The
Southern African Development Community (SADC) model national emergency telecommunication plan (NETP) outlines the strategies and frameworks that should be in place to enable and ensure communications in the event of an emergency in SADC
Member States. Similar to the
ITU Guidelines for national emergency telecommunication plans, the SADC model NETP is a leading document, but with a regional approach, focusing on the Member States of the Southern African Development Community. In that sense, the report highlights regional similarities and shared gaps and needs regarding the development of country-specific NETPs, but still capturing national specificities to guide SADC countries into strengthening and enhancing their emergency communications capabilities and preparedness.
What is included in the SADC model NETP?
The SADC model NETP evaluates the status of the organizational structure and the definition of policies and emergency telecommunication regulations in SADC Member States, including the methods of coordination among the different actors during mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery phases of disaster risk management (DRM). It also presents the situation of the region in relation to relevant elements of a NETP, such as international cooperation, risks and vulnerabilities to natural hazards, available telecommunication services and existing Early Warning Systems. Based on this assessment, the SADC model NETP then proposes a series of actions or activities for the Member States to carry out, in order to facilitate and guide the implementation of national strategies or plans for emergency telecommunications in each country.
What are the benefits of a regional model National Emergency Telecommunication Plan?
Developing a guiding strategic instrument such as the SADC model NETP can facilitate the customization and implementation of individual national emergency telecommunication plans for countries in a given region. Considering this, along with the SADC model NETP, other regional model NETPs are being developed with the support of the ITU for other groups of countries, including those of English/Portuguese-speaking African countries and French-speaking African countries.
Why should countries have an NETP?
Emergency Telecommunication Plans allow the best use of ICTs for increasing resilience and delivering a fast response in a coordinated manner when disasters strike.
In that sense, to avoid any delays in providing an effective response during disasters or emergencies, the ITU has been providing assistance to countries in different regions to develop and implement national plans and strategies such as the NETPs. Until the first semester of 2024, the ITU has supported the development of 37 NETPs for countries in various regions, and is in the process of preparing 30 more, whether planned or currently under development.
|
NETP approved/validated by the country |
NETP finalized and sent for approval/validation |
NETP under development |
NETP planned
|
| Samoa | Fiji | Afghanistan | Antigua and Barbuda
|
| Commonwealth of Dominica | Kiribati | Nepal | Barbados
|
| Ecuador | Mongolia | Tonga | Cabo Verde
|
| Somalia | PNG | Tuvalu | Equatorial Guinea
|
| Sudan | Solomon Islands | Vanuatu | Guinea
|
| Malawi | Grenada | Bolivia | Sao Tome and Principe
|
SADC (16 countries):
Angola
Botswana
Comoros
Democratic Republic of Congo
Eswatini
Lesotho
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Seychelles
South Africa
Tanzania
Zambia
Zimbabwe
| Paraguay
| Dominican Republic | Jamaica
|
| Peru | Guatemala |
|
| Saint Lucia | Iraq |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Djibouti |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | Mauritania |
| Palestine | Libya |
| Rwanda | English/Protuguese-speaking African countries (11 countries):
Gambia
Ghana
Nigeria
Liberia
Sierra Leone
Kenya
Angola
Equatorial Guinea
Guinea
Sao Thome
Cape Verde |
| Moldova |
|
| Georgia |
22
|
15
|
23
|
7 |
The SADC Model NETP was validated on November 1st, 2023, during a Workshop attended by 123 participants from all 16 SADC Member States as well as by
3
SADC Regional ICT Implementing Agencies: Communication Regulators' Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), Southern African Telecommunications Association (SATA) and Southern Africa Postal Operators Association (SAPOA).
Prior to the development of the SADC Model NETP, a Situational Analysis Report was developed to capture the current situation on policy, legal and regulatory frameworks regarding ICTs for disaster management in the region. The SADC Situational Analysis Report was approved on 16th June 2023 by SADC Ministers of ICT.
