CREWS Initiative Funds $77M Project to Bolster Early Warning Systems in Poor Nations

The project's approach is holistic, addressing gaps in the MHEWS value chain while prioritizing inclusivity and community engagement.

In a concerted effort to ensure universal protection from hazardous weather, water, or climate events, the Climate Risk and Early Warnings Initiative (CREWS Initiative) has greenlit funding aimed at accelerating the implementation of life-saving early warning systems in vulnerable Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) by the end of 2027.

The newly launched 18-month Early Warnings for All Accelerator for LDCs and SIDS Project targets seven countries deemed particularly vulnerable: Comoros, Kiribati, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nepal, Solomon Islands, and Tonga. Its primary focus is on strengthening Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) in these regions.

With an allocation of US$77 million in technical assistance over the next two years, CREWS aims to bridge the early warning capacity gap in LDCs and SIDS, ensuring timely and accurate dissemination of vital information to communities at risk.

The project will be jointly executed by four leading organizations in the early warning domain: the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). Collaborating closely with National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHHSs) in each target country, these entities will work in tandem to enhance early warning capabilities and improve disaster response mechanisms.

Gerard Howe, Chair of CREWS and Head of the Adaptation, Nature & Resilience department of the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), underscored the significance of the initiative's collaborative approach in ensuring positive impact and reaching over 61 million people across the target regions.

The project's approach is holistic, addressing gaps in the MHEWS value chain while prioritizing inclusivity and community engagement. By embracing at-risk communities, such as persons with disabilities and children, and incorporating local and indigenous knowledge, the project aims to foster resilience and preparedness at the grassroots level.

Outlined with four main expected outcomes, the project seeks to strengthen the availability, access, and utilization of climate and risk information, enhance the accuracy and timeliness of forecasts and warnings, improve early warning communication and dissemination, and promote early and anticipatory action for weather and climate-related disasters.

For NMHSs, enhanced capacity to monitor and predict weather and climate-related events promises improved forecasting models, increased public trust, and more informed decision-making. Similarly, national disaster management offices will benefit from proactive preparation and response capabilities, minimizing the impact of disasters on communities and infrastructure.

Furthermore, the project will engage closely with public and private telecommunication regulators and companies via the ITU, as well as collaborate with humanitarian communities through the IFRC, ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated approach towards bolstering early warning systems and enhancing disaster preparedness worldwide.