Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) courtesy call on SADC Executive Secretary
Mr. Ignacio Leon-Garcia, Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA), paid a courtesy call on the SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax on October 8, 2014.
The purpose of the visit was mainly to discuss the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between SADC and OCHA at the Opening of the World Humanitarian Summit Regional Consultation for Southern and Eastern Africa to be held in Johannesburg, 27-29 October 2014.
OCHA has since 2007 supported SADC, its Member States and their international partners in strengthening disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the region. The purpose of the proposed MOU is (i) to establish a framework for the cooperation between SADC and OCHA with a view to enhance the effective response to disasters in Southern Africa; (ii) improve the capacities of SADC and its Member States in disaster risk management and humanitarian assistance; (iii) advocate for the rights of people affected by social conflicts and natural disasters; and (iv) create an enabling environment for sustainable development.
