About the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission

The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) has the following specific duties and responsibilities:

1. Prepare and revise as required disaster prevention and preparedness national policy; formulate strategy for its application; and upon approval follow up its implementation;
2. Create, strengthen, and administer stand-by capacities over selected and strategic areas for timely, effective, and appropriate response against fast onset and other disasters of national concern;
3. In cooperation with domestic and foreign information sources, to monitor, forecast, and warn against disasters that could affect the agricultural sector and livelihoods of the population;
4. When fast onset or other disasters of national concern occur, in cooperation with concerned bodies, to assess their cause, magnitude and extent; and identify appropriate responses; officially declare the disaster as required;
5. Provide financial and logistics support to relevant bodies for timely response against fast onset and other disasters of national concern; monitor, coordinate, and be involved in prevention and control operations as required;
6. In cooperation with concerned bodies, to timely provide the necessary emergency and recovery assistances to victims of fast onset or other disasters of national concern;
7. Whenever the level of the stand-by capacity is too low to allow timely and appropriate response against fast onset or disasters of national concern, upon approval of the government, to bridge the gap by requesting for and receiving any form of assistance from domestic and foreign sources;
8. When there is a threat of disaster or occurrence of disaster, in cooperation with concerned bodies, to take appropriate and timely measures before, during or after a disaster; follow-up and coordinate the intervention;
9. Mobilize, allocate and disperse resources to beneficiary regions for the implementation of Food Security Programme aimed at attaining food security of chronically food insecure rural households; follow-up and ensure proper utilization of the resource; in cooperation with Regional States and other concerned bodies, make the programme effective;
10. Direct and coordinate the National Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Fund and the National Food Security Reserve;
11. Ensure, coordinate and provide support aimed at mainstreaming of disaster risk management in relevant line ministries and work processes;
12. Provide capacity building support and coordinate Regional States in order to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of Disaster Management and Food Security Programme related activities;
13. Coordinate, follow-up, and supervise activities of non-governmental organizations engaged in disaster prevention and food security programme;
14. Own property, enter into contracts, sue and be sued in its own name;
15. Carry out such other activities as would enhance the attainment of its objectives.