TANZANIA has received international recognition for its efforts in promoting the National Emergency Operation and Communication Centre Situation Room which has positioned the country as a regional and leader in disaster management—particularly in the areas of prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response.

Dr Jim Yonazi, Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliament and Coordination), made the remarks in Geneva, Switzerland while attending the Eighth Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction convened to assess and discuss progress in implementing global disaster risk reduction strategies and to strengthen international cooperation through voluntary commitments made by United Nations member states.

Speaking on Tanzania’s advancements, Dr Yonazi emphasised the value of the centre in monitoring the likelihood of disasters.

 The facility utilises geospatial technologies to track weather and hydrology-related hazards through MyDEWETRA electronic platform, enhancing the country’s capacity for timely and informed decision-making.

He further noted that Tanzania was working towards becoming a regional hub for disaster management training and knowledge-sharing, offering an opportunity for stakeholders from across Africa—particularly in Eastern and Southern Africa—and other developing countries to learn about effective disaster preparedness and response strategies suited to African realities.

While addressing the forum, Dr Yonazi extended an invitation to other nations to visit Tanzania and learn first-hand how the situation room supports real-time monitoring of predicted disasters, conducts impact assessments on communities, infrastructure and the environment and generates early warning alerts to inform disaster management actions.

“Tanzania has shared its disaster management experiences at this global platform. We’ve demonstrated the resources and innovations we have in place and our counterparts have shown a strong willingness to learn from us. Many have expressed interest in collaborating and adopting some of our approaches,” he said.

He highlighted that the establishment of the centre has significantly raised Tanzania’s international profile by equipping the nation with a robust system capable of enhancing readiness and response to disaster events.

Kamal Kishore, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), commended Tanzania’s progress in strengthening disaster resilience. He cited the country as a leading example of a nation that is effectively implementing and advancing best practices in disaster risk reduction.