Africa (Regional Association I) Disaster Prevention And Mitigation Programme Survey

1. Africa (Regional Association I) Disaster Prevention And Mitigation Programme Survey Mr William Nyakwada

2. Agenda • Impacts of hazards • Preliminary results of the WMO country-level DPM survey • Preliminary results of the WMO regional-level DPM survey • Opportunities and recent initiatives for implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), and key partners • Regional activities and capacities available through WMO network (RSMCs and RTCs)

3. Impacts of hazards in Africa

4. Number of Disasters (1980-2005) Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database - www.em-dat.net - Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels - Belgiumc 96% of disasters are related to hydro-meteorological factors.

5. FLOODS DROUGHT AND FAMINE 1999-2000 DROUGHT DISEASES:Malaria, Cholera, Typhoid, Rift valley Fever etc LAND SLIDES AND EARTHQUAKES

6. Loss of Human Life (1980-2005) • KEY DEVELOPMENT PATHS: • Rely on Agriculture and water resources. • Human resources 98% of loss of life are related to hydro-meteorological factors. Hydro- Meteorological Information is Rarely Integrated in Decision-making Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database - www.em-dat.net - Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels - Belgium

7. Economic Losses (1980-2005) Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database - www.em-dat.net - Université Catholique de Louvain - Brussels - Belgium 45% of economic losses are related to hydro-meteorological factors

8. EXAMPLE OF ECONOMIC LOSS RELATED TO HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL PROCESSES-KENYA COMMENTS The declines in 1973-76 and 1978-80 were partly attributed to the Droughts in 1974 and 1979 affecting agriculture. GDP=Agriculture+Industry+Government services Growth rates in sectors and total GDP for the period 1972-1981 (Adopted from Kenya development plan 1984-1988)

9. Preliminary results of the WMO country-level DPM surveyin RA I (Africa)

10. Responses to the WMO Country-Level DPM Survey in Africa 28 out of 52 Members responded

11. Ranking of the hazards from the country-level survey (Drought, strong winds, thunderstorms, flash floods, river flooding and locusts) HIGH IMPACTS LOW IMPACTS

12. Number of countries keeping data archives HIGH IMPACT LOW IMPACT A lot of information on drought, strong winds, thunderstorms and heat waves. Very little on impacts Drought Strong winds Thunderstorm or lightning Flash flood Forest or wild land fire River flooding Desert locust swarm Hazards to aviation Smoke, Dust or Haze Dense fog Earthquakes Heat wave Hailstorm Coastal flooding Landslide or mudslide Sandstorm Tropical cyclone Waterborne hazards Marine hazards Cold wave Tornado Tsunami Volcanic events Airborne substances Heavy snow Storm surge Freezing rain Avalanche • Very few countries maintain impact databases • Need for strengthening National Meteorological and Hydrological Services' capacities for hazard data recording & archiving.

13. Number of countries issuing warnings HIGH IMPACT LOW IMPACT Drought Strong winds Thunderstorm or lightning Flash flood Forest or wild land fire River flooding Desert locust swarm Hazards to aviation Smoke, Dust or Haze Dense fog Earthquakes Heat wave Hailstorm Coastal flooding Landslide or mudslide Sandstorm Tropical cyclone Waterborne hazards Marine hazards Cold wave Tornado Tsunami Volcanic events Airborne substances Heavy snow Storm surge Freezing rain Avalanche Warnings could be significantly enhanced through strengthening of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services' capacities

14. Contributions of NMHSs to key sectors relevant to Disaster Risk Management The contributions could be significantly enhanced through strengthening of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services' capacities

15. Limiting factors of NMHSs in their contribution to disaster risk management

16. Areas in which WMO's global and regional efforts could enhance NMHSs' contribution to disaster risk management Capacity building and training, identification of suitable technologies and resource mobilization

17. Preliminary results of the WMO regional-level DPM survey in RA I (Africa)

18. Regional-level DPM survey is being implemented by RA Working Group on DPM to address issues related to: i) Providing information on initiatives through various economic groupings and agencies to develop regional strategic plans for implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) ii) Strengthening regional capacity’s in disaster risk management iii) Identification and prioritization of hazards that pose the greatest risk resulting in a need for cross boundary / sub-regional / regional collaboration and cooperation iv) Understanding the current capacities and activities in the region in support of disaster risk management, and how these regional capacities and activities support these focus areas, including the projects underway through the working groups of the Regional Association v) Identification of gaps and needs and cross-boundary challenges for enhancing capacities in support of disaster risk management vi) Regional priorities with respect to addressing these gaps and needs vii) Identification of existing and potential future partnerships and concrete project areas of the regional association with other agencies involved in disaster risk reduction. viii) Prioritization of activities / projects in support of Members capacities in disaster risk management in your Regional Association.

19. CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED • East African Community (EAC) • Economic Commission For West African States (ECOWAS) • Intergovernmental Authority On Development (IGAD), • South African Development Community (SADC) • UN/ISDR-Africa • IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre(ICPAC) • WMO Regional Programme • Information available on the websites and obtained through interactions in various relevant forums and consultancies.

20. Contributions from AU and RECs • Discussions with the South African Development Community (SADC), Intergovernmental Authority On Development (IGAD), and Economic Commission For West African States (ECOWAS) established that their DRR activities converge on reducing weather and climate related risks that affect agriculture and food security, water resource development and management, disaster prevention and mitigation, human and animal health, and transport and communication. • Drought is the highest concern for all the sub-regions followed by floods, epidemics, environmental degradation (desertification and erosion), tropical cyclones and strong winds. • The RECs appreciated the services provided by the Sub-Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres such as AGRHYMET, ICPAC, SADC-DMC and La Reunion(Tropical Cyclones). • They also appreciated services provided by NMHSs.

21. Opportunities and recent initiatives for implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), and key partners

22. AFRICA UNITY/NEPAD • African regional strategy for disaster risk reduction • Executive Council Eighth Ordinary Session, 16 – 21 January 2006, Khartoum, SUDAN approved the Programme of Action (2006-– 2010) for the Implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction(EX.CL/228 (VIII)). • The key areas of the Action Plan for the Implementation of Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction are: • Increased political commitment to disaster risk reduction, Improve identification and assessment of disaster risks, Increase public awareness of disaster risk reduction, Improve governance of disaster risk reduction institutions, integrate disaster risk reduction in emergency response management, Overall co-ordination and monitoring of the implementation of the Strategy,

23. AU PROGRAMME OF ACTIONON DRR -Timeframe: 5 Years (Highlights)- Improve identification and assessment of disaster risks • ACT 1:To improve the quality of information and data on disaster risks. • RES 1: Quality of information and data improved on DRR • ACT2: To improve identification, assessment and monitoring of hazards, vulnerabilities and capacities. • RES 2: Risk identification and assessment improved • ACT 3: To strengthen early warning systems, institutions, capacities and resource base, including observational and research sub-systems. • RES 3 :Capacity for hazard and vulnerability mapping and monitoring improved • ACT:4 To improve communication and information exchange among stakeholders in risk identification and assessment. • RES 4: Early warning systems at national and regional level enhanced • ACT 5 To engender and improve integration and coordination of risk identification and assessment processes and interventions. • RES 5 :Information flow and assessment of disaster risks better coordinated among stakeholders

24. EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY(EAC) • A five-year meteorological strategic plan and investment strategy • EAC developed and adopted a Five-year Meteorological Strategic Plan and Investment Strategy aimed at improving the capacities of NMHSs to support DRR activities. • The strategic plan and investment strategy included various projects aimed at improving services to the various sectors. Only programmes aimed at improving the generation and application of products are highlighted in this presentation.

25. EAC CONT’D • ST1: Support NMSs in the development of applications products tailored to specific user needs; and strengthen weather services for the public and the tourist industry; • PRO 1:Develop capacity and acquire facilities to develop products tailored to specific user needs • ST2:Improve weather and climate services and products for the energy generation, disaster management, water resources management and building and construction industry; • PRO 2:Improving weather and climate services and products for the energy generation, disaster management, water resources management and building and construction industry; • ST 3:Support development of improved weather and climate services and products for application specific to the health sector; • PROJECT 3: Developing improved weather and climate services and products for application specific to the health sector • ST4: Strengthening remote sensing capabilities • PRO 4: Procurement, installation and commissioning of satellite receiving equipment for polar orbiting and R&D satellites;

26. ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) ECOWAS-Key hazards are drought and desertification(northern parts) and floods and coastal erosion (southern parts) • Focus is on reducing the impacts of drought on Agriculture and food security, and water resources • Water and environment policy was being developed to coordinate cross boarder water basins. • The Agricultural Policy For The Economic Community Of West African States(ECOWAP), adopted by The Twenty –Eighth Session Of The Authority Of Heads Of States and Governments On 19 January 2005 in Accra, Ghana , aims at contributing to the reduction of the vulnerability of the west African economies to factors related to natural disasters.

27. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON DEVELOPMENT (IGAD) • IGAD has developed a strategy on disaster risk reduction and has accepted ICPAC as a specialized centre on climate prediction and application. • Has a programme focusing on identifying drought tolerant activities to improve the livelihood of the people in arid and semi-arid lands(i.e 60-70% of the Region) and the effort is to produce crop varieties.

28. IGAD CONT’D • A community pilot project on water harvesting aimed at providing water for agriculture and domestic consumption was being implemented under the funding of the African Development Bank . • The major challenge for the the project implementation is inadequate hydro-meteorological data to establish the water harvesting potentials and water losses. Meteorological data is also needed for designing and locating windbreaks. • The community would need training in meteorological observation to provide information to support sustainable operation of the project. • Under a joint project for COMESA, IGAD, EAC and IOC ten million(10m) EUROs have been provided to address food security and risk management in the regions(most of the funds would be used on food relief and school feeding programme). • The existing early warning systems are more on identifying the needs for food relief and less on creating preparedness.

29. IGAD-cont’d • COMESA and IGAD joint project to improve information, communication and technology (ICT) in eastern and southern Africa would benefit members of IGAD, Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), East African Community(EAC) and COMESA. • The project is intended to improve telecommunication ICT (a major challenge for moving meteorological data and products) by addressing policy and connectivity.

30. SOUTH AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) • The region had implemented several projects supported by Food Agriculture Organization(FAO) to improve early warning systems focusing on systems in the agricultural sector. • The major concerns included: • The inadequacy of the forecasts to filter into the high levels of management at the secretariat. • Gaps between the NMHSs and users, which are attributed to the perception of NMHSs that they are perfect in their profession and know what every user needs leading to provision of services without any consultation. NMHSs need to open up more and interact with other sectors. • NMHSs need to build capacity and partnerships to facilitate the generation of products needed by various users.

31. SADC CONT’D • The following were recommended as the needs for improving the contribution of NMHSs to DRR: • To conduct climate risk assessment of the region so as to establish the magnitude, intensity and duration of climate extremes affecting the region. • The records of the events be properly compiled and to assist in establishing the return periods of droughts and floods affecting the region. • Enhance capacities of NMHSs to utilize the large records of climate information they are holding. • The NMHSs promote partnerships with users and allow users with capacity to access the data to generate products relevant to their specific needs. • Users need to form partnership with NMHSs to enhance the utilization of the available meteorological data and information, and NMHSs should develop capacities to meet diverse needs of the users. • The NMHSs need to develop human resource capacities in ICT to improve the utilization of MSG products.

32. ACTIVITIES INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS • WMO, GCOS, Members and development partners are involved in various programmes contributing to DRR. These include those aimed at improving human resource capacities, infrastructure and developing strategies and action plans to improve the services in the region. • WMO, Members and Specialized advanced Centres are implementing a Severe Weather Forecasting Demonstration Project (SWFDP) aimed at demonstrating the potential contribution of advances in the science of meteorology to DRR. It involves meteorologists, disaster management and civil authorities. The lessons learned from this project would facilitate implementation of similar project in other parts of the region • The implementation of the proposed strategy for RA-I World Weather Watch (WWW) intended to “Enhance the Contribution of WWW to the Reduction of the Risks Associated With Severe Weather and Climate Extremes Affecting Africa” will contribute to DRR in the region. • The PUMA/MTAPprovided facilities and training to enable NMHSsreceive and use products from MSG. It involved users, RECs, donors (European Commission and EU Member States) and other international stakeholders (EUMETSAT, WMO…).

33. ACTIVITIES INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS • African Monitoring of the Environment for Sustainable Development (AMESD)-The objective of the AMESD programme is to help the African countries to improve the management of their natural resources and assist them in better defining their needs and identifying the potential beneficiaries. • World Bank, Africa Development Bank, SIDA, EC/EU, ISDR, UN OCHA , Department for International Development Cooperation (FINNIDA), The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), United nation development Programme (UNDP), UNEP, UN/ISDR, EUMETSAT among other institutions have beed involved or funded projects that contribute to DRR in the region.

34. ACTIVITIES INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS • The DRR activities that the international communities have been involved in include: • Improving the generation and application of climate products; • Adapting to climate variability and change; • Identification and mapping of hazards; • Developing disaster management policies; • Integrating weather and climate in DRR Policy; • Agriculture and food security; • Water resource development and management; • Disaster response; • Use of indigenous knowledge in DRR; and • Capacity building and the development of Infrastructure.

35. Regional activities and capacities available through WMO network (RSMCs and RTCs) • ACMAD, ICPAC, SADC-DMC and La Reunion continued to contribute to provide warnings and capacity building in their areas of specializations. • The climate outlook forums and preseason capacity building workshops have helped improve the skills of the seasonal climate outlooks and linkages between NMHSs and users. • The RTCs have continued to build capacities in operational meteorology and related applied sciences. The support of WMO and Members has been very instrumental in developing capacities in capacities in the developing and least developed countries including those emerging from wars. • These institutions have demonstrated that with support they can significantly contribute to DRR and enhance partnerships among NMHSs and users to facilitate the generation of tailored products to reduce risks and spur development.

36. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS • The results of this survey continue to indicate that most of the disasters affecting the region are related to hydro-meteorological processes. • Droughts continue to have the highest tall on the losses of lives in the region. • The advances in science indicate that seasonal rainfall can be predicted with useful skill. • The survey indicates that AU and RECs DRR strategies recognize the need to address the reduction of climate related risks. • Despite the fact that a lot of funding flows to the continent, the components in the strategy aimed at DRR through the improvement of hydro-meteorological information rarely attract funding. • The future of the continent depends on the capacity of the vulnerable rural community to cope with climate.

37. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS • It is recommended that: • The components in the strategies of AU and RECs aimed at mainstreaming weather and climate into DRR need to be supported to contribute to sustainable development. • Projects that promote networking and partnerships among NMHSs, RSMCs and end users be supported to contribute to the generation of products that meet users needs. • Projects that promote an integrated approach in hydro-meteorological data creation, movement and processing including applications need to be supported. • Projects aimed at improving capacities of NMHSs and RSMCs(ACMAD, ICPAC, SADC-DMC and La Reunion) need to be supported.

38. WAY FORWARD • Efficient implementation of DRR activities requires a change in our way of doing business to promote an integrated approach involving relevant disciplines and stakeholders. • The needs of the region need to be integrated into the projects addressing DRR in the region • Priority should be given to projects promoting the integration of weather and climate in the: • management of Drought as affects Agriculture and food security; • Development and management of water resources; • Management of floods, epidemics(malaria), pests ( locusts), and strong winds among other hazards. • Design and development of settlements and infrastructures for transport. • The involvement of high level decision-makers in this process is important for resource mobilization and achievement of the intended goals.

39. We can give hope to the communities in Africa by making them able to live with the current climate variability and adapt to future climates.

40. END THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS