The Directorate of Sustainable Development and Blue Economy (SEBE), welcomed Mr Kamal Kishore, the new United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction to the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Situation Room for Disaster Risk Reduction. The visit of the AMHEWAS situation room at the AU Commission took place on 13th June 2024.
Speaking during the visit, Harsen Nyambe Nyambe, the African Union Commission's Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, congratulated Mr Kishore on his new appointment and ascending to the role of the Head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). Director Nyambe noted the long-standing partnership between the AU Commission and UNDRR.
"We appreciate UNDRR's support to the Commission and the African continent's overall disaster risk reduction agenda. This partnership has been fruitful, as exemplified by the design and the implementation of the AMHEWAS Programme," said Director Nyambe.
Further, Director Nyambe discussed other disaster risk reduction initiatives and programmes which UNDRR has supported. These include the Africa Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (AWGDRR) and the Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (AfRP).
On his part, Mr Kishore commended the African Union and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for the progress realised since the inception of the AMHEWAS Programme. He added, "I urge the AMHEWAS team to document the impact and key achievements of the programme. It is important to implement sustainability measures to ensure Africa continues to reap the benefits of AMHEWAS."
The AMHEWAS team gave Mr Kishore an overview of the programme and presented the various products of the Situation Room.
ABOUT AMHEWAS
Established under the auspices of the AUC and backed by Italy and UNDRR, the AMHEWAS Programme aspires to reduce disaster effects across the African continent substantially through increased access and availability of multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information, including for transboundary risk management. The Programme further seeks to support all 55 Member States to establish interoperable multi-hazard early warning systems to reduce disaster losses and foster the culture of anticipatory action.
Sweden and UNDP supported the initiative by initially contributing to assessing and developing the Africa Institutional and Operational Framework for Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action by the CIMA Research Foundation. Norway has since joined forces with existing contributors, bolstering a collaborative effort to strengthen anticipatory action and improve risk data management capabilities across the African continent. Since then, Denmark has also joined the path to contribute to the protection of lives and economic assets of Africa by supporting the AMHEWAS programme.
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The European Union's Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Programme also catalysed the African Union Commission's disaster risk reduction activities.
The Africa Institutional and Operational Framework for Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action was adopted by the African Union Heads of State and Government, setting in motion the implementation phase of the AMHEWAS Programme from 2022 onwards. In 2023, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) launched its Institutional and Operational Framework on Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action, customised to the continental one.
