Minister Nkadimeng to convene the BRICS Ministers and the joint task force for disaster management meetings
Minister Thembi Nkadimeng accompanied of CoGTA will convene the 4th meeting of BRICS Ministers responsible for disaster management portfolios on the 08 September 2023. The meeting will be preceded by the 5th Joint Task Force technical engagement scheduled for the 07 September 2023.
The two meetings will be organised under the theme: "Strengthening post pandemic socio-economic recovery, in the BRICS countries". The theme is informed by two of the five cabinet approved priorities which are, Transforming Education and Skills Development for the Future and Strengthening Post-Pandemic Socio-Economic Recovery and the Attainment of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.
This theme also resonates with Priority 4 of the Sendai Framework (SDF) for Disaster Risk Reduction which advocates for “enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response, and to ‘build back better’ in recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction”.
The hosting of the 4th meeting of BRICS Ministers responsible for disaster management in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality has great significance. The Metro has seen a number of disasters which led to the destruction of properties and infrastructure owing to climate change. This makes Ethekwini a good case study in the quest to ensure disaster risk reduction through building back better using risk-informed and climate resilient innovations.
The COVID-19 contributed to a devastation on the Metro, this further which was compounded by climate related disaster phenomenon which befittingly gives the participants in these crucial BRICS meetings a practical appreciation of the devastation as well as the rehabilitation and recovery interventions to prevent or mitigate the impact of future risks.
Central to the meeting of Ministers of BRICS countries will be to plan for “building back better”, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the deliberations will delve into socio-economic dynamics impacting member countries and how to cooperate and synergize efforts to revive the economies and resume plans and activities for the attainment of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.
Broadly, BRICS countries will present respective positions with respect to strengthening post pandemic socio-economic recovery against the main aim of the SDF, which is to achieve substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods, and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries, for the period between 2015 to 2030.
This is an important platform to reflect on lessons learnt from the coordination of the national state of disasters and the impact-based early warning to improve early action and safeguard community lives and livelihoods. Critical also is the funding mechanisms for recovery and rehabilitation towards building back better through integrating climate change adaptability, eco-based disaster risk reduction and community-based planning in disaster management.
The meetings will culminate in proposals for Joint Action Plan and Roadmap for implementation (2023 to 2024) and a revised eThekwini Declaration to be signed by the Ministers. Participants will also include government administrative leadership, Heads of National, provincial, and local Disaster Management Centers as well as Disaster Management institutional structures, Civil society organizations, academia, private sectorand Research institutions.
Members of the media are invited to cover the meetings as follows:
Day 1:
Date: 07 September 2023
Venue: Inkosi Albert Luthuli, Durban International Convention Centre
Meeting: BRICS Joint Task Force for Disaster Management
Day 2:
Date: 08 September 2023
Venue: Inkosi Albert Luthuli, Durban International Convention Centre
Meeting: BRICS Ministers for Disaster Management
Members of the media wishing to cover the BRICS Ministers and Joint Task Force Meetings are requested to apply for accreditation using the attached template before/by 01 September 2023 and submit to: Neliswa Chiloane, Cell: +27 66 333 0014/ E-mail: Neliswac@cogta.gov.za
Enquiries: Tsekiso Machike: +27 78 237 3900 or Legadima Leso: +27 66 479 9904
