AMHEWAS Expands Early Warning Capabilities

Enhances Disaster Preparedness Across Africa
The African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the CIMA Research Foundation, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), convened the third coordination and co-production meeting for the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Early Action (AMHEWAS) in Kampala, Uganda, from 10 to 13 April 2025. This gathering coincided with the 22nd session of the Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled for 15–17 April 2025.

This meeting aims to refine the operational coherence of AMHEWAS products through enhanced interoperability of situation rooms across the continent. By bringing together technical experts and partner institutions, the event seeks to streamline the co-production of early warning outputs such as the Continental Watch, Drought Watch, wildfire bulletins, and disaster situation reports, ensuring that efforts are harmonized, and duplication is minimized.

Held annually, the coordination meeting functions as a strategic platform to assess progress, address implementation mechanisms at regional and national levels, and introduce innovative tools within the AMHEWAS framework. The session is designed to bolster the implementation of early warning systems and catalyze anticipatory actions in response to the growing frequency and complexity of disaster risks in Africa.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Teresa Pinto, Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction at the AUC, emphasized the critical role of the AMHEWAS Programme in mitigating disaster-related losses. She highlighted the alarming rise in the incidence of disasters across the continent and called for strengthened and united efforts to enhance early warning capacities.

Mr. Jason Muriki, representing the IGAD Climate Predictions and Applications Centre (ICPAC), underscored the increasing interconnectivity of disasters and the imperative for scientifically grounded, timely, and actionable early warning systems. He urged a paradigm shift from early warning to early action to safeguard communities.

Mr. Marco Massabo, Early Warning and Disaster Risk Knowledge Coordinator at UNDRR, reiterated the alignment of AMHEWAS with the UN Secretary-General’s “Early Warnings for All” initiative. He stressed that inclusive and accessible early warning systems are indispensable to enabling proactive responses and saving lives.

The meeting convenes experts from key Regional Economic Communities (RECs)—IGAD, ECOWAS, ECCAS, UMA, EAC, and SADC—alongside national representatives from countries such as Tanzania, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, and Côte d’Ivoire. Partner organizations including UNDRR, the CIMA Research Foundation, and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are also actively engaged in this process.

About AMHEWAS
Established under the auspices of the African Union Commission with support from Italy and UNDRR, the AMHEWAS Programme is a flagship continental initiative aimed at reducing disaster impacts by enhancing the availability, accessibility, and interoperability of multi-hazard early warning systems. It seeks to equip all 55 AU Member States with robust systems capable of managing transboundary risks and fostering anticipatory action.

The programme's development was initially supported by Sweden and UNDP, which contributed to the assessment and design of the Africa Institutional and Operational Framework for Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action, led by the CIMA Research Foundation. Since then, Angola, Norway, Denmark, and the World Bank have joined the initiative, reinforcing a collaborative commitment to protecting lives and assets across Africa. The European Union’s Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Programme has also played a catalytic role in advancing disaster risk reduction efforts under the AUC’s leadership.