Talking Points:

BY: HARSEN NYAMBE NYAMBE,

AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION’S DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT AND BLUE ECONOMY (SEBE), ON THE OCCASION OF:

STATE OF PLAY – EARLY WARNING FOR ALL PANEL SESSION – MULTISTAKEHOLDER FORUM

09:30 -10:30HRS

21^ST October 2024

The Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction

Windhoek, Namibia

Questions Number 1 – EW4ALL was launched in 2022 and has an ambitious target by 2024. What do you consider the biggest tangible achievement obtained in the implementation of EW4ALL in Africa?

Moderator asks the following panelists to respond (AUC)

• To have everyone on earth covered by Early Warning systems in 5 years is indeed an ambitious and audacious goal. Yet, in the face of heightened vulnerability, coupled with the complex interplay of climate change, geopolitics, and macroeconomics, Early Warning remain integral in mitigating the impacts of disasters, reducing disaster risks and building a resilient Africa.
• Early Warning for All has made significant strides in the two years since its launch, key among its achievements is creating expansive and high-impact advocacy for early warning across the continent raising early warning on the agenda of member states and key stakeholders including donors and development partners. Consequently, several countries have successfully developed national early warning roadmaps. These roadmaps are critical policy instruments that articulate each countries’ implementation framework providing clear strategy for coordinated, collaborative and integrated implementation of Early Warning across vertical and horizontal allocation across governments. The advocacy has garnered political will, raised public awareness and created a momentum for Early Warning.

Ladies and gentlemen;

• Disaster Risk Reduction is a shared collective responsibility, and so is Early Warning. Let us therefore, riding on this momentum, leverage existing mechanisms and initiatives, strengthen collaboration and enhance coherence across multi-hazard early warning early action initiatives on the continent, guided by and leading towards achievement of global and regional targets: Sendai Framework, Africa Programme of Action for implementation of Sendai Framework, Africa Multi-hazard Early Warning Early Action Operational Framework, the Africa Plan of Action for EW4ALL and the regional and national frameworks and roadmaps all aimed at substantially reducing disaster risks and losses in Africa and a  building resilient Africa. 

Question 2: What are the key challenges hindering the implementation of the EW4ALL in Africa as per the timeline? What can be done to turbocharge the implementation of EW4ALL? To AUC (address question in terms of Governance & Partnership)

• Despite the tremendous strides made by EW4ALL, there are challenges, yet the challenges faced by EW4ALL are not new nor unique, they are challenges inherent in our systems and the environment in which we operate; they are challenges inherent in the broader Disaster Risk Reduction that have been magnified and brought to the forefront by Early Warning because of the time-sensitivity and multi-actor nature required of Early Warnings.
• I will highlight 2 challenges that relate to both governance and partnership: fragmented governance which leads to fragmented implementation. In most member states, multiple-agencies will have overlapping mandates in disaster risk reduction. This leads to duplication of efforts, hindering effective allocation and prioritization of resources, minimizing the impact of Early Warning on the intended population. Multi-hazard early warning and early action is cross-cutting and calls for integrated, coherent policies and collaborative implementation. 
• Strengthened governance structures that articulate effective coordination mechanisms will not only facilitate elimination of silo-ed approaches but will also provide robust structures for effective partnerships. As we look to turbo charge, let’s not forfeit sustainable impact for short-term efficiency. Let’s take a more longer-term perspective, design for coherence across domains; such disaster risk reduction, climate change action, development, only then can we build early warning systems that not only save lives but enhance resilience.