Nchofon Mingoh Joins African Counterparts For Disaster Management Training In South Korea

 

Mingoh In South Korea 

By a Raymond Dingana 

Cameroonian Civil Administrator, Nchofon Mingoh, has successfully participated in an international capacity-building programme on Climate Crisis and Disaster Response organised in the Republic of Korea from October 25 to November 5, 2026.

The two-week training programme, organised by the National Disaster Training Institute (NDTI) with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), brought together participants from five African countries: Angola, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Nigeria and Cameroon.

The programme provided an international platform for knowledge exchange, professional development and the sharing of experiences on modern approaches to climate crisis management, disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness and sustainable recovery.

Mingoh, who is involved in the coordination of humanitarian assistance in Cameroon’s North-West Region, was among the Cameroonian participants who benefited from the programme, which sought to strengthen institutional and professional capacities in addressing the increasing challenges posed by climate change and disasters.

South Korea's Experience: Lessons For Cameroon

One of the major highlights of the training was the opportunity to examine South Korea’s disaster management system, particularly its institutional coordination mechanisms, early warning systems, flood management strategies, emergency response arrangements and post-disaster recovery policies.

The South Korean experience demonstrated the importance of investing in disaster prevention rather than concentrating primarily on emergency response after disasters have occurred.

Particular attention was given to effective urban drainage systems, protection of natural waterways, water management infrastructure, environmental planning and the use of technology in disaster preparedness.

These lessons are particularly relevant to Cameroon, where communities in several parts of the country continue to experience flooding, landslides and other climate-related emergencies.

Sendai Framework And The Build Back Better Approach 

The training also provided an opportunity to examine the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030), which provides an international roadmap for reducing disaster risks and strengthening community resilience.

Participants explored its four priority areas: understanding disaster risk, strengthening disaster risk governance, investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience, and enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and recovery.

The Build Back Better principle was equally important, emphasising the need to ensure that post-disaster reconstruction addresses existing vulnerabilities and produces safer and more resilient communities.

For Cameroon, this approach is particularly relevant in communities affected by armed conflict, internal displacement, flooding and landslides, where emergency interventions must increasingly be linked to rehabilitation, livelihood restoration and sustainable recovery.

Implications For Cameroon's Disaster Management System

The knowledge and experience acquired during the programme offer important lessons for strengthening Cameroon’s disaster management architecture.

Among the key areas requiring greater attention are improved coordination between administrative authorities and technical institutions, stronger community-based early warning systems, regular emergency simulation exercises, effective enforcement of urban planning regulations and increased investment in disaster prevention.

The experience also highlights the importance of strengthening the operational capacity of the Department of Civil Protection and promoting collaboration between government institutions, local councils, humanitarian organisations, traditional authorities and affected communities.

For the North-West and South-West Regions, where communities continue to face complex humanitarian and environmental challenges, the application of these lessons could contribute to more effective emergency preparedness, humanitarian interventions and sustainable recovery.

From International Exposure To Local Impact 

Mingoh’s participation in the programme is particularly significant given his professional involvement in humanitarian assistance and crisis management in the North-West Region of Cameroon.

The training reinforces the importance of moving from a predominantly reactive disaster management approach towards a proactive system that prioritises risk assessment, prevention, preparedness, institutional accountability and community resilience.

His exposure to South Korea’s disaster management experience is expected to contribute to professional knowledge-sharing and the adaptation of relevant international best practices to Cameroon’s institutional and operational realities.

The participation of Angola, Equatorial Guinea, South Sudan, Nigeria and Cameroon also underscores the importance of South-South cooperation, international partnerships and the exchange of practical experiences in addressing common climate and disaster-related challenges.

As Cameroon continues to confront the effects of climate change, environmental hazards and humanitarian emergencies, lessons from South Korea provide useful perspectives for strengthening national preparedness and building more resilient communities.

The successful completion of the programme therefore represents an important opportunity to translate international training into practical contributions towards improving disaster governance, humanitarian assistance and public safety in Cameroon.