve long-term resilience in the state against the threats posed by climate and disaster risks. This strategic document, developed by NSDMA with technical support from UNICEF, envisions strategic action plans for various stakeholders.
Nyuthe explained that the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) actions under each priority of the Sendai Framework involve defined collaboration from various stakeholders and set attainable targets in alignment with national and global frameworks such as the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This workshop, led by NSDMA in collaboration with UNICEF, is an effort to explore the necessary steps for the progressive implementation of the roadmap, particularly in understanding the relevance of resilient governance systems, efficient social sector services, livelihood resilience, emergency response systems, infrastructural resilience, and risk-informed planning. It also emphasizes the roles of various stakeholders, including the government, academia, the private sector, and civil society groups. By securing sustained commitment of human and financial resources from all stakeholders, the roadmap aims to minimize disruptions caused by disasters and enhance the capacity to recover swiftly from future hazards.
During the launch of the NDRR Roadmap, Nyuthe stated that it signifies a pivotal advancement towards a safer and more resilient Nagaland, underscoring the collective dedication of the people to strengthening preparedness, preserving the landscape and heritage from disaster risks, and ensuring sustainable development to build a resilient Nagaland where every citizen can thrive without fear of disasters.
Nyuthe encouraged all participants to actively learn the art of result-oriented project proposal formulation methods and techniques, which have been designed with Nagaland’s topography, geomorphology, and culture in mind.
In his welcome address, Joint Chief Executive Officer of NSDMA, Johnny Ruangmei, mentioned that the workshop on the Nagaland Disaster Risk Reduction Roadmap aims to provide practical guidance for stakeholders to take actions to minimize the impact of disasters in the state, reduce disaster risks, mitigate the impact of climate change, and achieve sustainable development goals.
Ruangmei outlined the objectives of the two-day workshop, which include:
i. Developing a baseline of disaster loss and damage from 2010-2020
ii. Identifying strategic opportunities for stakeholders (government, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and UN agencies) to collaborate on DRR actions
iii. Setting realistic short-, medium-, and long-term targets for stakeholders based on baseline data, in line with the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Agenda on DRR, SFDRR, SDGs, and Paris Agreement commitments. The timeframes for short-term actions may be 0-2 years, 2-4 years for medium-term actions, and 4-8 years or more for long-term actions, subject to changes depending on various factors, including changing needs and advances in technology
iv. Mobilizing long-term commitment of human and financial resources from stakeholders.
Mukunda Upadhyay, Senior Consultant for DRR at UNICEF India, and Rahul Dey, a technical expert from UNICEF India, are the two resource persons for the two-day workshop on the Nagaland Disaster Risk Reduction Roadmap 2023-2030.