Post a comment 
Sierra Leone’s Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency (National Disaster Management Agency), John Vandy Rogers, is playing a leading role at the 17th Meeting of the Regional Committee of Heads of Disaster Management in West Africa (GECEAO) in Abidjan.
The meeting, which began on April 21 and will conclude on April 23, 2026, follows his unanimous selection to chair and moderate proceedings throughout the three-day consultation.
The consultation is being held against the backdrop of concerning seasonal forecasts predicting above-average rainfall across several parts of the region, raising fears of flooding, food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and damage to critical infrastructure.
During the opening session, DG Rogers emphasized the urgency of translating early warning information into concrete action.
“Our role here is not ceremonial; it is about guiding critical conversations that will shape how we protect our people in the months ahead,” he said. “Forecasts must lead to action. If warnings do not translate into preparedness on the ground, then we are failing our communities.”
He also stressed the need for stronger regional collaboration in addressing shared risks.
“The challenges we face are interconnected—floods, health crises, food insecurity—and no single country can address them alone. What we agree here must strengthen coordination and deliver faster, more effective responses across the region,” he added.
The meeting is reviewing progress made since the previous GECEAO consultation, assessing seasonal forecasts, and exploring strategies to bridge the gap between early warning systems and early response—an issue that continues to undermine disaster preparedness efforts in West Africa.
Participants from across ECOWAS Member States, alongside humanitarian and development partners, are working toward concrete recommendations aimed at strengthening coordination frameworks, enhancing data sharing, and improving regional resilience.
