VFDM Project Concludes with Achievements in Climate Resilience in Volta Basin

The project aimed to bolster early warning systems for floods and droughts, critical for mitigating climate change impacts across the region.

From June 19 to 23, 2024, stakeholders and partners convened in Accra for the closing workshop of the Volta Flood and Drought Management (VFDM) project, marking a significant milestone in enhancing climate resilience within the Volta Basin.

Initiated in June 2019 and financed by the Adaptation Fund, the VFDM project united the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Volta Basin Authority (VBA), the Global Water Partnership West Africa (GWP-WA), and six riparian countries—Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, and Togo. The project aimed to bolster early warning systems for floods and droughts, critical for mitigating climate change impacts across the region.

Despite global statistics showing that only half of the 193 WMO Member countries have operational Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), the VFDM project focused on closing this gap in Africa. It empowered National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and other authorities with innovative solutions, emphasizing gender-sensitive and participatory approaches.

Key achievements presented at the workshop included significant advancements in forecasting and warning systems, benefiting over 23 million people in the basin. The project mapped community vulnerabilities, deployed the VOLTALARM Flood and Drought Early Warning Platform, and formulated a regional strategy for flood and drought risk reduction. It also facilitated the active participation of women and vulnerable groups in disaster management processes.

The VFDM project's success lies in its integration of technical, institutional, social, and environmental dimensions, aligning with the Early Warnings for All initiative. By leveraging existing national capabilities into a cohesive decision-support system, VFDM not only enhanced community-based flood and drought management but also trained over 750 young professionals in the region.

Reflecting on the project's impact, Giacomo Teruggi, VFDM Project Executive, emphasized its role in fostering a transboundary, integrated early warning system tailored to local needs. As the project concludes, stakeholders highlight the importance of sustaining and scaling up its outcomes to ensure continued resilience against climate hazards in the Volta Basin.

The VFDM project sets a precedent for collaborative efforts in climate adaptation, demonstrating the effectiveness of regional cooperation in mitigating environmental risks and protecting vulnerable communities.

 

 

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