By Dele Ogbodo
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the African Union Commission (AUC), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and other lead Agencies and Organizations are set for the launch of the Multi-Hazard Early Warning for All (MEW4All) Action Plan in Nairobi, Kenya on September 4.
This is coming even as the WMO, AUC and other partners have in the second week of August, 2023 concluded the review of the MEW4All Action Plan for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In a statement made available to the media, byDr. Kosmos Akande-Alasoka (DPA), Public Information Officer, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Regional Office for Africa (RAF), said the high-level officials at the meeting were drawn from WMO, AUC, IFRC, ITU, UNDRR and other stakeholders reviewed the earlier draft document of the technical teams.
Recall that the MEW4ALL Action Plan for Africa (2023-2027) is being developed to bridge existing gaps and establish continent-wide early warning systems coverage by 2027, in line with AMHEWAS and EW4All objectives.
The Plan will build upon ongoing regional early warning efforts on the continent and provide strategic direction for member states and stakeholders in addressing weather, water, and climate service-related challenges and opportunities.
In his opening address at the meeting, the WMO Director, Member Services and Development Department, Mr. Filipe Lúcio, acknowledged the leadership role of AUC in organizing the earlier review by the technical team in Bishoftu, Ethiopia and the coming together of the high-level team for a final review of the document.
He highlighted the improvement and progress in weather forecasting, especially on severe weather events, pointing out that despite the feat attained, there still exist gaps in communication and responses.
He, however, commended the participants for their commitment, hard work, and collaboration to close the holes in the early warning systems.
Also speaking, the AU Director, Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, Mr. Harsen Nyambe, said the AU Heads of State and Government encouraged member states to take measures to strengthen their national systems on disaster-related displacement, disaster risk reduction and early warning in line with the Sendai Framework, the African Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Programme.
In the words of the Director of the UNDP, Regional Service Center, Dr. Matthias NAAB, said: “UNDP strongly believes that addressing climate change challenges necessitates a risk-informed development approach underpinned by sound disaster risk management, which incorporates preparedness, mitigation, and risk reduction measures.”
The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction/Climate Resilience Coordinator, Ms. Phoebe Wafubwa, noted that IFRC supports Community-based Disaster Risk Reduction in various African communities and preparedness and response remain a crucial challenge.
According to the Representative from IMO, Ahmed Rona Ali, the Organization remains a ‘major implementor of climate adaptation and risk reduction programming across Africa and the globe. Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction are core areas of focus for IOM, and with disasters increasingly causing widespread destruction and community displacement, the Organization has and will continue to invest in risk reduction.
Also speaking, the Regional Director for Africa and Representative to AU and UNECA Ms. Anne-Rachel Inne, commended the collaboration of participants MEW4All action Plan, adding that ITU will support member states in the implementation of the EW4ALL through support to Common alerting protocol.
She noted the need to strengthen the communication infrastructure in the region. ‘ITU, she said, supported Malawi in preparing its national emergency Telecommunication Plan and will continue to render the needed support for implementing the EW4ALL Initiative.
With the leadership of UNSG, WMOSG and other lead Partners, the Action Plan is expected to be launched in Nairobi, Kenya at the African Climate Summit on 4 September 2023.
MEANWHILE, The Director, WMO Regional Office for Africa has revealed the the framework for synergies on operational activities with the President of RA I, has begun.
The Director of the WMO Regional Office for Africa, Dr. Agnes Kijazi, led a team of experts from the WMO regional office on a one-day operational synergy retreat with the WMO Regional Association I President in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The retreat, which took place on 12 August, covered presentations on the role of the Regional Office in support of the functions of the President, Procedures for the nomination of Experts in Committees and Working Groups, critical Capacity Gaps and Regional Priorities.
Kijazi, and the team also took the President through technical issues related to Infrastructure, Services, Hydrology and Capacity Development/Research, specifically for preparing WMO Sessions, preparing Permanent Representatives (PRs) for their effective participation in WMO sessions and monitoring and evaluation mechanism of the RA I implementation plan. The president was also introduced to important documents to support the effective performance of his duties.
While welcoming the President, Dr. Kijazi indicated that ‘the Regional Office for Africa prepared the session with the President as part of the Regional Office’s responsibility to support the work of the President. We are privileged that the office of the President and the Regional Office are both in Addis Ababa; please be free to reach out for any support you may require’ she urged.
Speaking at the end of the retreat, the President of the RA I and Permanent Representation (PR) of Ethiopia with WMO, Mr, Fetene Teshome, applauded the initiative of the Regional Office in providing this needed support and guidance for the operation of the Office of the President RA I which he noted were crucial to enhance his activities and performance as the President of the Region.
The Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) and the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will continue to provide the needed support and collaboration required by the WMO Regional Office to perform its role of representing Members to the WMO secretariat and representing the WMO Secretariat to Members, he added.
