1 March 2012: The Center for the Prevention of Natural Disasters in Central America (CEPREDENAC) held its fourth Conference of Central American Leaders in Management of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

Held in San Salvador, El Salvador, from 28 February – 1 March 2012, the conference aimed to strengthen the exchange of experiences and information, and to promote the harmonization of procedures for handling emergencies and disasters in the Central American region, as mandated by the Central American Heads of State and government.

In addition to reviewing the 2012 annual plans of various actors in the region for preparation and response to disasters and emergencies, the conference discussed proposals for: the consolidation of the 2001 Regional Mechanism of Mutual Aid against Disasters; the CEPREDENAC work plan for 2012; and how to strengthen the Regional Mechanism as well as national work plans on preparedness and response.

The conference was attended by 90 participants from Central American countries, including representatives of the National Systems of CEPREDENAC, the CEPREDENAC Executive Secretariat, and international cooperation partners helping to develop DRR capacity in Central America.

The Conference was held with financial aid from the Government of Norway, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

CEPREDENAC is the subsidiary organ of the Central American Integration System (SICA) in charge of helping SICA members States in their activities, projects and programmes to reduce disaster risks that provoke human and economic losses, and promote and coordinate international cooperation in disaster preparedness and response in Central America. [CEPREDENAC Press Release (Spanish)]