Seychelles: Disaster risk management act, 2014

This act sets out a comprehensive legal framework for disaster risk management. It designates the Division of Risk and Disaster Management (DRDM) as the national body for disaster risk management responsible for, among other things, the preparation of the National disaster risk management plan and strategy and implementation of the integrated emergency management and coordination system. The law also creates different committees, including the National Disaster Risk Management Committee and the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, and ensures that guidance on how to assess and reduce disaster risk is provided to government institutions, as well as private sector entities, non-governmental organizations, communities and individuals.

The new legislation also includes the requirement of disaster risk management plans for government institutions and prescribed private organizations. It encompasses the monitoring of early warning information; the management or geographic information systems; the coordination and monitoring of long term risk and vulnerability reduction, rehabilitation and recovery programmes; and the establishment of communication links.