Objective & Description
The PIEMA has been established in 2013 to strengthen preparedness and response capacity in the Pacific by improving interoperability between key emergency service providers.
Improving countries' preparedness and response capacity helps diminish the impact of disasters, in terms of damage, destruction, loss of property, physical injuries and deaths. More effective disaster management supports a quicker recovery process, and diminishes the impact on sustainable development.
Governance & Coordination Mechanisms
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community is the organisation facilitating the partnership. The activities will be initially implemented at national level through an on-going EU funded project (Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific BSRP). The regional component will also be facilitated by SPC. Specific regional programs have been proposed. These include Structural building safety, fire investigation, community preparedness and safety and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) that may attract sponsorship/funding from other regional partners.
Implementation Methodologies
PIEMA is building upon a number of pre-existing arrangements between fire and emergency services in the Pacific Region and AFAC member agencies. This arrangement will be expanded to include:
First, an expanded Memorandum of Understanding which will be formalized to include the NDMOs to the existing in-country fire services and the AFAC twinning partner.
Secondly, partners will support the development of a 4 year strategic engagement plan towards a strengthened and improved inter-agency cooperation and inter-operability model.
Thirdly, selected activities will be identified for priority implementation. Several programs are already, or in the process of implementation
Arrangements for Capacity Building and Technology Transfer
- Momentum will be maintained through the bi-annual meetings of the PIEMA as well as direct linkages into the annual meetings of the Regional Disaster Managers, PICP and PIFSA. This will ensure strategic direction is set bi-annually and operational and tactical monitoring annually through the sector specific bodies.
- A website will be available by the 4th Quarter of 2014 (attached to PDN) to allow information dissemination, highlight developments in the partnership and a calendar of events. This will be further upgraded (may become a standalone site) with a member section which will allow online forums, online meetings and exchange of TCB materials.
- Currently PIEMA activities are included as articles within the SOPAC Snap Shots Newsletter. This is envisaged to be review in 2015 towards PIEMA developing its own Newsletter to highlight Emergency Management in the Pacific. PIEMA activities are also included in newsletters of AFAC and MCDEM.
- Other IEC materials will developed over 2015/2016 to highlight the work of PIEMA and specific key messaging for EM across the Pacific