The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) has embarked on a comprehensive review of the current Strategic Plan and the development of a new plan for the period 2014 to 2018.
“Strategic management makes a real difference to the work of National Disaster Organisations. At the DDM, we are committed to achieving desired outputs and evaluating strategies and outcomes, therefore strategic management is an integral part of our main agenda,” said Sharleen DaBreo, Director of the DDM
The review is being undertaken as the department comes to the end of a five-year enhanced Comprehensive Disaster Management Policy, Strategy and Programming Framework to guide Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) programming in the Virgin Islands (VI) for the period 2009 to 2013 which was developed in 2009 with the support of and in collaboration with its partners.
This strategy was established within the context of the Government’s Manifesto which formed the basis of its work plan, the National Disaster Management Plan, the Public Sector Development Planning Framework, and other instruments guiding disaster management locally and regionally. It was also developed in-line with Results-Based Management (RBM) principles and approaches.
With the VI CDM Strategy and Programming Framework 2009 to 2013 approaching the end of its implementation timeframe, independent consultants have been hired to evaluate its results to date and define the strategy going forward. The project is being led by a consortium comprising Dr. Vasantha Chase of Chase Consulting Limited of St. Lucia and Marva Titley-Smith of MatrixSpark in the Virgin Islands.
“The difficult financial climate in which we work demands effective strategic plans for many organisations as they compete for limited funds; the pursuit of innovative ways to manage programmes and implement projects and effective guidance on how critical resources are used. Strategic management ensures that a high level of accountability is maintained and allows for greater public confidence in the work we do,” said Ms. DaBreo
This project is being supported by the Caribbean Disaster Management Agency through the Comprehensive Disaster Management Harmonization Implementation Programme with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency; the United Kingdom Department for International Development; European Union; United States Agency for International Development; African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP EU) and the Government of Turkey.
By the end of the six months review and strategic planning process the department is expected to have created a strategic framework for 2014 to 2018, building on the successes of the current framework and incorporating new areas for action.
