The document discusses Tanzania's legal and regulatory framework for disaster management. Key points include: - The main laws governing disaster management in Tanzania are the Disaster Relief Coordination Act of 1990 and the National Disaster Management Policy of 2004. - The framework establishes the Tanzania Disaster Relief Committee and the Disaster Management Department to oversee coordination of disaster response at the national level. - The framework also aims to empower communities through creating plans, training, and management support structures from the national to district levels. - However, challenges remain around sufficient long-term funding, utilizing risk assessment results, increasing public awareness, and strengthening local disaster management committees.

1. RECORDS SECURITY AND DISASTER
MANAGEMENT
TOPIC III : REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN
TANZANIA
RM 628
Abdon Kanuti

2. Introduction
Legal and Regulatory Framework refers
to the existence of necessary infrastructure
which supports the control, direction or
implementation of a proposed or adopted
course of action, rules, principle or law.
It is a compilation of all of the legislation,
policy, regulations, procedures, guidelines and
agreements with which the public body must
demonstrate compliance
The aim is to reduce, remove, prevent or
respond to potential national threats of
disasters.

3. Introduction Cont…
An effective legal framework should be flexible
to accommodate new structures, systems and
information needs.
Legal and regulatory framework on disaster mgt
is typically intended to specify the reporting
chain, powers and duties, preparatory
requirements and facilities, coordination
activities and all issues associated with the
cycle of disaster mgt

4. Cont…
Government of Tanzania has developed and
established disaster management
structures and system as part of overall
process by creating policy, plans,
legislation, training and management
support all aimed at empowering the
individuals and communities who are
prone to the threats of disasters.

5. Cont…
 As it was observed in the previous seminars,
Tanzania is vulnerable to both natural and man-
made hazards which have the potential of
disrupting communities causing loss of life and
damage to property, infrastructure and records.
 The frequency, complexity and severity of
disasters in the country are on the rise and this is
further aggravated by climate change, unplanned
urbanization, poverty as well as the threat of
pandemics.

6. Cont…
 Weak coordination mechanisms during
emergency response and inadequate
preparedness measures at all levels have
been the major challenge in the country

7. Summary
Existing legal and regulatory frameworks
governing disaster management in Tanzania
includes;
Disaster Relief Coordination Act, 1990
Disaster Relief Coordination Regulations, 1991
The National Disaster Management Policy, 2004
National Operational Guidelines (NOG) for
Disaster Management (2003)

8. Overview of Regulatory
Framework inTanzania
Disaster mgt framework in Tanzania (TZ) started
back in 1982 (Mamuya, 2010)
1982 the Government established an ad hoc unit
to deal with disasters (TANDRO) in PMO
In 1987 the Government established Disaster
Relief Coordinating Unit under Parliamentary &
Political Affairs Department
In 1990, Disaster Relief Coordination Act was
enacted and established committees (TANDREC)
at national level down to the District level

9. Cont….
Tanzania Disaster Relief Committee (TANDREC) exist as
inter ministerial committee for overseeing and
coordinating overall disasters and relief operations at
national level established by Act, No. 9 of 1990.
Functions ofTANDREC includes;
Overseeing and coordinating activities designed to
secure effective prevention of disasters,
Overseeing preparedness and operation of affairs in
the event of a disaster,
Guiding, directing, approving and controlling activities
of the Disaster Management Department as well as
activities of the sub-Committees

10. Cont…
 It is the supreme body on emergency and
disaster management at the national level, and
the Permanent Secretary in the PMO
chairs the committee and DMD is the
secretariat.
 Members of the committee are permanent
secretaries from government ministries and
heads of early warning institutions.

11. Cont…
Tanzania has different EarlyWarning Systems to
monitor various hazards.The early warning
institutions within the government system
include;
a) Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) –
under Ministry of Energy and Minerals
b) Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit
(EPRU) –Ministry of Health and Social
Welfare

12. c) Plant Protection Unit and Food Security
Department –Under Ministry of
Agriculture
d) National Environment Management
Council (NEMC)

13. Cont…
The Disaster Relief Act No. 9 of 1990 is
considered as a standing legislation; to oversee
and coordinate overall relief operations at
national level.
The legislation aims at providing a legal
structure to govern and regulate disaster mgt
inTanzania.

14. Cont…
The government through the Act of 1990,
established the Disaster Mgt Department
(DMD)in the same year. This is to ensure proper
coordination of disaster mgt activities in the
country. In Zanzibar, the DMD was only
established in 2006.
The departments now seek to ensure that in times
of disaster appropriate response systems,
procedures and resources are in place to assist
and support effected individuals and
organizations.

15. Cont…
Therefore DMD under the Office of the Prime
Minister, is the governmental coordinating
authority for all aspects of disaster
management in mainlandTanzania.
It functions as the central coordinating body
during the response to disasters, promotes
and implements prevention, mitigation and
preparedness activities to minimize the
adverse effects of hazards.

16. Cont…
NB: In Zanzibar, the Disaster Management
Department (DMD) follows under the office of
2nd Vice President
The department is also charged with the
responsibility of;
Coordinating disaster preparedness efforts and
activities in order to minimize the adverse effects of
hazards, through effective precautionary measures
And ensure timely, appropriate and efficient
organization and delivery of emergency response

17. Cont…
Disaster Management Department (DMD)
works with the disaster management
committees at regional and district levels.
The Regional Commissioners and District
Commissioners head the committees
respectively.
 Meanwhile, the Regional Administrative
Secretaries and the District Executive
Directors are secretaries to the
respective committees.

18. Cont…
The DMD established the National Platform
(NP) for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2005.
The National Platform works basically to
smooth the implementation of Hyogo
Framework for Action

19. Cont...
The Platform composes members
from:
 Government Ministries, Departments and
Agencies (MDAs) and LGAs
 UN Agencies, International and National
Devt Partners,Academicians, Private
Sector, Religious (Faith Groups) etc.

20. Hyogo Framework for Action
The World Conference on Disaster Reduction, held
in Hyogo, Japan, in January 2005 ( at which
Tanzania participated) adopted five priorities for
action (subsequently referred to as Hyogo
Framework for Action)
These priorities were developed from an
acknowledgment that the most appropriate way
to reduce disaster risk was to integrate the
various efforts “systematically into policies, plans
and programmes for sustainable devt and poverty
reduction” supported at all levels and all partners

21. Hyogo Cont…
The five areas identified were the following;
1) Governance (organizational, legal and policy
framework)
2) Risk identification, assessment, monitoring
and early warning
3) Knowledge mgt and education
4) Reducing underlying risk factors
5) Preparedness for effective response and
recovery

22. Cont…
 Government developed and established disaster
management structures and system as part of overall
process by creating policy, plans, legislation, training and
management support all aimed at empowering the
individuals and communities who are prone to the
threats of disasters.
 Tanzania has developed a National Disaster
Management policy (2004) which describes roles
and responsibilities of all stakeholders (Armed Forces,
Private Sector, Fire and Rescue Agencies, International
Agencies, the media, local community etc)

23. Cont…
 The policy and the National Operational
Guidelines (NOG) for Disaster
Management (2003), sets the policy
framework, which aims to develop adequate
capacity for coordination and cooperation for
comprehensive disaster mgt among key players at
all levels.
 Other objectives are to promote research,
information generation and dissemination as well
as mainstreaming disaster mgt issues into
development plans and other sector policies and
programmes at all levels.

24. Cont…
 Other legislations that have emphasis in
disaster mgt include the
“Environmental Management Act,
2004” which prepares guidelines for
possible environmental emergencies like
climate change that may result into
disasters.
Others are: National Human Settlement
Development Act , 2000

25. Cont…
NB:
 The Disaster Relief Act No. 9 of 1990
requires amendment that would reflect the
requirements of the National Disaster
Management Policy.

26. Cont...
 All the instituted policies and legislations
does not address records and archival
materials as special govt assets potential
to disasters.This creates a gap on proper
treatment of records in the event of
disasters. In most govt agencies, records
are not accorded first priority for
recovery processes when responding to
disaster strikes

27. Challenges facing Disaster Mgt in
Tanzania
1) Government resources are not available in
amounts sufficient enough to allow for
consistency and continuity of development of
long-term preparedness measures. Funding
and resources provided by donor community
are bound to specific activities and time
(project based). Once projects are finished
the resources are no longer available.

28. Cont…
3) Risk assessment results are not fully utilized
for intervention and planning purpose due to
inadequate financial resources and low
priority accorded to disaster management by
senior policy makers.
4) Lack of awareness and information among
the disaster risk management stakeholders
and general public.
5) Absence of strong Disaster Mgt Committees
at the Local Government Authorities

29. Cont…
6) No consolidated database or website for
data and information sharing
7) Lack of enough skilled manpower,
equipments and technology
8) Despite the existence of Disaster
Management Policy of 2004, lack of
Disaster Management Act remains the
challenge to committees on
implementing the targeted activities.

30. The Way Forward
a) Recognizing public records as vital assets in
disaster mgt frameworks and providing
special treatment on recovery process
b) Public awareness and the role of media
should be emphasized in all stages of
disaster management.
c) Preparatory activities should be adequately
budgeted to empower disaster committees
on implementation for future plan.

31. Cont…
d) Strengthen disaster management committees
at all levels through training
e) Developing centralized communication
procedures and protocols to hand all forms
of disasters.
f) Strengthen sectoral emergency units
g) Mainstreaming disaster mgt issues into
development plans and other sectoral
policies and programmes

32. =THE END=
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