Mission
Water at the Heart of Climate Action (WHCA) tackles one of the most urgent challenges of our time: the growing impact of climate change on water ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Launched in 2023, WHCA supports communities in five Nile Basin countries – Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda – to reduce water-related risks and build long-term climate resilience. Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the programme strengthens early warning systems, improves access to climate and water data, and empowers local actors to lead the way in adaptation and disaster preparedness.
- Locally led: National organizations and communities lead solution design and decision making, supported by international actors.
- Collaborative: WHCA unites global and national partners in a unique consortium, each contributing their expertise to a shared mission.
- Systemic: We don’t just respond to disasters. We work to prevent them, and for policies to reach the most vulnerable through data-driven early warnings, early action, and inclusive governance.
- Basin-wide: Water knows no borders. WHCA aligns early warning systems with the natural flow of water and shared risks across borders, enabling more accurate forecasting and coordinated action.
- Scalable: WHCA is designed as a platform for growth. With additional funding, it can expand to more basins, countries and contexts, supporting new communities based on current learnings.
Voluntary Commitments
The Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) online platform allows stakeholders to inform the public about their work on DRR. The SFVC online platform is a useful toolto know who is doing what and where for the implementation of the Sendai Framework, which could foster potential collaboration among stakeholders. All stakeholders (private sector, civil society organizations, academia, media, local governments, etc.) working on DRR can submit their commitments and report on their progress and deliverables.