The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a national workshop aimed at equipping educators in Guinea-Bissau with skills to integrate disaster risk reduction (DRR) into the school curriculum.
The three-day event, held at Hotel Dunia in Bissau from November 13 to 15, 2024, gathered 35 educators from primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools across the country.
The initiative seeks to prepare educators to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters on communities and schools, fostering resilience among young learners. Ambassador Ngozi Ukaeje, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea-Bissau, inaugurated the workshop alongside the Secretary of State of the Public Order, His Excellency José Carlos Macedo Monteiro. Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Ukaeje underscored the importance of education in disaster preparedness, tying the effort to ECOWAS Vision 2050 of “Peace and Prosperity for All.”
“This seminar demonstrates ECOWAS’ commitment to building resilience through education, supporting sustainable development across the region,” Ukaeje said.
H.E. Macedo Monteiro praised ECOWAS’ role in disaster response, citing the $670,902 humanitarian aid provided after the 2022 floods in Guinea-Bissau. He emphasized the need for community-level training to effectively respond to and recover from disasters, particularly in high-risk areas.
Inspector-General of Education Mamadu Banjai, representing the Ministry of National Education, expressed concern over Guinea-Bissau’s vulnerability to natural disasters. He lauded the collaboration between the Ministry, the National Civil Protection Agency, and ECOWAS, describing it as a critical step in safeguarding future generations through DRR-focused education.
The workshop aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, advocating for the integration of DRR into education systems. It marks a significant milestone in ECOWAS’ broader agenda to promote safety, resilience, and sustainable development in West Africa.
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