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The Gender and Social Inclusion Unit of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has convened the maiden meeting of its Women in Disaster Management Initiative with the Director General, John Vandy Rogers, on Tuesday, 31st March 2026.
The meeting focused on reviewing the initiative’s Terms of Reference to strengthen its operational framework and develop a clear roadmap for its official launch. The initiative forms part of NDMA’s broader commitment to aligning its operations with global best practices in gender-responsive disaster management. It also aims to empower female staff, enhance their capacity, and institutionalize gender mainstreaming across all aspects of disaster management.
In his remarks, Director General Rogers highlighted the strategic importance of gender inclusion, noting that sustainable resilience cannot be achieved without the full and active participation of women.
“Mainstreaming gender in disaster management is not optional, it is essential. As an agency, we are committed to creating the space, systems, and opportunities for women to contribute meaningfully to disaster risk reduction and leadership,” he stated.
He further emphasized that the initiative aligns with key international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, which promotes inclusive approaches to managing disaster risks, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which underscores the importance of gender equality across all sectors, including emergency and disaster contexts.
“We are not only responding to global standards and local policy requirements, we are domesticating them in a way that reflects our local realities. This initiative will ensure that women within NDMA are empowered, equipped, and positioned to lead and excel,” he added.
During the meeting, female staff members described the initiative as both educative and inspiring. The session also featured experience sharing and discussions on advancing women’s rights, participation, and leadership within the disaster management space.
Deputy Director General Sulaiman B. Sowa urged female staff to fully utilize opportunities within the agency to strengthen their competencies while upholding high standards of integrity and professionalism.
Both the Director General and Deputy Director General were conferred the honour of becoming the first “Allies” of the initiative, in recognition of their role in promoting gender-sensitive leadership within the agency.
The Women in Disaster Management Initiative demonstrates NDMA’s commitment to embedding gender inclusion at the core of its operations, ensuring that no one is left behind in delivering its mandate.
