National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) Company Got to Tackle Climate Change
National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) Company Got to Tackle Climate Change: After remaining inactive for one and a half years, the $225-million National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) Company has started off on a wrong footing, which could undermine the cause of setting a global standard body to tackle challenges posed by sudden climate change.
This brings into question the effective utilization of the disaster management fund that has been established with $200-million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Over a period, the fund’s size is expected to grow to $1.2 billion and the ADB’s contribution will be in the range of $750 million to $1 billion, said the officials. The government’s share will be $250 million.
The newly appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of the NDRMF Company has bypassed the board in the recruitment process, the officials said.
Even the CEO’s appointment was the result of hectic lobbying as there were resentments over the appointment of Lt Gen (Retired) Nadeem Ahmad, aged 67.
The Economic Affairs Division had proposed the names of Nadeem Ahmad, Maj Gen (Retired) Zahir Shah and Dr Munawar Alam to the federal cabinet for approval. Some cabinet members expressed apprehensions. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi finally approved the name of Ahmad, but appointed him for two years only instead of the standard three-year term.
The CEO wants to hire security officers of the ranks of colonel and major for a small organization whose job is to ensure disaster mitigation.
Sources said there was also an issue over the authority to hire people as the CEO was not ready to involve a three-member human resource committee in hiring the staff.
But people close to the CEO said according to the aide memoire between Pakistan and the ADB, and decision of the fifth board meeting, the board’s authority to hire people is only limited to the recruitment of company secretary, chief financial officer, accounts specialist and internal auditor.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had banned the recruitment process with effect from April 1, 2018. Citing emergency reasons, the company obtained no-objection certificate from the ECP before giving the advertisement in May.
The purpose of establishing the NDRMF is to reduce socio-economic and fiscal vulnerability of the country and its population to natural hazards by prioritising and financing investments in disaster risk reduction and preparedness that have high economic benefits, taking into account climate change as well as disaster risks and their impact.
The ADB had approved the $200-million loan in 2016, but the company remained dormant for about one and a half year.
The government has passed on the ADB loan to the NDRMF as a grant for onward payment to eligible implementing partners. The NDRMF will finance up to 70% of the cost of eligible sub-projects that will enhance Pakistan’s resilience to extreme weather events and other natural hazards, according to the NDRMF’s objectives.
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