ESCAP multi-donor trust fund for tsunami, disaster and climate preparedness: strategic note 2017-2020
This document describes the role and achievements of the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness in Indian Ocean and South East Asian Countries (Trust Fund), which was established in 2005 to contribute to the development of an integrated regional early warning system (EWS) comprising a network of collaborative centres connected to sub-regional and regional platforms. In 2011, the scope of the Trust Fund was expanded to include climate and disaster preparedness within the core areas of support, while retaining a focus on early warning for coastal hazards.
This document describes the ongoing challenges to early warning and forecasting, addresses the lack of capacity in some high-risk least developed countries, the need for transboundary resilience, and the need to account for risk multipliers such as climate change, conflict and urbanisation. The document also describes several opportunities to improve multi-hazard early warning systems through various governance frameworks, both globally and regionally.