Early Warnings for All intiative (EW4All): October 2023 updates
October Highlight: First meeting of the ITCG sub-group on Artificial Intelligence for Early Warnings
The first meeting of the EW4All Artificial Intelligence (AI) sub-group convened on 15 September 2023 gathering stakeholders from all four EW pillars, UNDP, Microsoft, GSMA, DLA Piper, UNFCCC and the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). The meeting objective was to provide a platform for partners to showcase their work on AI and its application in EWS and to discuss the way forward. During the initial phase, the AI sub-group will establish its structure and develop a scoping paper outlining the potential of AI within the context of EWS and the EW4All Initiative. The group will organise a side event at COP28 highlighting innovations and good practices on AI that can help countries advance in their early warning systems.
Mark your calendar
Barbados National Workshop
01 – 02 November, Bridgetown
Somalia National Workshop
14-15 November, Mogadishu
Mozambique National Workshop
15 November, Maputo
Haiti National Workshop and gap analysis
29 – 30 November, Port-au-Prince
Antigua & Barbuda National Workshop and gap analysis
11 – 12 December, St John’s
EW4ALL country implementation
Africa
National EW4All Workshop in Madagascar (14 – 15 September)
The workshop convened 93 participants representing government agencies, local authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and the private sector. Based on the preliminary gap analysis, national stakeholders endorsed the formulation of a National Action Plan for the realization of EW4All in Madagascar, to be prepared over the next 4-5 months and covering the period 2023 – 2027. Key areas of support identified include promoting an inclusive approach to EWS, improving access to and use of risk data and strengthening risk communication. It was agreed that the high-level platforms and technical platforms already in place at national and sub-national levels will be leveraged to guide the development and implementation of the EW4All common agenda for Madagascar, including oversight of the four pillars and cross-pillar priorities.
Asia & Pacific
National EW4All Workshop in Nepal Workshop (21 – 22 September)
A strong appreciation of the EW4All initiative emerged among relevant government and non-government agencies, and other development partners at the workshop. The Multi hazard Early Warning System Task Force in Nepal has been called upon to coordinate the next steps on the stakeholder and gap analysis which have been initiated. A draft MHEWS concept note has also been created which will form the basis of the MHEWS roadmap in Nepal emphasizing a “whole of society” approach.
National EW4All Workshop in Lao PDR (21 September)
A gap analysis was undertaken and is currently in the process of validation by the government. Furthermore, a National Focal Point has been nominated. Additionally, a proposal for the establishment of a National Coordination Mechanism dedicated to early warning was proposed during the workshop. Looking ahead, the fourth quarter of 2023 will include follow-up workshops on the implementation of pillar activities.
The Cambodia National Workshop (04 October)
Participants included representatives from the Government, UN, civil society, and the donor community. The results of the stakeholder mapping and the preliminary gap analysis were discussed, and current initiatives were shared including data sharing mechanisms, hydro-met services, and community-based preparedness actions. Participants assessed the strengths and challenges to reinforce the country’s early warning systems. The CREWS Secretariat presented the CREWS mechanism and the different mechanisms available to support early warning implementation.
Latin America & the Caribbean
First Regional Summit between National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and National Disaster Risk Management Offices (NDRMOs)
- The first Regional Summit between NMHSs and NDRMOs, held in Uruguay on 27 February, aimed to strengthen operational work and institutional coordination between the national institutions in accordance with their legislation. As part of the recommendations, the Hazards definition and Classification (Hazard Taxonomy) is currently being used to compile a holistic understanding of the multiple hazards to which the countries in the region are currently exposed (among the 8 clusters and the 302 hazards). Strengthened monitoring is needed, and response capacities must be in place.
Mapping EWS Capacities of CDEMA Participating States
- A UNDRR study developed by ROAC with support of CREWS provides an updated assessment of the status of MHEWS for all CDEMA participating countries. It highlights existing gaps and capacities in the areas of governance, disaster risk knowledge, forecasting, monitoring and detection, warning and dissemination and response capability.
Global interpillar technical coordination & activities
The 11th Global Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action (10-12 October)
The 11th Global Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Humanitarian Action was convened on 10-12 October, with the theme “People at the centre: scaling up anticipatory action”. The Platform featured 51 sessions focused on how to drive anticipatory action forward, through increasing reach, improving quality and strengthening synergy across key initiatives supporting the early warning early action value chain. More than 2,500 people attended from around the world. The GDP featured a session on EW4All – “Achieving Early Warnings for All: Strategies and synergies for reaching the last mile”. Co-organized by UNDRR, WMO, ITU and IFRC, the session explored strategies and synergies for implementing effective early warning and early/anticipatory action. It offered a space for a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from national governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector, to share experiences, insights, and best practices in designing and implementing inclusive, integrated, and accessible end-to-end early warning systems that translate into early action.
Microsoft AI for Good Lab has joined Pillar 1
Microsoft AI for Good Lab has joined Pillar 1 and will focus on helping countries better understand the populations most at risk of extreme weather events through satellite imagery and AI. As part of a risk knowledge pillar 1 work in Ethiopia, Microsoft will work with Ethiopia's National Disaster Management Authority to identify communities at risk of disaster impacts. The risk knowledge workshop is planned for late November.
Handbook on Risk Knowledge
The zero draft of the Handbook on Risk Knowledge will now be further consulted and finalised ahead of its formal lunch at COP28. This will be among a key set of tools to guide the implementation of Pillar 1 in countries with a focus on use of risk knowledge for improved early warning and early action
COP28 side event: Digital connectivity and technologies for Early Warning for All initiative
Commitments and pledges from the mobile and satellite community to support the multi-channel alert dissemination under EW4All will be featured in a dedicated COP28 side event: “Digital connectivity and technologies for Early Warning for All initiative”. This session is part of the ITU-led Green Digital Action track, and the event will take place at the WMO Pavilion. Date and time are to be confirmed.
EW4All Multi-Country Project with the Green Climate Fund
The EW4All Multi-Country Project with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is taking shape, facilitated by UNDP as the accredited entity and UNDRR, WMO, ITU, IFRC, and others as executing entities. The Project Preparation Facility (PPF) has just been approved and now work moves towards the development of the $100 million project, which will directly invest in Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Chad, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, and Somalia and develop a pipeline in at least 10 more countries. The full proposal is under review by the GCF Board before the end of 2024.
Background paper on "Digital Transformation and Early Warning Systems for Saving Lives”
As part of its work to support the Pillar 3 warning dissemination and communication pillar, ITU has released a background paper on "Digital Transformation and Early Warning Systems for Saving Lives.” The paper points to the opportunities offered by the growing availability and reach of mobile networks and services to alert communities at risk and highlights the legislative approach adopted by 33 countries to speed up the implementation of mobile EWS.
IFRC Guidelines on Disaster Risk Governance
Focused on strengthening laws, policies and plans for comprehensive disaster risk management, the Guidelines are designed to support states in their efforts to strengthen disaster risk governance and become legally prepared for disasters. The Guidelines will be published in the coming weeks and will be circulated for comments until the end of November. They will be presented to the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in 2024 for endorsement by States.