Transboundary hazards and governance: sub-regional and national implications

The transboundary nature of some hazards in the region leads to many neighbouring SADC Member States being exposed to the same type of events, meaning that not only do they share the same immediate impact, but are also likely to suffer similar after-effects. Since several countries could simultaneously be in a state of emergency putting a strain on relief efforts, shared knowledge and cooperation among countries could make a significant difference when it comes to disaster risk preparedness. The first part of this chapter will explore the coordination and collaboration implications of shared hazards across national borders, while the second half will focus on common trends and issues that can be observed at the national level across SADC countries. These two dimensions hold the key to understanding the region’s governance and institutional capacities to prepare for and respond to disasters regardless of their scope of impact.