MINEMA and WFP Strengthen District Disaster Coordination Through Command Post Training

On June 8, 2026, the MINEMA in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), launched a week-long training programme for members of District Command Posts and DASSO officers responsible for disaster data collection, beginning with participants from Burera and Rubavu districts.

The training is designed to operationalize District Command Posts and strengthen local capacities in disaster preparedness, coordination, and emergency response. Participants are receiving practical skills in incident management, communication systems, disaster data analysis, and the use of early warning and response mechanisms to support timely and effective decision-making during emergencies.

District Command Posts serve as critical coordination hubs for disaster risk management at the district level. During the first phase, Command Posts were established in nine districts: Burera, Gakenke, Musanze, Nyabihu, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Karongi, Ngororero, and Nyaruguru. To date, fully equipped Command Posts have been handed over to Burera, Gakenke, Musanze, Rubavu, Rutsiro, Ngororero, and Nyaruguru districts.

Opening the training, the Director General of Response and Recovery Operations at MINEMA, ACP Egide Mugwiza, emphasized the importance of strengthening district-level coordination mechanisms to improve disaster management outcomes.

"Fully operational District Command Posts are essential for timely decision-making and effective emergency response. Strengthening the capacity of personnel managing these centers is critical to protecting communities, coordinating interventions, and ultimately saving lives," he said.

The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by MINEMA and WFP to enhance Rwanda’s disaster preparedness and response systems by ensuring that local authorities are equipped with the tools, skills, and coordination mechanisms needed to effectively manage disaster risks and emergencies.