Disaster risk reduction policy for sustainable development in the Southern African development community: a policy perspective

Abstract

Africa is prone to disasters due to various factors including natural disasters and upheavals precipitated by humans. Complementary challenges are a vulnerable population and the low levels of economic wellbeing that predominate in the region. Disasters of every form hinder the development process in a country and it is thus crucial that there be an appropriate disaster risk reduction process to cushion their impact on development.The rationale of the article is to underline the view that countries investing in capacitating institutions with specialised resources will have a significant impact on minimising the intensity of disaster risks and thus enhance sustainable development. It is imperative that governments collaborate at regional, national and local spheres to create awareness on the disaster risk reduction (DRR) process. This article utilises official reports, scholarly articles and conference proceedings to acquire relevant data in order to explore the status of disaster risk in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Through an analytical and descriptive approach, the article aims to assess the implementation of the Disaster Risk Reduction Policy in SADC countries from a policy perspective. The gaps in the DRR process are identified, and corrective actions for improvement are recommended