Organised by the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) for the validation of the Third Biennial Report, the workshop’s aim was to implement the Programme Action (PoA) of the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

During this workshop, member states were divided into subgroups according to their African regions. As a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Seychelles was categorised under the SADC group, whereby the data gathered on the national disasters in the Biennial Report 2021-2022 were validated.

The workshop also presented an opportunity for member states, including Seychelles to evaluate the gaps and challenges faced in terms of data collection and data management in their respective countries.

Moreover, recommendations for collective data and the new Biennial Report Portal platform were discussed, for ease access and data inputs on ongoing disasters within member states of participating countries.

Ms. Rachel was accompanied by Ms. Annicka Chetty, Risk Management Officer also from the Preparedness and Planning unit.

The objective of the workshop was to implement the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) Strategic Development Plan 2022-2023 in efforts to boost Resilience Building and Disaster Response Management in the Indian Ocean (RDRM IO) project to aid in reducing and mitigating the potential of various casualties caused by a disaster.

During this workshop, the Director General of DRMD, Mr. Robert Ernesta explained the works and efforts conducted by Disaster Risk Management Division to boost disaster risk reduction in Seychelles. Mr. Ernesta was accompanied by Mr. Daniel Cetoupe the Chief Risk Management Officer and Ms. Aisha Rachel the Head of Planning and Preparedness unit.

The international representatives present were from the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), United Nations (UN), Indian Ocean Regional Intervention Platform (PIROI), and members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the Indian Ocean Regional Intervention Platform (PIROI) hosted the second regional workshop for the establishment of regional cooperation mechanism on disaster risk reduction in the Indian Ocean region at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort and Casino over a two-day period from Tuesday 7th May 2024 to Wednesday 8th May 2024.

The objective of the workshop was to implement the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) Strategic Development Plan 2022-2023 in efforts to boost Resilience Building and Disaster Response Management in the Indian Ocean (RDRM IO) project to aid in reducing and mitigating the potential of various casualties caused by a disaster.

During this workshop, the Director General of DRMD, Mr. Robert Ernesta explained the works and efforts conducted by Disaster Risk Management Division to boost disaster risk reduction in Seychelles. Mr. Ernesta was accompanied by Mr. Daniel Cetoupe the Chief Risk Management Officer and Ms. Aisha Rachel the Head of Planning and Preparedness unit.

The international representatives present were from the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), United Nations (UN), Indian Ocean Regional Intervention Platform (PIROI), and members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The aim of this workshop was to encourage the members of Southern African Development Community (SADC) to implement impact-based forecasting which utilises weather forecasting to predict and communicate the potential impacts of weather and climate events on society, the economy and the environment. Attendees discussed the modalities of anticipatory action, interpretation of meteorological data and translating it into actionable impact forecasted as part of the in-person training programme targeting disaster managers, emergency coordinators, food security analysts, meteorologists and other experts involved in weather and climate related decision making and risk management.

Following the first 3 days training session, Mr. Robert Ernesta, the Director General of Disaster Risk Management Division, also the Chairperson for the Seychelles Vulnerability Assessment Committee (SezVac) presented the workplans of the committee for the year 2024/2025.  Several activities were discussed, including the review of National Food and Nutrition Security Policy and the Situational Analysis Report.

During this presentation, Mr. Ernesta also explained the effects of the El Niño phenomenon on Seychelles through the disasters of massive flash flood and extensive rockfalls in the North of Mahé on December 6, 2023.

The El Niño phenomenon refers to the warming of the ocean’s surface or the above average sea surface temperature in the Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean which occurs at irregular intervals, two to seven years. The phenomenon is also associated with drought, erratic rainfall and high temperatures. These occurrences lead to water scarcity, reduced food availability and disease outbreaks.

The Seychelles delegation briefed the attendees of the workshop on the events surrounding the disaster on the 6^th December 2023, which was related to the El Niño phenomenon.

According to SADC, there has been an increase in the number of reported disasters whose intensity, frequency and level of devastation has been increasing, henceforth compromising the developmental strides that the region has been making. Thus, March 2022, the Secretary General of the United Nations directed the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) to a new initiative that will provide every citizen on the planet, including Seychelles with the coverage of an Early Warning System.

Through this workshop, DRMD obtained several elements on anticipatory approach through group discussions and open-ended scenarios to boost proactive measures prior to disasters to minimize risks, protect lives, livelihoods, and enhance resilience.

Attending the workshop were Mr. Robert Ernesta, the Director General of DRMD, Ms. Aisha Rachel, the Head of Planning and Preparedness unit and Ms. Brenda Cheptoo from Seychelles Meteorological Authority.