Nairobi, Kenya – African nations are significantly bolstering their multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) and early action capabilities through the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme. Launched in 2022, AMHEWAS is a continental initiative spearheaded by the African Union Commission (AUC) with crucial support from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and international partners like Italy.
The program aims to ensure that all 55 African Union Member States are equipped with robust systems to manage transboundary risks and to foster anticipatory action in the face of escalating climate and disaster threats. This initiative aligns with the global ‘Early Warnings for All’ objective, which seeks to provide universal early warning coverage by 2027.
Coordinated Efforts for Enhanced Preparedness
Recent high-level meetings, including the annual Co-production and Coordination Meeting held in Nairobi in March 2024 and Steering Committee and Technical Working Group meetings in Accra in July 2025, underscore the collaborative approach to advancing disaster resilience across the continent. These gatherings bring together representatives from member states, regional economic communities, UN agencies, and other stakeholders to refine the co-production of early warning products tailored to user needs.
Discussions have focused on improving the integration of data and products generated by various early warning pillars: risk knowledge, hazard detection and forecasting, warning dissemination, and preparedness and response. This multi-layered, networked approach facilitates seamless risk data exchange across local, national, and regional levels, enhancing transboundary risk coordination.
The AMHEWAS Programme has already seen tangible progress, including the establishment of situation rooms across the continent and the dissemination of numerous advisories to member states. These situation rooms serve as the operational core for monitoring and forecasting severe events, enabling timely dissemination of standardized warning bulletins that inform early response actions.
Addressing Africa’s Vulnerability to Climate Hazards
Africa is disproportionately vulnerable to climate-related disasters, experiencing a significant number of extreme weather events annually, which result in substantial loss of life and economic damage. From floods and droughts to heatwaves and cyclones, the continent faces compounding hazards that threaten development and the well-being of its populations.
Recognizing that countries with weak early warning systems face disaster-related mortality rates up to six times higher than those with robust systems, AMHEWAS places a critical emphasis on bridging these gaps, particularly in ensuring last-mile connectivity. The program also addresses challenges faced in conflict and post-conflict situations, where early warning systems are often non-existent, fragmented, or poorly linked to actionable responses due to underfunding and lack of context-specific adaptation.
Strengthening Capacity and Collaboration
The initiative involves enhancing the capacity of national institutions and stakeholders through training and the implementation of advanced tools. The myDEWETRA open-source platform, for instance, is being customized to integrate global, national, and local hazard data, enabling the co-production of impact-based early warning bulletins. This focus on building resident African capacity aims to foster self-sufficient early warning and action systems that reduce dependency on international support.
Partnerships are central to AMHEWAS’s success. The African Union Commission, UNDRR, CIMA Research Foundation, and various Regional Economic Communities (RECs) collaborate closely, ensuring a harmonized approach and minimizing duplication of efforts. This network of collaboration extends to academic institutions, civil society, and youth groups, fostering a comprehensive approach to disaster risk reduction.
The AMHEWAS Programme represents a significant step towards building a more resilient Africa, aligning with global efforts to protect all populations with early warning systems and to foster sustainable development in the face of increasing climate-related challenges.
The Chenab Times News Desk