PROF. J. O. BARONGO DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

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1 THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI POSTGRADUATE TRAINING PROGRAMME IN NATURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND ITS ROLE IN KENYA S NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BY PROF. J. O. BARONGO DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

2 BACKGROUND Recently, Kenya has suffered several episodes of natural, environmental and human-induced disasters which, if not promptly checked and necessary steps taken, could destroy and/or retard the progress of any developmental initiatives already in place. Over 70% of all disasters affecting the country arise from extreme weather and climate events such as strong winds, droughts and floods.

3 The remaining 30% comprise those caused by other events such as earth tremors, land degradation due to depletion of forest cover through illegal human settlements in protected forest areas, inter-ethnical wars and terrorist attacks among others. In light of the above facts, the Kenyan government is presently in great need of well trained manpower in disaster management.

4 It is, however, gratifying to report that, about three years ago, the Department of Geology, University Nairobi, took the first initiative to start a one year Postgraduate Diploma Programme in Natural and Environmental Disaster Management which will try and produce some of the highly needed experts in this field.

5 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The main aim of this programme is to prepare candidates for senior positions in dealing with disasters and thus enhancing opportunities for sustainable development. The specific objective is to provide training and equip trainees with the necessary knowledge to undertake effective planning and management tasks in disaster reduction programmes by bringing into focus the multidisplinary and intersectorial nature of disaster management.

6 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Common regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in the University of Nairobi and the Faculty of Science shall be applicable. Eligibility for admission: a holder of a first degree of the University of Nairobi or any other recognized institution in any of the following disciplines: architecture, biological sciences, health science, chemistry, engineering, environmental sciences, geography, geology, hydrology, land development, meteorology, physics and urban and regional planning.

7 TRANSFER OF CREDIT A candidate may be exempted from some course units and credit transferred from institutions recognized by senate subject to the following conditions. A candidate must have passed in similar course units at postgraduate diploma level. No candidate shall be exempted for more than one third of the coursework.

8 Request for exemption should be made in writing, on admission, addressed through the Dean of the Faculty of Science to the Director Board of Postgraduate Studies and must be accompanied by officially endorsed supporting documents including the institutions syllabuses for the relevant courses. Payment of appropriate exemption fees.

9 COURSE STRUCTURE AND DURATION The minimum duration of the course shall be three semesters and the maximum duration shall be 8 semesters and all courses shall be compulsory. A course unit will consist of 45 contact hours of lectures, tutorials and practicals. The research project shall be regarded as equivalent to four course units.

10 Candidates will be required to participate in weekly departmental seminars. In each semester candidates shall be required to take a minimum of 4 course units.

11 COURSES OFFERED The following courses and a project are offered:- CODE TITLE UNITS SGL 601 Disasters and their Classifications 1 SGL 602 Vulnerability to Disasters 1 SGL 603 Climate Change and Disasters 1 SGL 604 Disaster Reduction Concept 1 SGL 605 Disasters and Mitigation Measures 1 SGL 606 Environmental Geoscience 1 SGL 607 Poverty and Disaster Vulnerability 1 SGL 608 Recovery and Rehabilitation 1 SGL 609 Research Project 4

12 EXAMINATION REGULATIONS Written Examination Postgraduate diploma examinations shall be governed by the general regulations for the Diploma in the Faculty of Science. All course units taken in a given semester shall normally be examined at the end of that semester. A candidate for the Postgraduate Diploma shall be required to complete satisfactory all such coursework and assignments that may be required for the end of that semester.

13 Each taught course unit shall be examined by a two-hour written examination. Each course unit shall be graded independently out of 100 marks. The pass mark shall be 50%.

14 The complete assessment of a taught course unit shall consist of continuous assessment tests, coursework or practical assignments and a written examination. The contribution towards the unit aggregate score shall be 40% for coursework and 60% for written examination. A candidate who fails to obtain a pass mark in any course unit may be allowed to re-sit or retake the failed units up to a maximum of two times.

15 A pass obtained by re-sitting a course unit shall be recorded as 50% while that obtained by retaking should be recorded as actual marks obtained out of 100%. A candidate who fails in any one-course unit shall be required to re-sit only twice the failed course unit(s). A candidate who fails on the third attempt or after (8) semesters shall be discontinued.

16 A candidate who fails in the second re-sit or re-take or fails to complete the course in the prescribed time shall be discontinued The Project Candidates shall be required to complete the research project within 2 semesters and submit a written project report to the department for examination.

17 The project shall be graded independently out of 100 marks, distributed as follows: 70% for the project report and 30% for oral presentation. The pass mark shall be 50%.

18 A candidate who fails to obtain the pass mark in the research project at the second resubmission or fails to complete the course within the prescribed period shall be A candidate who fails to obtain the pass mark in the project may be allowed to resubmit the revised project for examination up to two times. A pass obtained by re-submission of the project will be recorded as 50%.

19 DIPLOMA AWARD The final diploma award shall be Postgraduate Diploma in Natural and Environmental Disaster Management.

20 STAFF INVOLVED IN TEACHING Academic: Professors Associate Professors Seniour Lecturers - Lecturers - Assistant Lecturers - Graduate Assistant - 2 (PhD holders) 4 (PhD holders) 4 (PhD holders) 2 (PhD holders) 2 (MSc. holders) 1 (MSc. holder)

21 Technical: Chief Technologists - 1 (Diploma holder) Senior Technologists - 3 (Diploma holders) Technologists - 3 (Diplomer holders) Trainee Technologists - 1 (Under training)

22 Secretarial: Senior Secretaries - 2 (Fully trained) NB: The members of academic staff have different specialities in the fields of geology, hydrogeology, geophysics and geochemistry

23 CONTRIBUTION TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT The trained manpower will find job openings in the following organizations in which they will contribute their knowledge and expertise to the national development:- Government ministries and departments dealing with disaster management National Operations Centre in the Office of the President dealing with disaster emergencies

24 The soon to be established National Disaster Management Authority (NADIMA) Various agencies of the United Nations Organization involved in disaster management Non-Governmental Organizations also involved in disaster management Etc.

25 CONCLUSION Kenya has lately been a victim of several types of disasters ranging from droughts, floods, earthquakes and tremors, land degradation, interethnical wars and terrorist attacks. To be able to properly handle matters related to disasters and disaster management, any country requires, first, a generally well educated population and then well trained manpower in disaster management.

26 Kenya has made a commendable effort to establish structures and policies that will look after the proper management of disasters. All these efforts call for urgent and relevant training programmes to produce experts in disaster management who will be absorbed in the big market already existing in this field.

27 The Department of Geology of the University of Nairobi has heeded that call by starting a Postgraduate Diploma Programme in Natural and Environmental Disaster Management which is currently producing the required experts

28 THANK YOU