What: Visit of the European Union (EU) Ambassadors to the Africa Multi-Hazard Early  

            Warning System and Early Action (AMHEWSA) Situation Room

When: Tuesday17^th May 2022

Time: 11.00am-13:00 pm East African Time (EAT)

Where: African Union Commission, AMHEWSA Situation Room-Old Building and also

              Virtual for Online Participants

Virtual Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83037258958?pwd=0gqvNoKUYuH3NUJK3eczgVsKmRzLXa.1

Registration is required in advance and confirmation email containing information about joining the event will be issued.

Who: the visit will be graced by H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) and Ambassadors from the European Union, and representatives from implementing partners including UNDRR and CIMA Foundation.

Why: The African Union Commission (AUC) has established the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Situation Room for Disaster Risk Reduction at its premises in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The establishment of the situation is part of the larger AMHEWAS Programme, which also included establishment of ACMAD Advisory Situation Room and IGAD Disaster Operations Situation Room.The establishment of the three situation rooms was made possible with financial support by the Government of Italy and technical support by United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and CIMA Research Foundation.

The establishment of AMHEWAS also benefited from various supports by partners of the AUC. The European Union support to the AU Commission in operationalization of the PoA 2015-2030 within the framework of Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Programme has helped support the establishment of the AMHEWAS. Sweden and UNDP within the Framework of the Sahel Resilience project, financed by the Government of Sweden, contributed to the development of the Africa Institutional Framework Multi-Hazard Early warning and early actions, which forms the basis of the next phase of AMHEWAS.

Objectives:

The main objective of the visit is to showcase the progress made since the establishment of the AMHEWAS Situation Room and the achievements, challenges and best practices for the Africa Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems for Africa aimed for early action; and the ways to strengthen AU-EU relations.

Expected Outcomes:

The event will have the following outcomes:

• Increased awareness on the importance of the role of the Africa Multi-hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Situation Room in enhancing a multi-hazard approach towards disaster risk management in Africa.
• Improved visibility of AU Commission works on DRR and its donors and partners to the African public, and cement international cooperation efforts.

Participants:

The meeting will bring together a delegation from the European Union (EU) ambassadors in Addis Ababa, including the Ambassador of Italy to the African Union and his colleagues in Addis Ababa. The meeting will be hosted by H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko, Commissioner, DARBE. The ceremony will be attended by the DARBE/SEBE Team, including members of the SEBE-DRR Unit, representatives from UNDRR and CIMA Foundation, media houses.

Please join the event:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83037258958?pwd=0gqvNoKUYuH3NUJK3eczgVsKmRzLXa.1

Representatives of the media are invited to attend and cover the event scheduled to be held on Tuesday 17th May 2022 starting from 11:00-13.00 hrs EAT.

For Media Inquiries contact:

Molalet Tsedeke |Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | E-mail:MolaletT@africa-union.org; Tel. +251-911630 631

Further Information:

Mr. Gatkuoth Kai| Technical Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction| Directorate of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, Department for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment | E-mail: KaiG@africa-union.org | WhatsApp: +251 909537884