By Yankho Kandio

Salima, April 30, Mana: The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) on Tuesday emphasized on the importance of building resilient communities through capacity building and sharing of risk information to communities.

The sentiments were made during a capacity building of officials from Salima District Council and stakeholders on a project called Risk-Informed Development for Resilience (RID4R), marking a significant step towards enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience at the local level.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Director for Resilience Development at DoDMA, Heston Manjoka said the RID4R Project replaces the previous DRM4R initiative, shifting focus from infrastructure development to capacity building within councils and communities.

“This new project is largely focused on the software part, building capacity of councils and addressing gaps identified in the implementation of the previous DRM4R project,” he said.

Manjoka said Salima was selected among the five councils including Dedza, Nkhotakota, Mzuzu and Zomba Cities due to its vulnerability and limited partner presence in disaster risk management.

“We want to level the playing field so that less-recognized districts like Salima also have the same capacity and information as areas that receive more attention, such as Nsanje or Phalombe," he added.

He said Salima will also benefit from the national multi-hazard risk assessment, allowing the district to identify and address its own specific risks.

Director of Agricultural Services, Enford Kanyimbo emphasized on the importance of the RID4R Project in bridging information gaps and ensuring inclusive participation.

“This project is here to make sure risk information is made available to communities; Salima has 12 Traditional Authorities (TAs), but only two will initially be covered. It’s our responsibility to ensure that all stakeholders in the district are engaged and informed," he said.

District Disaster Risk Management Officer for Salima welcomed the initiative, citing the district’s exposure to multiple hazards.

“Salima is prone to flash floods, dry spells, strong winds, and outbreaks of pests and diseases,” she said. “We are ready to implement this project to strengthen the capacity of our communities in disaster preparedness and resilience.

The RID4R Project is expected to transform disaster risk management at the grassroots level by decentralizing planning and empowering communities with relevant data and tools to mitigate and respond to disasters more effectively.

The total budget for the RID4R is USD2.7 Million (Approximately MK4.7 Billion), funded by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and is designed to be flexible so that additional resources can be mobilized during the four-year period.