Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction Commences in Namibia to Tackle Climate-Induced Challenges

Despite recent advancements, only 20 African countries—about 45% of the region—have implemented multi-hazard early warning systems as of last year's global status report.

The 9th Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction is underway in Windhoek, Namibia, from 21 to 24 October, under the theme “Act Now for the Resilient Africa We Want.” The platform aims to address the escalating impacts of climate change on disaster risks, bringing together stakeholders from various African nations, regional organizations, and international bodies, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Kicking off the event was the Early Warnings for All Multi-Stakeholder Forum for Africa, which emphasized the necessity of improving early warning systems to mitigate the devastating effects of disasters. The event is co-hosted by the Government of Namibia and organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the Southern African Development Community.

Climate Change and Disaster Risks

Hon. John Mutorwa, Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport highlighted the indiscriminate nature of disasters globally, noting Namibia’s frequent encounters with floods and droughts intensified by climate change. “We must accelerate our efforts to enhance early warning systems throughout Africa,” he stated.

According to data from the Sendai Framework Monitor, over 100,000 people died or were reported missing due to disasters in Africa from 2013 to 2022, with an additional 131 million people affected. Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, emphasized that many of these fatalities could have been prevented with more effective early warning systems. “Countries equipped with multi-hazard early warning systems report disaster death rates six times lower than those without such systems,” he noted.

Despite recent advancements, only 20 African countries—about 45% of the region—have implemented multi-hazard early warning systems as of last year's global status report. This progress, up from just 9 countries in 2015, remains insufficient against the goal of achieving 100% coverage.

“The Early Warnings For All initiative presents a transformative opportunity for Africa,” said Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Secretary-General. “Timely forecasts and robust early warning systems are critical for community preparedness and response to extreme weather events. A united effort involving government, civil society, the private sector, and academia is essential to share knowledge and resources.”

Recent Disasters and Humanitarian Response

Delegates at the forum recounted their experiences with devastating floods in East, Central, and West Africa this year, along with ongoing drought conditions in Namibia and southern Africa. Recent catastrophic flooding in East Africa and severe rainfall leading to extensive flooding in West and Central Africa has resulted in significant displacement and loss of life. For instance, heavy rains in Sudan displaced approximately 140,000 individuals and led to the collapse of a dam, resulting in at least 69 fatalities. In Nigeria, over 300 people have died due to flooding, with 1.2 million affected by the recent dam collapse.

A new study from World Weather Attribution scientists indicates that these floods were exacerbated by human-induced climate change, with expectations of similar events occurring every 3 to 10 years. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved flood defenses.

Themes for Collaborative Action

The multi-stakeholder forum identified three primary themes for action:

Accelerated Finance: Mobilizing resources and scaling up existing financial mechanisms to leverage resilience dividends.

Broadened Collaboration: Strengthening cooperation for comprehensive action and ensuring Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) are community-focused.

Investment in Services: Recognizing and investing in National and Meteorological Hydrological Services as authoritative sources of forecasts and warnings.

These outcomes will feed into the High-Level Meeting of the 9th Africa Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled for 24 October, aiming to reach a consensus on strategies to meet commitments under the Sendai Framework and support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Focus on Fragile Contexts

At the forum, a new handbook addressing Early Warning Systems and Early Action in Fragile, Conflict, and Violent (FCV) contexts was launched. Developed by the Centre of Excellence for Climate and Disaster Resilience, this resource emphasizes the importance of scaling up MHEWS in regions vulnerable to both climate change and instability, as 19 of the 25 most climate-vulnerable countries are affected by such risks.

This gathering underscores the critical need for collective action to enhance resilience against climate-related disasters and protect communities across Africa.