AMHEWAS increases early-warning products, moves to strengthen disaster preparedness further

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April 11, 2025

AMHEWAS increases early-warning products, moves to strengthen disaster preparedness further

Meeting articulates the effective mechanisms for the co-production of AMHEWAS products

The African Union Commission (AUC), with support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), CIMA Research Foundation, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), through the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Early Action (AMHEWAS) Programme is holding the 3^rd coordination and co-production meeting for AMHEWAS products to enhance interoperability of situation rooms in Kampala, Uganda from 10^th – 13^th April 2025. The meeting is on the margins of the 22^nd session of the Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled for 15 – 17 April 2025.

Coordination and coproduction meetings involve institutions that are part of the AMHEWAS network, which co-produce different products under the AMHEWAS Programme to be well coordinated to ensure seamless production of products with efficiency without duplication. The meeting is further expected to discuss the current and future products to avoid duplication of efforts. Some products co-produced under AMHEWAS include Early Warning bulletins such as the Continental Watch, disaster situation reports, the Drought Watch, and wildfire bulletins.

The yearly event is organized to address and discuss the implementation mechanism of the AMHEWAS programme at all levels in the continent, articulate the effective mechanisms for the co-production of AMHEWAS products between continental, regional, and country levels, take stock of the progress of implementing the AMHEWAS programme activities on the continent, and showcase the innovation of new products. The meeting is expected to accelerate the implementation of the AMHEWAS programme on the continent through enhanced collaboration and the innovation of new early-warning products.

Ms Teresa Pinto, AUC Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction, opened the meeting on behalf of Mr Harsen Nyambe, AUC Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE). Ms. Pinto highlighted the importance and relevance of the AMHEWAS Programme in reducing losses attributed to disasters on the continent. She further expressed her concerns about the increase in disaster events on the continent and called for unified and intensified efforts, specifically on Early Warning systems, to reduce disaster losses.

Mr Jason Muriki, representing the IGAD Climate Predictions and Applications Centre (ICPAC), noted that the frequency and severity of interconnected disasters are rising on the continent. He further stated that timely and actionable early warning is critical but must be based on scientific knowledge to be meaningful. Mr Muriki implored the AMHEWAS network to concentrate on the safety and survival of our communities, which depend on the efficacy of the systems. He further urged the meeting to migrate from early warning to early action.

Mr. Marco Massabo, the Early Warning and Disaster Risk Knowledge Coordinator at UNDRR, reiterated the importance of the AMHEWAS programme in ensuring people have access to early warning systems that inform early action complemented by the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for the Early Warning for All Initiative.

Technical experts are participating in the event. They are drawn from Regional Economic Communities, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Member States participants are pooled from Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, and Ivory Coast. Partners institutions represented in the meeting include the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the CIMA Research Foundation, and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

ABOUT AMHEWAS

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

Sweden and UNDP supported 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. Angola and Norway have since joined forces with existing contributors, bolstering a collaborative effort to strengthen anticipatory action and improve risk data management capabilities across the African continent. Since then, Denmark and the World Bank have also joined the path to protect Africa’s lives and economic assets by supporting the AMHEWAS programme. The European Union's Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Programme also catalysed the African Union Commission's disaster risk reduction activities.

For further information, please contact:

Ms Teresa Pinto, Technical Coordinator, Disaster Risk Reduction Unit | Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy | African Union Commission | E-mail: PintoT@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

For media enquiry:

Mr Molalet Tsedeke | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission
Tel: +251-911-630 631 | 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