COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF A TWO-DAY CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR INSTITUTIONS AND NGOs WORKING ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION.
A two-day capacity building workshop for national and international NGOs, and some relevant government agencies working in the area of Emergency Response and Disaster Risk Reduction was organised by West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP-Nigeria)  with support from Oxfam GB on 26th and 27th of February, 2010 at Summit Villas, Life Camp. Abuja. A total of 33 participants, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), The Nigeria Red Cross, Economic Community of
West Africa States (ECOWAS), Civil Society Organisations and the media were in attendance.
Experts presented Ten (10) papers from this field.
 Observations:
Following extensive discussions, participants made the following observations:  
1. Since the Hyogo Framework for Action [HFA] on Disaster Risk Reduction of 2005 to which Nigeria is a signatory, there has been no effective and functioning national platform for humanitarian actors working in this area in the country. The national platform as it exists in Nigeria excludes civil society active in this sector.
2. NEMA needs to be commended for working with the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to facilitate the introduction of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into the primary and secondary schools curriculum.
3. NEMA needs to be commended for funding and facilitating six Nigerian universities to introduce Disaster Management and Development studies as a Masters Degree course as part of a conscious effort to build capacity in disaster risk reduction and disaster management.
4. A country with a proactive integrated response system will be able to respond to emergencies at the shortest possible time.
5. State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) have limited skills and knowledge for DRR which inhibits their capacity for Disaster Management in the States.  
6. That if Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), SEMAs and NEMA collaborate constantly, it would snowball into effective and efficient emergency response capable of mitigating the impact of disasters, and laying strong foundation for recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
7. Participants noted with delight the positive attitude of the NEMA Management efforts at involving the people/local communities (volunteers) in many aspects of ER and DRR.
8. NGOs and all development partners need to mainstream DRR in programme development.
  Recommendations
   Participants thereafter resolved as follows:
1. To strengthen effective coordination by expanding the national platform for disaster risk reduction to include civil society organisations. Participants called on NEMA, The Nigeria Red Cross, ECOWAS, UN agencies and other frontline actors (international and national NGOs) in Early Response (ER) and DRR to support this initiative
2. To establish a national interagency platform including international and national NGOs on disaster risk reduction and emergency response.
3. To develop a register of DRR and ER practitioners.
  Conclusion
In conclusion, participants commended WANEP-Nigeria and Oxfam Great Britain-Nigeria for organising the workshop and urged them to do more to attract more DRR actors.
Signed:

Ifeanyi Okechukwu
National Network Coordinator
Co signed by:
1. Oxfam Great Britain, Nigeria
2. Nigerian Red Cross, National Head Quarters.
3. ECOWAS Commission
4. Save the Children UK, Nigeria office
5. Justice Development and Peace Commission, Abuja and Ogun State.
6. Country Women Association of Nigeria, Plateau state
7. CBD- NGO Forum, Plateau State.
8. Young Men’s Christian Association Nassarawa state.
9. Adolescent Health and Information Kano state.
10. Women in Agriculture Association, Benue State.
11. Unified Movement of Small Scale Farmers
12. The Pastoral Resolve, Kaduna.
13. .Project Agape. Nassarawa state.
14. COCIN Community Development Programme, Plateau State
15. Civil Society Action on Education for All, Abuja.