Strengthening Early Warning Systems in Africa: Key Outcomes from the SEWA Scoping Study Workshop
Africa continues to experience a disproportionate burden of climate change impacts, marked by an increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, storms, and heatwaves. In its press release of 2 September 2024 and the State of the Climate in Africa 2024 report, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Early Warning Systems (EWS) across the continent to reduce climate-related losses and protect lives and livelihoods. Despite the availability of weather and climate data, many African institutions still face challenges in accessing, interpreting, and applying this information, particularly space-based data for timely and effective decision-making.
Against this backdrop, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), in collaboration with EUMETSAT and the African Union Commission (AUC), is implementing the Strengthening Early Warning in Africa (SEWA) project. As part of the ECMWF-led outputs under SEWA, a scoping study was commissioned and undertaken by HKV, in partnership with TAHMO, Deltares, and the Netherlands Red Cross, to assess the current landscape of Early Warning Systems and Impact-Based Forecasting (IbF) initiatives across Africa.
Activity Purpose
The scoping study aimed to map existing initiatives, identify gaps and barriers, and explore opportunities for collaboration to strengthen early warning and impact-based forecasting systems. A core outcome of this assignment is the design of four regional pilot studies targeting Eastern, Western, Central, and Southern Africa, ensuring that regional specificities and operational realities are adequately reflected.
To support this process, the consortium engaged a wide range of stakeholders, including National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), River Basin Organizations (RBOs), Regional Climate Centres (RCCs), Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres (RSMCs), and universities, through structured consultations and regional workshops.
Southern Africa and Indian Ocean States Regional Workshop
For Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean States, the regional workshop was held from 15–16 January 2026 at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa. Participants included representatives from NMHSs, RBOs, and the SADC Climate Services Centre from Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, as well as Wits University (South Africa).
The workshop was facilitated by Dr Frank Annor, CEO of TAHMO and Deputy Project Manager, and Marco Hartman, Project Manager at HKV. Discussions focused on the findings of the scoping survey and practical steps toward strengthening operational early warning and impact-based forecasting systems in the region.
Key Outcomes of the Workshop
The workshop achieved several important outcomes:
• Identification of gaps in the implementation of Early Warning Systems and Impact-Based Forecasting, particularly in data integration, communication, and last-mile delivery.
• Recognition of key barriers to effective EWS/IbF operations, including institutional coordination challenges, limited technical capacity, and resource constraints.
• Mapping of priority natural hazards affecting Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean States, including tropical cyclones, severe thunderstorms, flash floods, riverine floods, droughts, heatwaves, and dust storms.
• Prioritization of hazards, with participants identifying severe thunderstorms, flash floods, and tropical cyclones as the top three hazards requiring urgent attention.
• Agreement on next steps, feeding directly into the design and implementation of the SEWA regional pilot studies and future collaboration among regional and continental actors.
Looking Ahead
The insights and recommendations from the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean States workshop will contribute to shaping targeted, regionally relevant pilot interventions under the SEWA project. By strengthening coordination, enhancing access to actionable climate information, and advancing impact-based forecasting, SEWA aims to improve early warning capabilities across Africa significantly.
The workshop was officially closed by Dr Frank Annor at approximately 16:00 on Friday, 16 January 2026, marking an important milestone in the collective effort to strengthen early warning systems and build climate resilience across the continent.
Participants at the SEWA Scoping Study Workshop, Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre, Boksburg, South Africa, 15–16 January 2026.
