emi

EMI recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, a worldwide association of about 500 local government organizations. The MOU covers a period of five years, from 1 May 2007 to 30 April 2012. The partnership brings together ICLEI’s local government network and EMI’s technical expertise in areas of natural hazards assessment and mitigation.

EMI and ICLEI agreed to work together in enhancing the capacity of local governments and in supporting local action for disaster risk reduction by: 1) extending EMI’s e-learning training packages to local managers and professionals in support of the efforts of local institutions in introducing sound disaster risk management practices; 2) assisting ICLEI in the implementation of its Resilient and Safer Cities Program; and 3) improving knowledge sharing mechanisms among cities. It would also reinforce the advocacy efforts of both organizations to get a stronger voice for local governments in the global arena of disaster risk reduction such as the U.N. International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN-ISDR).

The cooperation framework is inscribed in both organizations’ program to contribute to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action. “This cooperation agreement is an integral part of EMI’s strategy to scale up its contribution to disaster risk reduction by expanding its reach to local governments through partnerships with local government networks such as ICLEI, METROPOLIS and others,” said Dr. Fouad Bendimerad, Chairman of EMI