The European Union and ACP Secretariat concluded a Contribution Agreement with SOPAC in May 2009 which will facilitate the mobilisation of funding and technical support under the ACP/EU Natural Disaster Facility of the 9th European Development Fund.
The 4-year Facility has been established to adopt a coherent approach to assist Pacific ACP states to effectively build their resilience to the long-term impact of natural disasters through the development and strengthening of regional and national disaster risk reduction and disaster management activities.
Specifically the Facility will support the development and implementation of Disaster Risk Management National Action Plans consistent with the Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action 2005 – 2015. The Facility will also enhance development decision-making in Pacific countries by strengthening the capacity of a DRM web information portal, the Pacific Disaster Net.
SOPAC will work in close coordination and cooperation with other members of the Pacific DRM Partnership Network to provide support to Pacific ACP states through this Facility.
Following the activation of the Facility in May 2009, SOPAC has been recruiting specialists to lead the initiatives in relation to National Action Plans. This recruitment will be completed in mid-September and it is anticipated that support to the countries will commence shortly thereafter.
The responsibility for the Facility within SOPAC rests with the Community Risk Programme.
