Casimir: From Reactive to Proactive – Transforming Disaster Response
Casimir’s experience with the Anticipatory Action course has enabled him to take on a “more proactive and effective approach” to his disaster risk reduction work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Casimir Djoko Kamdem works as the National Coordinator for Humantarian Action for Africa (HAA), a signatory of the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations. His work focuses on the South Kivu and Maniema provinces in the DRC, which are increasingly vulnerable to flooding and landslides that can cause loss of life and infrastructure damage. He spoke with us about his achievements since he completed the RedR UK Anticipatory Action course.
Casimir’s Climate Change Pathway
“I didn’t have a strong background in Anticipatory Action before, but through my work with Humanitarian Action for Africa, a signatory of the Climate and Environment Charter, I saw the need to transform disaster responses in South Kivu and Maniema provinces. RedR’s training was a significant learning opportunity to understand how to analyse disaster risk reduction.
The most valuable insight was the importance of proactive intervention, rather than reactive emergency responses.
After completing the training, I have implemented anticipatory action strategies, including early warning systems, local contingency plans, and community awareness campaigns in South Kivu and Maniema. The most powerful moment was when floods hit the community. We were able to move lots of families into makeshift shelters. After using early-warning systems and gaining the trust of the authorities, we helped a high-risk community in advance.
We also reinforced infrastructure, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of households impacted by the floods. Communities now receive early warnings about flooding and landslides, making them better prepared.”
Looking Ahead
“I have enjoyed teaching others in my office on Anticipatory Action and hope to do so with others. I am proud to be contributing to a more proactive and effective approach to disaster management in the DRC, thanks to the valuable knowledge gained through RedR UK’s training.”
I’m really grateful to RedR UK for the course!
About the Project
Anticipatory Action is part of our Climate Change Adaption and Disaster Risk Reduction project, which provides free online certified training for climate responders in East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia in partnership with AXA XL.
If you’d like to give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world, you can do so here.
