The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) in partnership with UNDP has facilitated the development of a The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) in partnership with UNDP has facilitated the development of a global, open-source risk assessment tool for humanitarian crises and disasters. This tool will support strategic and programmatic decisions about crisis management and disaster prevention, preparedness, response and risk-informed long-term development planning processes. 

The INFORM Risk Model was developed through technical support from a UNDP-engaged consultant, Map Action and funding from NORCAP, part of the Norwegian Refugee Council global provider of expertise to the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding sectors. The model will also be used for context analysis on resilience building from all kinds of external and internal shocks. 

To ensure that the INFORM model meets the needs of the country, stakeholders gathered at Sibane Sami Hotel on December 18 to 19 to review and make final inputs before it is rolled out nationwide. Stakeholders include representatives of government, UN agencies and civil society organizations. The two-day workshop focused on the validation of the draft Risk Model created by the Map Action team and a technical handover to the NDMA staff with hands-on training on the tool.

Speaking at the official opening of the workshop, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Nessie Golakai, said multiple disasters continue to remind us of our responsibility to tackle vulnerability and the most prevalent hazards that are generated in and out of the country.

“UNDP Eswatini is committed to working with you to reduce and address multiple risks we are facing, provide better early warning systems and facilitate risk-informed development to progress towards aspirations and goals set in the National Development Plan,” she said.

NDMA Director of Early Warning and Research, Eric Seyama, appreciated partners and stakeholders for their participation in putting together the INFORM Risk model, adding that Eswatini is a champion of the tool in the SADC region and beyond. 

“It is because we take risk information very seriously in our daily planning,” said Seyama, adding: “We know that risk information is very important for our programming so we believe that this tool will change the risk management landscape of the country.” 

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) supported SADC and member states in the participation in the process that led to the development of the roadmap for scaling up the INFORM RISK Model in the SADC Region.