FOCUS Pakistan emphasizes on Building Partnerships for Disaster Risk Reduction
ISLAMABAD: An advocacy session on “Building Partnerships for Disaster Risk Reduction” was organised in Islamabad by Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) Pakistan, an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The event was held as part of the project “Building Partnerships for Disaster Preparedness and Response in the Mountainous Areas of Pakistan”, funded by European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department.
“By understanding the approaches adopted by the AKDN in Pakistan, I have learned about the strong impact of communities’ involvement in the development process. My interactions with and observation of FOCUS’ work has helped me understand how we can build resilient communities, in the wake of frequently occurring natural disasters,” said Lieutenant General (r) Nadeem Ahmed, Chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Pakistan, while addressing the audience in Islamabad.
The NDMA Chairman further said that FOCUS draws strength from the support base provided by specialised AKDN agencies, such as the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services, Aga Khan Health Services, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. General Nadeem also paid rich tributes to the thousands of volunteers supporting the various AKDN agencies and extended all out support to FOCUS and AKDN agencies for future collaborations in terms of disaster risk reduction and response initiatives.
Originally posted at SOURCE
FOCUS has proved to be one of the most forward looking NGO in Pakistan. FOCUS has always strives to build partnerships and colloborate. The community based disaster mitigation programme is a very good example.
During the Attabad landslide crisis, FOCUS was the lead NGO providing relief and creating awareness. During floods of Sep-Oct, FOCUS was always the first NGO to reach at most of the places.
This is really very pleasing to hear that FOCUS is reaching out more and more to NDMA, provincial DMA to partner and collaborate. Partnerships is way forward.Other AKDN institutions should learn from FOCUS.
We peoples of GB assure FOCUS our fullest cooperation and support.