STATEMENT

REMARKS BY H.E. CHAIR OF STC ON ARDWE

The Inauguration of the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems Situation Room

17^th December 2021

Excellency Ministers, Ambassadors and members of Diplomatic Corps, Delegates and Dignitaries, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

All protocol observed,

1. The African continent is facing increased intensity of climatic risks, which have evolved in frequency and magnitude thereby impacting negatively on the development gains achieved by the continent in the last decade. These risks have been exacerbated with the outbreak of COVID- 19 as well as prevailing conflicts in different regions of the Continent.
2. In order to mitigate against the impacts of systemic risks, you may recall that the African Union initiated a number of decisions, namely; the protocol on the establishment of the African Union Peace and Security Council, African Peace and Security Architecture, particularly Article 6((b), (e), (f), Article 12 (4), Article 13 (3) (f) and Article 15) anchored on early warning, prevention, humanitarian action and disaster management.

Your Excellences, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

3. Further, the African Union Executive Council EX.CL/Dec.943 (XXX)], endorsed the Programme of Action (PoA) for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in Africa, and the Mauritius Declaration on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework in Africa and this was reaffirmed by the Nairobi Declaration.
4. The Tunis Declaration (2018) encouraged African States to strengthen Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems and the Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (STC-ARDWE) called upon the African Union to establish a continental Multi-Hazard Early Warning System.

Your Excellences, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

5. The aforementioned decisions are bearing fruit in meeting the aspirations of the African Union as we are witnessing the initial inauguration of the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS).
6. This system will not only help decision makers in making informed decisions but lead to increased availability and access to early warning information as stipulated in Sendai Framework, on “substantially increasing the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems, and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.”.

Your Excellences, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

7. This will further contribute towards reduced disaster mortalities and economic loss at micro level and improved disaster risk management at macro level due to improved availability and access to early warning information as well as harmonized early warning systems.
8. On behalf of the STC on ARDWE, I wish to extend my utmost appreciation to the African Union Commission and partners for the support rendered towards the actualization of this important project. As I conclude, I wish to reiterate that the sustainability of this project is dependent on the inputs from the RECs and Member States that directly interface with the hazards as well as continued financial and technical support from the cooperating partners.

I thank you for your kind attention.