A workshop was held yesterday to finalise the Project Implementation Work plan for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)/ Disaster Risk Management (DRM).
Under the theme of “Building Resilience and Sustainable Livelihood”, the meeting was held at the UNDP office.
According to a release from GINA, the workshop included representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the Civil Defence Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture and dealt with ways to strengthen capacities and operating frameworks within the agriculture sector to prevent and mitigate the impacts of disasters while promoting efficient and effective restoration of livelihoods through a well-coordinated mechanism.
Shabnam Mallick, the Resident Representative for the UNDP, in her welcoming remarks, stated that agriculture is the most disaster sensitive sector and it is heavily dependent on improvement phenomena for DRR and DRM.
“Guyana is extremely susceptible to hydro disasters, and with this, several United Nations agencies have been playing a major role in coordinating disaster risk management initiatives as there is a vital need to strengthen disaster risk management in Guyana,” she said.
The release stated that historically, Guyana’s agriculture sector plays an important role in Guyana’s economy and accounts for approximately 25 percent of the national GDP and provides more than 33 percent of direct employment.
While delivering the feature address, the Agriculture Minister, Noel Holder acknowledged the significance of the occasion, adding that the agricultural sector plays a significant role in the fight against poverty and food and nutrition insecurity among other factors, the release stated.
Meanwhile, the FAO’s country representative to Guyana, Reuben Robertson pointed out that improved decision-making and coordination is necessary if Guyana is to respond to disaster at the regional level, the release stated. At the end of the workshop, the participants were expected to give suggestions and recommendations to ensure a successful Project Implementation Work plan which can garner the support of all key players in the industry, the release said.
