A three-day technical review of the National Disaster Management, Legal Framework and Strategic Action Plan started yesterday at the girls Guides Headquarters in Kanifing. The policy review seeks to strengthen the country's disaster response, mitigation and recovery. 

The review, which was organised by the National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC), under the office of the Vice President presents the opportunity for extensive scrutiny of the policy and its related strategies and framework.

During the course of the meeting, participants will draw up a strategic Action Plan and a Policy to be submitted to the government of The Gambia (GG), while the legal frame work is to be submitted to the Attorney General's Chambers for onward transmission to the National Assembly for its enactment into laws of The Gambia.

Speaking at the meeting, Essa Khan, Disaster Coordinator at the UNDP Country Office, emphasised the importance of effective and efficient coordination of disaster management in any country, adding that the review is a bi-product of the stakeholders' consultative meeting in July 2007, where the idea of developing a policy and legal framework was recommended. 

"The policy documents will be disseminated to the stakeholders and various cluster communities in The Gambia," he said, noting that recommendations from the meeting will enhance effective and efficient coordination and mobilisation of resources.

Momodou Katim Touray, Deputy Governor of Central River Region (CRR), who is also the Deputy Chairman of CRR Regional Disaster Management Committee, chaired the ceremony.