As climate-induced disasters intensify across the globe, Africa, considered the most vulnerable continent, is stepping up preparedness by developing advanced early warning systems. In the face of unprecedented droughts, floods, and other natural hazards that strike abruptly and leave devastating impacts, the African Union (AU) prioritizes anticipatory action to save lives, protect property, and reduce casualties.
In response, the African Union established the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Early Action (AMHEWAS), a program aimed at reducing the effects of disasters across the continent. It seeks to increase access to and availability of multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information, particularly for managing transboundary risks.
According to Ms. Teresa Pinto, Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction at the African Union Commission (AUC), AMHEWAS is a vital step toward minimizing disaster-related losses in Africa. She emphasized that the growing frequency of disaster events on the continent calls for unified and intensified efforts, particularly in the area of early warning systems.
Currently, the AUC, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the CIMA Research Foundation, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), is holding the third Coordination and Co-Production Meeting in Kampala, Uganda. The meeting is taking place on the sidelines of the 22nd Session of the Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled for 15–17 April 2025.
The AMHEWAS program aims to support all 55 AU Member States in establishing interoperable multi-hazard early warning systems, fostering a culture of anticipatory action, and reducing disaster losses. Backed by support from Sweden and UNDP, the initiative began with an assessment and development of Africa’s Institutional and Operational Framework for Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action, led by the CIMA Research Foundation.
The coordination and co-production meetings bring together institutions within the AMHEWAS network to ensure smooth and efficient delivery of early warning products without duplication. Among the key products co-developed under AMHEWAS are early warning bulletins such as the Continental Watch, Disaster Situation Reports, the Drought Watch, and Wildfire Bulletins.
Mr. Marco Massabo, Early Warning and Disaster Risk Knowledge Coordinator at UNDRR, underscored the program’s role in ensuring that communities receive timely, accurate information that enables early action. He also echoed the UN Secretary-General’s call for the Early Warning for All Initiative.
This annual event is designed to assess progress in the implementation of the AMHEWAS programme across the continent, coordinate product development at national, regional, and continental levels, and showcase innovations in early warning technologies.
Mr. Jason Muriki, representing the IGAD Climate Predictions and Applications Centre (ICPAC), stressed the growing threat of interconnected disasters and the urgent need for science-based, actionable early warnings. He urged the AMHEWAS network to focus on the safety and survival of communities, advocating for a shift from early warning to early action.
The Kampala meeting has brought together experts from Regional Economic Communities, including 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).
This collaboration is expected to accelerate the rollout of AMHEWAS across the continent and spark the development of innovative early warning products.
As Africa braces for a future of more frequent and severe climate threats, initiatives like AMHEWAS offer a proactive path forward, one that empowers communities through preparedness, collaboration, and life-saving information.
