This report begins by considering the extent to which disaster risk reduction (DRR) is main streamed into the disaster risk management laws and institutions in Madagascar. It identifies key laws and regulations in the area of disaster risk management (DRM), especially those applicable nationwide. It finds that these legal frameworks currently focus more on response and recovery than on prevention and DRR. Legislation also provides for DRM bodies at all levels of government administration, including at the community level, although the establishment and effective functioning of these bodies remains a challenge, due in particular to a lack of resources. Hence, although, at a practical level, Madagascar has made considerable progress in preparedness through implementing early warning systems, and many community-level projects are building DRR capacity at the local level, they are not yet well supported by legislative mandates.

 

The report also finds that, in terms of national institutional frameworks for DRR, there has been some overlap between the mandates and practical involvement of two key national DRM bodies, namely the National DRM Coordination Office (the “BNGRC” for the French, Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes) and the Unit for the Prevention and Management of Emergencies (the “CPGU” for the French, Conseil National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes). Practitioners reported that this had caused some confusion as to which agency should be approached concerning particular aspects of DRM, especially with regard to DRR issues. However, subsequent to the country mission, steps have been taken by the government to clarify these institutional mandates at national level. The overlap does not persist at the sub-national levels, as only the BNGRC has

administrative structures at these levels.

 

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies