DMISA
The Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa
Photo album: DMISA DRRC 2025
From 21 – 23 October 2025 DMISA convened a conference and pre-conference workshop to reflect on ten years of implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Southern Africa, DRRC 2025 brought together diverse voices to critically assess progress, identify remaining gaps, and chart a practical way forward. View the photo album of the 2025 annual DMISA conference DMISA DRRC 2025 Photo Album.
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Disaster Management Journal
Disaster Management (DMJ) is the official journal of the Disaster Management Institute of Southern Africa (DMISA). The journal enhances DMISA’s role in creating learning and networking opportunities, skills development, supporting the Disaster Management community of practice, accelerating professional development, advocating international disaster management best practice, nurturing a culture of disaster risk reduction and fostering national and international communication networks and linkages. DMJ also serves as a valuable resource for information and knowledge dissemination, education and training to not only proactively reduce disaster risks but also the efficacious management of disasters. The magazine will also promote the Institute: national and regional DMISA news and all disaster management related topics, events, conferences and disaster risk reduction initiatives. The articles featured in this quarterly magazine include forewords from the President of DMISA and the Head of the South African National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC), amongst others. Each edition features a disaster management centre, research articles, industry opinions and viewpoints, technology updates and a news roundup.
DMJ Vol 6 No 1
DMJ Vol 3 no 1 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 1 no 3 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 1 no 2 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 2 no 5 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 1 no 4 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 1 no 6 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 2 no 1 Cover LR
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DMJ Vol 1 no 5 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 2 no 2 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 3 no 2 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 1 no 1 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 2 no 6 Cover LR
DMJ Vol 2 no 4 Cover LR
The DMISA DRR Conference 2024 culminated with the announcement of the new leadership of the professional body for the 2024 to 2026 term of office.
DMISA Disaster Risk Reduction Conference 2025 - Pre-Conference Workshop
Pre-conference workshop
Sun City Resort
21 Oct 2025, 10:00 - 13:00
Navigating Disaster Risk - Practical Priorities for Action in DRR
Co-Hosted with the National Disaster Management Centre in partnership with SALGA
Highlights:
Engagement and consultation on key aspects of the disaster management system review
Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk in rural areas
DMISA Disaster Risk Reduction Conference 2025
Practitioners and stakeholders in Disaster Management and related disciplines attended
DMISA DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CONFERENCE 2025:
A DECADE OF SENDAI IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
PROGRESS, GAPS, AND THE ROAD AHEAD
from 22 - 23 October 2025.
at the Sun City Resort, Bojanala District, North West Province, South Africa
More info here.
DMISA Disaster Risk Reduction Conference 2024
Practitioners and stakeholders in Disaster Management and related disciplines attended
DMISA DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CONFERENCE 2024:
CONNECTED CAPABILITY FOR FUTURE RESILIENCE
from 21 - 22 November 2024.
at the City of Cape Town Council Chambers, Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa
More info here.
DMISA Disaster Risk Reduction Conference 2023
Training, education, skills development and capacity building news
REPORT OF THE RE-ALIGNING AND DEVELOPING OF AN OCCUPATIONAL QUALIFICATION FOR THE DISASTER MANAGEMENT OFFICER AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT MANAGER
The report describes the outcome of the re-aligning and developing of an Occupational Qualification for the Disaster Management Officer (OFO Code: 541907) and Disaster Management Manager (OFO Code: 134912) by Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority (LGSETA).
Download the report here: Report on Review LGSeta NQF 4-5 2019
The Professionalisation Portal provides resources for those interested in professional registration in Disaster Management.
Notices and Announcements
DMISA Constitution 2018, as amended
DMISA's role as SAQA-approved professional body for Disaster Management in South Africa required some changes to the Institute's Constitution. The process to change the Constitution, as well as what changes were proposed and accepted, are described here.
The Disaster Management institute of Southern Africa (DMISA) was founded in 1985 and still maintains its position as the premium professional association for Disaster Management professionals and associated disciplines in Southern Africa. DMISA is the SAQA-recognised professional body for Disaster Management in South Africa and manages the SAQA-registered Disaster Management Professional (PrDM), Disaster Management Practitioner (DMPc), Disaster Management Associate (DMA) and Disaster Management Technician (DMT) designations.
DMISA is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) with the South African Department of Social Development, Registration No 209-841 NPO registered on 7 June 2018.
Professional Registration
DMISA is inviting applications for registration as Disaster Management Professional, Practitioner, Associate and Technician. Download the application forms with detailed instructions from the Professionalisation Portal.
Continuous Professional Development
Registered professionals must maintain their status through a system of continuous professional development (CPD) points. Access information about continuous professional development opportunities, processes and documentation.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Professional registration requirements include qualifications and experience. In some cases persons may have considerable experience but have not yet had the opportunity to acquire the required qualifications. In such cases RPL provides an opportunity for persons with applicable experience to also register professionally.
DMISA supports the Disaster Management / Disaster Risk Reduction community of practice
DMISA is committed to providing learning, networking and alignment opportunities for the Disaster Management / Disaster Risk Reduction community of practice in Southern Africa. We encourage interaction between practitioners, researchers, legislators, stakeholders and leadership across Southern Africa to build capacity and resilience, reduce risk, and improve our common understanding of disaster risk. Our common goal is to reduce the impact of disasters on society and to build future ready sustainable communities.
The following links may be useful to our members and the general community of practice:
Disaster Risk Reduction in Southern Africa
This SADC website provides a platform for sharing of information on Disaster Risk Reduction / Disaster Management, and provides learning opportunities for DRR practitioners and other stakeholders.