Hargeisa, July 24, 2024

The Association of Local Government Authorities of Somaliland (ALGASL), in collaboration with the international organization VNG International under the DANWADAAG project, organized a training on community awareness and participation in district-level disaster risk management. This training was attended by 33 participants from the local government authorities of Hargeisa, Burco, Berbera, Borama, and Gabiley. The participants included technical staff from the Departments of Social Affairs and Planning, heads of disaster risk management offices, and members of community committees from the districts.

The training was jointly inaugurated by Khadar Nuur, the Deputy Mayor and Acting Mayor of Hargeisa; Faysal Ali Sheikh, the Chairman of the National Disaster Preparedness and Food Reserve Authority (NADFOR); Khalid Abdi Hirsi, Executive Director of ALGASL; and Abdirahman Yusuf, a representative from VNG International. In their opening remarks, they emphasized the objective of the training and its importance in bridging the gap between the community and local government to ensure effective service delivery.

During the training, participants were educated on community awareness procedures for disaster risk management participation. The goal was to unify the efforts of local governments and their communities, fostering a lasting partnership to address the challenges posed by disasters at the district level. Disaster risk management requires coordinated and unified action to reduce the impact of disasters and build resilient communities.

The DANWADAAG project aims to strengthen the operational capacity related to disaster preparedness and prevention by integrating the collaborative efforts of government agencies and the community. This training marks a significant step in enhancing the synergy between local governments and communities in disaster risk management.

The two-day training aimed to enhance community participation and awareness in managing district-level risks. It focused on increasing the knowledge and skills of participants in best practices for engaging communities in the planning and implementation of disaster risk management. The training also covered preparedness and response to emergencies, highlighting the critical role of community involvement in mitigating risks faced by districts. Additionally, the training addressed effective communication methods to engage communities during times of crisis and the development of proactive and practical prevention plans.

The closing session of the training, which involved participants from Hargeisa, Burco, Berbera, Borama, and Gabiley, marked the successful completion of this significant initiative aimed at strengthening the collaboration between communities and local governments in managing and raising awareness about disaster risks.

Amani Yusuf Yonis

Communication Officer

Association of Local Government Authorities of Somaliland (ALGASL)