Mandate and Functions

• Co-ordinate disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts during crises such as floods, droughts, fires, disease outbreaks, pandemics as well as other national emergencies and geological disasters.

• In collaboration with the National Youth Service (NYS), provide food aid (relief) and other essential supplies to affected populations;

• Maintain a Strategic Food Reserve;

• In partnership with NYS, provide shelter and mobility solutions including mobile bridges in affected communities;

• Co-ordination of rescue assistance with National and County Governments;

• Co-ordination of rescue assistance with National and County Governments;

• In collaboration with the Office of the Spokesperson and the National Government Communication Centre (NGCC), manage information and public communication during emergencies and disasters;

• Develop programmes to help communities adapt to and mitigate the impact of disasters;

• Implement disaster recovery programmes to rebuild communities and restore livelihoods after crises;

• Implement comprehensive disaster preparedness and awareness programmes, incorporating drills and evacuation exercises;

• Develop initiatives to help communities prepare for and adapt to future challenges, including guidelines for early warning and early action programming;

• Issue guidelines for escalation protocols for emergency assistance requests from counties;

• Manage the settlement of families displaced by natural calamities and disasters;

• Co-ordinate the mobilization of NYS as a standby emergency force and volunteers during national emergencies; and

• Establish a framework for coordinating donations from the public and other assistance to victims of emergencies and disasters.

Institutions:

• The National Emergency Response and Recovery Secretariat
• National Disaster Operations Center
• The National Drought Emergency Fund (National Drought Management Authority Act, Cap 388)
• National Steering Committee on Disaster Response (Gazette Notice No. 6263 of 2024)