Early Warnings for All intiative (EW4All): November 2023 updates
November Highlight: First EW4All workshop in Latin America & Caribbean Region held in Barbados
Barbados hosted its National EW4All Consultative Workshop at the Hilton Barbados Resort on November 01-02, 2023. The workshop emphasized that "Early Warning Systems Are Not Seasonal" and should be a continuous, year-round effort. It further showcased the considerable national progress in developing the Barbados Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) Policy as part of the government's commitment to bolstering resilience. During the workshop, Barbados formalized partnerships with broadcasting networks to enhance mass communication during hazardous events. The workshop delved into the globally endorsed EW4All gap analysis checklist, identifying priorities and charting actions for effective implementation. Key outcomes included a call for a cabinet approved national MHEWS policy, a focus on integrated risk information platforms, and the importance of sustainable resourcing for MHEWS. The event highlights Barbados' dedication to year-round preparedness and collaboration for the safety and resilience of its communities.
Mark your calendar
Somalia National Workshop
15 - 16 November, Mogadishu
Uganda National EW4All Workshop and Water @ Heart Launch
15 -17 November, Entebbe
Bangladesh National Workshop
17 - 18 November, Dhaka
South Sudan National EW4All Workshop and Water @ Heart Launch
20 - 22 November, Juba
Mozambique National Workshop (new date)
20 - 21 November, Maputo
Haiti National Workshop and gap analysis
29 - 30 November, Port-au-Prince
Antigua & Barbuda National Workshop and gap analysis
11 - 12 December, St John’s
Ethiopia EW4All Pillar 1 Workshop
12 - 14 December, Addis Ababa
EW4ALL country implementation
Africa
First Pillar 1 Workshop will take place in Ethiopia on December 12-14
Ethiopia will hold the first EW4All Pillar 1 Workshop on December 12-14 in Addis Ababa, paving the way for Pillar 1 implementation in the country. Focused on advancing the national Emergency Coordination Centres (ECCs) and the Woreda Disaster Risk Profiling exercise, the workshop aims to address existing gaps and enhance the effectiveness of early warning systems. Spearheaded by the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) and supported by UNDRR, the workshop will also introduce the Handbook on Use of Risk Knowledge for EWS, developed by the CIMA foundation for EW4All. Additionally, Microsoft will pilot innovative technologies, leveraging AI and satellite imagery to identify at-risk communities and bolster preparedness efforts. This collaborative effort underscores a global commitment to risk-informed EWS in Ethiopia.
Arab States
Somalia National Workshop will take place on 15-16 November
Somalia national workshop is set to take place on 15-16 November 2023, co-facilitated by the four EW4All Pillar lead agencies and organised jointly with the RCO, UNCT and UNDP.
Asia & Pacific
Anticipatory action framework for Fiji
A new, integrated anticipatory action framework for Fiji was approved and will be published soon.
Europe & Central Asia
The EW4All national roadmap in Tajikistan is taking shape
Embarking on the next phase of the EW4All initiative in Tajikistan, the national roadmap has been finalised and will soon undergo a comprehensive review by National Pillar Leads. Three impactful subnational workshops are on the horizon, scheduled for December/January 2024, in Shohmansur, Firdawsi and Sino, engaging stakeholders to bolster local capacities. These workshops will pave the way for a subsequent national review workshop in February 2024, which will be held back-to-back with a dedicated Pillar 1 workshop.
Global interpillar technical coordination & activities
Handbook on Risk Knowledge
The zero draft of the Handbook on Risk Knowledge will now be further consulted and finalised ahead of a Pillar 1 side event at COP28. This will be among a key set of tools to guide the implementation of Pillar 1 in countries with a focus on use of risk knowledge for improved early warning and early action.
Update on AI group
The 4 pillar leads have been identifying key gaps and priorities that AI may support. The gaps and priorities will be discussed in the AI group and a session will be organized at COP28 to showcase the use cases on AI for Early warnings for all initiative.
Video on Saving Lives with Mobile Early Warning Systems
ITU and IFRC have co-published a video on Saving Lives with Mobile Early Warning Systems, to highlight the new opportunities and solutions brought by digital growth to reach millions of people, quicker, and more effectively before, during, and after disasters.
Innovation for Risk Knowledge
At the 27th meeting of TEC (Technology Executive Committee of UNFCCC) (19-21 September), concept note on TEC - Group on Earth Observations (GEO) joint knowledge product under Pillar 1 activity 7 was presented and endorsed. The knowledge product will highlight technologies and innovation that help improve disaster risk knowledge and information that could assist countries in ramping-up action and support for protecting the most vulnerable and realizing early warnings for all. The GEO and TEC secretariats are already discussing how to receive inputs from and ensure collaboration with UNDRR, GCF, Adaptation Fund and IFRC. The video of the meeting is available here (11:14 -1:18:30).
During GEO Week 2023/Ministerial Summit in Cape Town Africa (6-10 November) (also see IISD report), Dr. Lennox Gladden, activity lead of TEC on EWS, and members of the UNFCCC delegation spoke at the Plenary sessions and various side events to emphasize the importance of innovation and Earth observations data/technology/solutions in the efforts of EW4All and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. Moreover, the UNFCCC and GEO secretariats engaged in a number of bilateral exchanges with various GEO stakeholders, such as NASA and ESA/European Union, to inform the development of the TEC-GEO knowledge product on ‘innovation for risk knowledge’. Meanwhile, at Plenary session and Ministerial Summit, Dr. Johan Stander, Director of Service Department of WMO, showcased emerging WMO-GEO collaboration on Global Heat Resilience Service as a contribution to EW4All in the context of Pillar 1 innovation for risk knowledge.
Getting ahead of disasters: A charter on finance for managing risks
The UAE COP28 Presidency’s “Getting ahead of disasters: A charter on finance for managing risks” sets out principles for collaborative action to ensure better use of finance to manage risks and protect people in the most vulnerable countries from climate-related disasters. It places a strong emphasis on anticipatory approaches and pre-arranged finance, which are essential components for the delivery of the EW4All initiative as they emphasize proactive risk reduction, rapid response to early warnings, and efficient resource allocation. By adopting these principles, the EW4All initiative can help to identify new ways to enhance and scale up finance for early warning. For instance:
Global, regional and national EWS/Anticipatory Action financial advocacy campaigns can push for the mainstreaming of key pre-arranged financing principles into international financial systems.
Coordinated local community and national anticipatory action plans can be designed with pre-arranged and reliable funding attached.
ODA and climate finance should be encouraged to become more flexible, better suited to anticipatory action and channeled through existing pooled funds that support anticipatory action.
An effort should be made to provide dedicated financial resources that strengthen the capacities of key local and national governments and partners (such as IFRC) to develop and implement anticipatory action plans.
Anticipatory action financing should be integrated into layered disaster risk financing strategies.
In case you missed it
The 11th Global Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action (10-12 October)
The 11th Global Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Humanitarian Action was convened on 10-12 October, featuring a dedicated session on EW4All – “Achieving Early Warnings for All: Strategies and synergies for reaching the last mile”. The session explored strategies and synergies for implementing effective early warning and early/anticipatory action. It offered a space for a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from national governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector, to share experiences, insights, and best practices in designing and implementing inclusive, integrated, and accessible end-to-end early warning systems that translate into early action.
Background paper on "Digital Transformation and Early Warning Systems for Saving Lives”
As part of its work to support the Pillar 3 warning dissemination and communication pillar, ITU has released a background paper on "Digital Transformation and Early Warning Systems for Saving Lives.” The paper points to the opportunities offered by the growing availability and reach of mobile networks and services to alert communities at risk and highlights the legislative approach adopted by 33 countries to speed up the implementation of mobile EWS.
IFRC Guidelines on Disaster Risk Governance
Focused on strengthening laws, policies and plans for comprehensive disaster risk management, the Guidelines are designed to support states in their efforts to strengthen disaster risk governance and become legally prepared for disasters. The Guidelines will be published in the coming weeks and will be circulated for comments until the end of November. They will be presented to the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 2024 for endorsement by States.
This monthly update is provided by the EW4All ITCG (Inter-Pillar Technical Coordination Group)