The African Union Commission (AUC), through the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit of the Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE) Directorate, convened the third governance and coordination meetings for the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme on disaster risk reduction. Hosted by the government of the Republic of Ghana, the Technical Working Group meeting took place from July 23 to 25, 2025, followed by the Steering Committee meeting on July 26 in Accra.
The event served as an essential follow-up on the progress of the action points emanating from the second edition of the meetings held in Lusaka in July 2024.
Drought is also now fully integrated into the multi-hazard early warning products. The AMHEWAS Situation Room in Addis Ababa presented the inaugural edition of the Africa Drought Watch Bulletin. The AMHEWAS programme is mapping risk and aligning with action and governance across the continent. In doing so, it marks a paradigm shift in Africa’s approach to climate risk, from a fragmented, reactive response to proactive action. The Bulletin will be officially launched later in 2025. Further, AMHEWAS is also working toward developing geological early warning and early action products.
Speaking at the opening of the steering committee meeting, Mr. Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, Director of the Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy (SEBE) at the African Union Commission, reminded the participants that the rising frequency and complexity of disaster and climate-related risks across the continent demand immediate attention. “We must prioritize the establishment of robust, inclusive, and interoperable early warning systems to safeguard our communities.", he underscored.
"AMHEWAS stands as a pivotal initiative of the African Union, perfectly aligned with the Sendai Framework and Agenda 2063. Our work is structured around four essential pillars: risk knowledge, hazard monitoring, warning dissemination, and preparedness and response.", Mr. Nyambe said.
Reiterating the vital role of innovation and partnership in the fight against disasters, Mr. Nyambe recognized the contributions of institutions like the African Center of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Center (ICPAC), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as instrumental in advancing multi-hazard early warning efforts on the continent. "The African Union Commission is steadfast in its commitment to support our Member States and Regional Economic Communities. We must translate early warnings into timely, life-saving actions that protect our citizens.", he added.
On his part, Mr. Amjad Abbashar, Head of the Regional Office for Africa at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), emphasised the partnership role of AMHEWAS beyond its framework. “It is essential for us to coordinate our efforts and avoid duplication while respecting the mandates of all partners involved”, he said. "We recognize that there is still work to be done to refine AMHEWAS. The recent stocktake report highlighted the need for stronger co-production with member states and increased investment in situation room staff. Building on existing frameworks through effective mapping will help us understand donor contributions and enhance our early warning activities."
Furthermore, he underscored the UNDRR’s commitment to the Early Warning System agenda and its engagement with all partners and donors to implement the African Roadmap for impact-based early warning systems. ‘’Together, we can achieve greater impact through coordinated efforts." While stressing the critical importance of the situation rooms for AMHEWAS, he urged the need to improve both the quantity and quality of the products they deliver. Tailoring management modalities to each country's needs is crucial for their effectiveness and sustainability. "To strengthen risk knowledge, UNDRR will soon roll out the Disaster Track System (DTS), ensuring that risk data is compiled from national to local levels. This initiative will enhance our disaster risk analysis and improve the accuracy of our risk profiles.", said Mr. Amjad.
“The United Nations Development Programme is honored to partner in the AMHEWAS journey since 2020, recognizing that early warning and early action are vital in saving lives and protecting livelihoods amidst the challenges posed by climate change and disasters. We are committed to leveraging our collective strengths in collaboration with the African Union Commission, regional organizations, and member states to implement AMHEWAS effectively at all levels. Together, we will mobilize our multidisciplinary teams and resources to enhance resilience and foster risk-informed development across the continent.” Reshmi Theckethil, Team Leader, Climate Action, DRR, Resilience & Energy for West and Central Africa, & Project Manager, Sahel Resilience Project, UNDP.
Mr. Roberto Rudari, Research and Program Director at CIMA Research Foundation, recognized the notable progress made in the vertical integration of stakeholders from continental to regional and national levels. “This co-production approach embraced by all parties provides a solid foundation to address issues related to mandates and ownership of AMHEWAS products, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of early warning systems across Africa." He said.
AMHEWAS’ Donor and Implementing Partners
Established under the auspices of the AUC and backed by Italy and UNDRR, the AMHEWAS Programme aims to substantially reduce the effects of disasters across the African continent through increased access to and availability of multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information, including for transboundary risk management.
Sweden and the UNDP supported the initiative through its contributions to the continental assessment of multi-hazard early warning systems and the development of the Africa Institutional and Operational Framework for Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action, both undertaken by the CIMA Research Foundation. This support from Sweden and UNDP has continued since, through dedicated human resources to the Continental Situation Room, technical and financial support for the establishment and operationalization of governance mechanisms, and the implementation of the Programme at regional, national, and local levels. Angola, Norway, Denmark, and the World Bank have also joined the path to contribute to the protection of lives and economic assets of Africa by supporting the AMHEWAS programme.
The European Union's Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Programme also catalysed the African Union Commission's disaster risk reduction activities.
For further information, contact:
Mrs. Teresa Custodio Pinto| 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: PintoT@africanunion.org
For media enquiry:
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke |Communication and Media Officer| Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission | Email: MolaletT@africanunion.org
Ms. Maryanne Muriuki, Communications Analyst – Disaster Risk Reduction | Disaster Risk Reduction Unit | African Union Commission | E-mail: MuriukiM@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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