On Tuesday, September 29, 2026, the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held a session at its headquarters to disseminate and foster ownership of the 2026–2027 National Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan.
Chaired by the Deputy Director of Civil Protection, Fire Service Colonel Bakary Dao, the meeting brought together various civilian and military officials, as well as representatives from agencies and organizations belonging to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Platform.
In his address, Colonel Bakary Dao—representing the Director General of Civil Protection, who also serves as the Permanent Secretary of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Platform—welcomed participants to this national workshop dedicated to the dissemination and ownership of the 2026–2027 National Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan.
On behalf of the General Directorate of Civil Protection, he expressed sincere thanks to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its support in organizing the event. He also acknowledged the strong turnout of representatives from the National Platform’s member organizations, noting that their presence demonstrated a collective commitment to protecting the population.
He stated that this mobilization should enable a shift "from reaction to anticipation, from intervention to prevention, and from event-based management to risk management." Colonel Bakary Dao also highlighted the various challenges facing the country, particularly those related to climate change, drought, flooding, population displacement, and outbreaks of human and animal diseases. These are realities well known to the various stakeholders who, in their daily work, serve as the first line of monitoring and response within their respective organizations.
In response to these challenges, the country’s top authorities have chosen to strengthen proactive planning. This is the core purpose of the 2026–2027 Multi-Hazard National Contingency Plan, developed with UNICEF’s support through a rigorous and inclusive process involving all stakeholders. In this regard, the Colonel expressed his gratitude to UNICEF for its assistance.
Furthermore, the Multi-Hazard National Contingency Plan introduces a major innovation compared to previous efforts: the systematic integration of Anticipatory Actions. These measures are designed to enable action before disasters escalate, based on scientifically validated thresholds.
For the Deputy Director of Civil Protection, Fire Service Colonel Bakary Dao, the effectiveness of a plan depends not only on the quality of its drafting but also on the ability of the stakeholders responsible for its implementation to take ownership of it.
He added that the specific aim of this meeting was to present the content, structure, and innovations of the 2026–2027 Multi-Hazard National Contingency Plan to participants, ensuring that the document belongs not just to the General Directorate of Civil Protection, but to the entire national disaster risk management community. Through this initiative, the DGPC aims to strengthen capabilities for anticipating and responding to various disaster risks, in the interest of protecting the population.
Sergeant Aminata Coulibaly
