The objective of the workshop was to improve knowledge transfer in disaster preparedness and risk reduction initiatives.Further, the workshop also aimed at effective exchange and partnership among Disaster Preparedness Commission for Humanitarian Office (DIPECHO) partners and institutions in the Southeast and Southwest Indian Ocean region.Speaking during the opening of the two-day workshop, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative (Programmes) Mr. Ram Shankar said the workshop represented a unique opportunity to support creation of stronger synergies, coherence and coordination among key institutions working in the area of Disaster Preparedness and Risk Reduction in the regionHe pledged that UNDP would ensure that resources for disaster risk reduction are available in a bid to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).Mr. Shankar explained that effective disaster risk reduction efforts require concerted efforts, hence, the reason representatives from the four countries were meeting to find lasting solutions to disasters.On her part, Malawi’s Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs  Mrs. Lillian Ng’oma said Malawi is one of the countries that continues to face different kinds of disasters, adding that Mozambique, Madagascar and Comoros have not been spared of the disasters either.‘This initiative is a timely one since these four countries may have different experiences and capacities for disaster risk reduction, mitigation and indeed, emergency response. This regional initiative is therefore most welcome by the government of Malawi given that we ourselves are in the process of developing our own disaster management system.She explained that the Malawi government has among other initiatives developed interim national guidelines for responding to disasters, disaster management policy and disaster risk reduction framework.Senior Project Coordinator from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Dr. Kennedy Musamvu and Secretariat and Technical Expert at the European Commission (Directortare General for Humanitarian Aid) ECHO, Borja Cuervo Alonso were among the high level dignitaries that attended the workshopMalawi, Mozambique, Madagascar and Comoros face multiple hazards, due to their geographical and economic position. About 42 million people from these four countries have been affected by different kinds of disasters and about 10,000 have lost lives due to natural disasters.The lower shire in Malawi is prone to floods every year and property worth millions of Malawi Kwacha is lost due to such floods.