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| Secretariat of Risk Management (Ecuador) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Secretariat of Risk Management (Ecuador) |
| Native name | Secretaría de Gestión de Riesgos |
| Formed | 2008 |
| Jurisdiction | Ecuador |
| Headquarters | Quito |
Secretariat of Risk Management (Ecuador) is the national agency responsible for coordinating disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness, and crisis response in Ecuador. Created in the wake of major natural disasters and institutional reform, the Secretariat interfaces with provincial, municipal, and international bodies to manage hazards such as earthquake, volcano, flood, and landslide. It operates within Ecuadorian constitutional and statutory frameworks and collaborates with regional organizations, scientific institutes, and humanitarian actors.
The agency traces its origins to policy shifts following the 2008 Constitution of Ecuador and high-impact events including the 1949 Ambato earthquake, the 1987 Ecuador earthquake, and the more recent 2016 Ecuador earthquake. Institutional antecedents included civil protection offices in the administrations of presidents such as Rafael Correa and frameworks influenced by international instruments like the Hyogo Framework for Action and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Early leadership drew on expertise from institutions such as the Ecuadorian Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School. The Secretariat’s evolution parallels reforms in agencies like the Ministry of Health (Ecuador), the Ministry of Education (Ecuador), and the Ministry of Defense (Ecuador) to improve interagency coordination.
The Secretariat’s mandate is grounded in the Constitution of Ecuador and legislation enacted by the National Assembly (Ecuador), supported by executive decrees issued by presidents including Lenín Moreno and legislative action under administrations of Guillermo Lasso and predecessors. Its legal remit intersects with laws governing the National Police of Ecuador, the Armed Forces of Ecuador, and the National System for Risk Management and Emergencies. International legal instruments such as agreements with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and protocols aligned with the Organization of American States inform its obligations. Judicial oversight involves courts such as the Constitutional Court of Ecuador when rights affected by disasters are adjudicated.
The Secretariat’s internal structure comprises directorates that coordinate with provincial prefectures like the Pichincha Prefecture, municipal governments such as the Quito Municipality, and specialized units tied to scientific partners including the Ecuadorian Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School. It liaises with the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INEC) for demographic data and with the Superintendence of Popular and Solidarity Economy for resource management. The Secretariat coordinates with public health authorities including the Ministry of Public Health (Ecuador), education authorities like the Ministry of Education (Ecuador), and infrastructure bodies such as the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (Ecuador).
Core responsibilities include hazard assessment with agencies like the Geophysical Institute of the National Polytechnic School and the Ecuadorian Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, emergency coordination with the National Police of Ecuador and the Armed Forces of Ecuador, and humanitarian logistics that involve partners such as UNICEF, World Food Programme, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Secretariat manages early warning systems working alongside the Pan American Health Organization, disaster damage assessment with the World Bank, and recovery planning in consultation with multilateral lenders like the Inter-American Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund for financing reconstruction.
Preparedness activities include contingency planning with provincial governments including the Guayas Province and the Manabí Province, training programs with academic institutions like the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador and the Central University of Ecuador, and simulation exercises coordinated with international partners such as USAID and the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations. In emergencies, the Secretariat activates coordination mechanisms with humanitarian organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières, Red Cross Society of Ecuador, and regional bodies such as the Andean Community (CAN)]. It directs search and rescue efforts that often engage the Ecuadorian Red Cross, urban search and rescue teams trained according to INSARAG guidelines, and logistics hubs managed with the Pan American Health Organization.
Programs focus on seismic resilience initiatives influenced by studies from the Seismological Society of America and engineering standards consistent with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). The Secretariat implements community-based resilience projects in coordination with NGOs such as CARE International, Oxfam, and Save the Children. Ecosystem-based mitigation projects involve collaboration with conservation organizations like Conservation International and national bodies such as the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador. Rural risk reduction engages the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Ecuador) and agrarian communities in provinces affected by El Niño–Southern Oscillation events.
International cooperation includes partnerships with the United Nations Development Programme, bilateral agreements with countries such as United States and Spain, and technical collaboration with regional networks like the Latin American Network for Disaster Reduction. The Secretariat participates in multilateral forums like the United Nations General Assembly and regional mechanisms coordinated by the Organization of American States, and receives technical assistance from institutions such as the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the European Union. Academic collaboration extends to universities including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Cambridge for research on seismic hazard, climate resilience, and urban planning.
Category:Emergency management in Ecuador Category:Government agencies of Ecuador