Pitfalls Of National Disaster Management Agency Exposed!!!

By Aruna Momoh Kargbo
A performance audit report on disaster risk reduction activities by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) reveals several pitfalls or lapses on the part of the Agency.
The report which was carried out by the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) highlights that the National Platform is not operational, the disaster management committees are nonfunctional, there is lack of a comprehensive contingency plan to address various disaster risks, an outdated national hazards profile among other lapses.
The report stated that the National Platform, which serves as the highest governing body of the NDMA, has not been operational since the inception of the Agency, noting that there have been no meetings, supervision, or control processes conducted by this platform.
That the absence of an active National Platform has resulted in inadequate planning and preparedness for disaster risk reduction during crises and unapproval of key documents such as the Disaster Management Policy, Partnership Strategy, and the Standard Operating Procedure for Incident Disaster Data Registry.
The audit also revealed that only 3 out of 5 regions, 6 out of 16 districts, and 68 out of 190 chiefdoms have established disaster management committees. “Notably, the Western Area lacks a regional disaster management committee, and the disaster management committee of the Northern Region has been non-functional since June 2022,” the audit stated.
The report noted that the NDMA has not developed the required disaster management plans as mandated by the Act, adding that the plans should outline disaster management strategies for each region, district, and chiefdom and must be consolidated, reviewed, and presented to the National Platform to ensure effective disaster risk management.
The report referenced the NDMA guidelines which states that a total of 211 disaster management plans should be prepared annually (5 regional, 16 districts, and 190 chiefdom disaster management plans) and that for the period reviewed, 633 plans should have been completed, but only 3 were prepared, leaving a shortfall of 630 unprepared plans.
The report also maintained that the Agency lacks a comprehensive contingency plan to address various disaster risks. Additionally, the audit team also noted that the NDMA did not prepare annual work plans for the period under review, stressing that the annual plans are essential as they serve as the building blocks and benchmarks for assessing the Agency’s progress toward achieving its strategic objectives, but that in their absence, it becomes challenging for the NDMA to realise the strategic goals and objectives outlined in its 2021-2025 plan.
“An up-to-date hazard profile is crucial for accurately assessing risks and preparing communities for natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. It identifies vulnerable assets, including people, buildings, and infrastructure, and guides mitigation efforts to minimise potential impacts,” the report stated. It however disclosed that the National Key Hazard Profile has not been updated since 2017, pointing out that the outdated profile may limit the NDMA’s ability to identify current hazards and accurately assess associated risks, thereby impairing their ability to develop effective risk reduction strategies.
The report acknowledged that the Agency has taken proactive steps to enhance risk communication by utilizing community radios, national broadcasts, and coordination forums to improve preparedness and strengthen community resilience against seasonal hazards.
That they have conducted early warning campaigns through various channels, including face-to-face interactions, television and radio broadcasts, the distribution of handbills and billboards, and social media engagement.
That during visits to disaster-prone areas, the auditors noted that there was a lack of billboards and early warning posters in the communities visited adding that concerns were raised about excluding vulnerable people such as the deaf and dumb in information dissemination efforts.
“Despite the progress made, the findings of this report revealed significant shortcomings in how the NDMA manages disaster risk reduction activities in the country,” the report affirmed.