LUSAKA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Experts from Africa's biggest trading bloc will this week meet in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, to deliberate and find solutions on the negative effects of climate change on the region.
The experts, from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), will meet from July 23 to 24 to discuss the Regional Resilience Initiative on climate change which was launched in 2017.
The 48 experts have been drawn from ministries responsible for planning, agriculture, environment, health, disaster management and mitigation units.
According to a release from the secretariat, the meeting aims at supporting member states to strengthen their policy and coordination mechanisms and develop national resilience policies and implementation frameworks.
The measures, according to the release, will serve as national guiding documents to resilience building and project implementation at member state level.
Mclay Kanyangarara, COMESA Climate Change Coordinator said most member states have a fragmented and haphazard approach to managing risks, shocks and stresses which has proved to be ineffective as the magnitude of loss and damage has continued to escalate in the region.
He added that the interconnectivity of natural and economic systems in the region results in spill-over effects of disasters on all countries.
