Institute's Vision & Mission

INSTITUTE OF DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT AND FOOD SECURITY STUDIES (IDRMFSS),

BAHIR DAR UNIVERSITY (BDU)

1. BDU VISSION AND MISSION   

VISION: To become one of the ten premier research universities in Africa in 2025 recognized for its quality education, research and outreach activities.

MISSION: The mission of the BDU is to contribute substantially for social, cultural, economic, political, scientific and technological development of the nation; through the provision of high quality education, active engagement in research and outreach activities for the betterment of society, while offering our employees a conducive and rewarding working environment that values, recognizes and appreciates their contributions.

2. IDRMFSS VISSION AND MISSION  

VISION: IDRMFSS strives to be a center of excellence in Disaster Risk Management, Food Security and Climate change Adaptation education, research, training and information in Africa.

MISSION: The mission of the institute is to contribute substantially for the sustainable development of the nation through providing effective and innovative scientific contributions in disaster risk research and training, as well as policy advice for the improvement of the food security situation in the country and Africa. The Institute will support, facilitate, conduct, coordinate and disseminate research relative to planning for all disasters. 

3. IDRMFSS

BACKGROUND

Disasters are a major challenge for all households, community and countries in their effort to achieve better livelihood outcomes. Disasters set back development by destructing years of development efforts. But historically, the impacts of disasters are particularly devastating for developing countries and poor people. Ethiopia is one of the developing countries that have been challenged by number of disaster events. Based on the country’s deep-rooted history of disasters and the past disaster management experience, the transitional government of Ethiopia established  the National Policy on Disaster Prevention and Management (NPDPM) in 1993 and restructured the existing response oriented disaster management system into a more proactive disaster management system.

The NPDPM led the shift in thinking from relief and response to development that provides an opportunity for the integration of disaster risk management and sustainable development initiatives in higher education and research institutions. As a response to the identified policy gap in human capacity skill and research, Bahir Dar University has established  the Department of Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development (DRMSD) undergraduate program in 2005  and  post graduate program in 2007. 

Currently the department is promoted to an institute level called Institute of Disaster Risk Management & Food Security Studies (IDRMFSS)

Through its formal (B.Sc and MSc) and short course programs IDRMFSS aims to tackle the issue in disaster risk management (DRM) from a developmental perspective. This can be reflected by offering practice based multidisciplinary courses that enables students to acquire skills and knowledge required integrating risk management plans with government and non-government development plans in ensuring sustainable development. The ultimate outcome is to reduce the risk of loss of life and livelihood as well as property loss using information and research based practices in respect of hazards and underlying vulnerability conditions within the society.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INSTITUTE

·         Running both under-graduate and post graduate  programs in DRMSD and others

·         Conducting  basic, applied , evidence based and action  researches;

·         Offering short term courses and  trainings  to enhance capacity building among DRM and development practitioners and professionals;

·         Undertake lead and facilitate community outreach services; Organize disaster risk management  and food security related national, regional and international seminars, symposiums, workshops and  policy dialogues; Strengthen academic links, cooperation, and exchanges between Universities and research institutes of different countries;

·         Establish Data base and information management center: working on early warning, risk mapping, vulnerability mapping and shall also be responsible to release evidence based forecasting and prediction on the principal basis of Geographic information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing. Moreover, the center will offer short term trainings as part of the institute.

·         Offer advisory and Consultancy works in DRMSD  and climate change

4. Academic Programs of the institute

The institute currently provides undergraduate degree in regular, extension, summer and distance programs with duration of three, four, five and four years, respectively. The institute has also post-graduate studies in regular and summer programs. Besides, the institute is offering MSc training for students from Somalia Region in Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development (DRMSD).

The program consists of a blend of academic and skills-based disciplines to produce well equipped expertise in disaster risk management and sustainable development that are expected to serve as professionals in a wider spectrum of areas related to the management of disaster risks.

Existing Programs

·         BSc in DRMSD

·         MSc in DRMSD

·         MSc in Climate Change and Development 

Upcoming Programs

·         PhD in Disaster Risk Science

·         MSc in Livelihoods and Food Security

·          Fire, safety and emergency management Training center

·   Fire, Safety and Emergency Management

·         Short term course in the training center

·         Occupational Health and Safety  training 

·         Fire Management: Basics of fires and Fire fighters

·         Emergency Preparedness and response (EMS)

·         Agriculture Risk Management (ARM)

·         Food Security

 

5. The Research Thematic Area

The institute has identified 4 major thematic research areas:

I.Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

a.    Hazards, disasters/risks and Vulnerability/Resilience

b.    Risk/emergency management & resiliencegovernance 

II.Livelihoods, Food Security, Disaster and Development

a.    Livelihoods security

b.    Food Security & Insecurity

c.     Poverty

d.    Resilience 

e.     Resilience to Food/Livelihood Insecurity 

f.     Shock impacts and coping strategies

g.     Relief and Development

III.          DRR and Climate Change Adaptation

a.    Climate variability/change and adapting options; 

b.    Agro-ecosystem based vulnerability mapping and land use planning;

c.     Early warning system for enhancing agricultural production;

d.    GIS and remote sensing technologies for climate science and development.  

e.     Drought monitoring and analysis & disaster reduction through weather index based crop insurance.

 

IV.           Cross cutting issues

a.                Migration and internal displacement

b.                Health environment and DRR

c.                 Conflict prevention and management

d.                Gender, disaster and development

e.                 Special needs(vulnerable groups in DRR)

f.                 Emerging social issues/traffic accidentcorruption, crime, terrorism

 

6. Strategic Engagement (partnership)

The institute has established links with the following institutions to undertake the education and research activities:

*    BDU/USAID Internship Program Support

*    The PERI PERI U Consortium, 10 African University

*    National Management System (NIMS)-USAID-NDRMC

*       WF P: Adapting the 3PA to Urban Settings

*    Addis Ababa Fire Preparedness and Rescue Authority

*    Industrial Parks Development Corporation

*    Global Network of Civil Society Organizations for Disaster Risk Reductions (GNDR)

*    Ethiopian Red Cross

7.  Focus of Community Service  

o  Enhancing livelihoods of the community

o  Solid waste management

o  Road traffic accidents

 

 

 

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