Denmark Funds Project to Enhance Early Warning Systems in Africa's Vulnerable Regions

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The Early Warnings for All Initiative (EW4ALL) envisions a world where every person is protected by life-saving Early Warning Systems (EWS) by 2027. Spearheaded by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the initiative aims to work cohesively across the entire EWS value chain.

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Despite progress, significant gaps remain, particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in Africa. Countries such as Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda face substantial challenges related to climate resilience and EWS, essential for protecting their populations from recurring natural hazards like flash floods and droughts. These hazards often result in loss of life and significant economic impacts. To address these challenges, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has allocated CHF 4.9 million for a new four-year project contributing to EW4ALL in these nations.

The Danish Project will support immediate actions required to implement activities across the four pillars of the EW4ALL initiative: disaster risk knowledge; detection, observations, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting; warning dissemination and communication; and preparedness and response capabilities. The project will also strengthen anticipatory action by leveraging the WMO Coordination Mechanism (WCM) to support the design, delivery, and uptake of climate and risk information services for climate action.

Following national consultations in Niger, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark endorsed the project proposal in March 2024, agreeing on four main outcomes:

1. Develop national Early Warning Systems in five African LDCs.
2. Support Early Warning and Early/Anticipatory Action in Fragile and Conflict-affected Contexts (FCVs).
3. Enhance Climate Science Information for Climate Action.
4. Ensure Effective Global and Regional Coordination and Support by WMO for EW4ALL.

The primary project activity will involve implementing Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) in all five target countries. This includes producing, analyzing, interpreting, and using climate and risk information to strengthen MHEWS. The countries will be empowered to monitor and forecast priority hazards to generate and disseminate actionable early warning responses. Communities will enhance their capacity to respond, prevent, or mitigate the impacts of climate-related hazards. Additionally, the project will help develop an enabling policy framework, fostering effective coordination between relevant agencies and stakeholders.

The Danish project officially commenced in April 2024 and is expected to be completed in 2028.

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