The Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE), in conjunction with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), convened a meeting with Regional Economic Communities, partners and selected member states implementing the Africa Multi-hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme to discuss coordination and co-production to strengthen vertical and horizontal interoperability of Early Warning Systems on the continent. The meeting was held from 12-14 March 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mr Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, the SEBE Director, underscored the necessity of mobilising resources and diversification of AMHEWAS products to realise the full potential of the AMHEWAS Programme. Mr Nyambe emphasised, "The success of AMHEWAS will be gauged on the number of lives saved." Director Nyambe noted that urgent action needs to be taken, noting that Africa remains the most vulnerable continent globally, with eighty per cent of the African countries classified as extremely or highly vulnerable according to the World Risk Report 2023. 

Mr Amjad Abbashar, Chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for Africa, emphasised that AMHEWAS is critical in strengthening multi-hazard early warning and early action in Africa and that all stakeholders need to benefit from the Programme. He called for expanding the type of hazards and the range of products offered by AMHEWAS Situation Room, a transition to impact-based early warning and support countries whose capacities are the weakest and clear Standard Operating Procedures for data sharing, including transboundary risk management. Further, he called for better dissemination mechanisms and support for Member States to build their capacity to bolster anticipatory action.

Mr Marco Massabo, Research Director, Programme Capacity Development for Resilience and Climate Adaptation at the CIMA Research Foundation, expressed the institution's gratitude for being part of the AMHEWAS journey. He underscored CIMA's commitment to continued technical support and expressed his optimism that more products would be generated, and more data would be communicated to the right stakeholders. The CIMA Research Foundation is happy to be part of this journey. We look forward to shaping the discussion to generate new and more data to be communicated to the right stakeholders."

Similarly, Mr Gatkuoth Kai, the Regional Coordinator for Africa (Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery) at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), reiterated the commitment of the institution to supporting the operationalisation of AMHEWAS, building on its ongoing support through the Sahel Resilience Project.

During the meeting, the participants reviewed and updated the AMHEWAS Programme implementation and coordination mechanisms to guide its operationalisation on the Continent. Additionally, the participants agreed on the need for strengthened coordination of AMHEWAS and new products and services for impact-based early warning and enhanced anticipatory action. The

participants also identified opportunities and challenges affecting the coordination of AMHEWAS. Participants also agreed on the need to accelerate the establishment of interoperable national situation rooms interlinked with regional and AMHEWAS situation rooms. 

In attendance at the meeting were the four African Union Member States implementing the AMHEWAS Programme in their respective countries: Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Namibia. Regional Economic Communities representatives included the East African Community (EAC), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). Other organisations present included the Italian Agency for International Cooperation, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), the CIMA Research Foundation, UNDP through the Resilience Hub, and the Sahel Resilience Project.

ABOUT AMHEWAS 

Established under the auspices of the AUC and backed by Italy and UNDRR, the AMHEWAS Programme aspires to reduce disaster effects across the African continent substantially through increased access and availability of multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information, including for transboundary risk management. The Programme further seeks to support all 55 Member States to establish interoperable multi-hazard early warning systems to reduce disaster losses and foster the culture of anticipatory action.

Sweden and UNDP extended their support to the initiative by initially contributing to assessing and developing the Africa Institutional and Operational Framework for Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action by the CIMA Research Foundation. Norway has since joined forces with existing contributors, bolstering a collaborative effort to strengthen anticipatory action and improve risk data management capabilities across the African continent. 

The European Union's Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Programme also catalysed the African Union Commission's disaster risk reduction activities. 

The Africa Institutional and Operational Framework for Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action was adopted by the African Union Heads of State and Government, setting in motion the implementation phase of the AMHEWAS Programme from 2022 onwards. In 2023, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) launched its Institutional and Operational Framework on Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action, customised to the continental one.

For further information please contact:

Mr. Aboubakar Diane, Senior Policy Officer, Disaster Risk Reduction | Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy | African Union Commission
Tel: +251 90 953 7866 | E-mail: DianeA@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

For media enquiry:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission
Tel: +251 91 163 0631 | E-mail: MolaletT@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ms. Maryanne Muriuki, Communications Analyst – Disaster Risk Reduction | Disaster Risk Reduction Unit | African Union Commission | E-mail: MuriukiM@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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