Women and children in a tent
© Sam Bronx Photography

Ethiopia: IMPROVED HUMANITARIAN EARLY WARNING EARLY ACTION

In Ethiopia, where flooding and severe droughts happen regularly, early warning systems and early action can reduce devastation and save lives. When disasters strike, it is the people closest to the crisis who respond first, members of the local community. But in most cases, we can reduce the effect of a crisis and the suffering that comes from it if we act before it strikes.

ABOUT THE PROJECT


 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In Ethiopia, where flooding and severe droughts happen regularly, early warning systems and early action can reduce devastation and save lives.



This project was created with the aim of establishing a decentralised early warning system and promote early actions for crisis response. It aimed to improve emergency preparedness, timeliness, and the quality of risk information in Ethiopia, protecting lives and livelihoods and ensuring human dignity. 



The project had an area and context-specific, multi-hazard and multi-sector focus. It promoted information-based decision making, and it’s decentralised approach focussed on improving and co-ordinating response actions by community, government (local to federal) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). 

 

AIMS:

  • Enabled early actions after crises, based on an early warning system that links with Woreda (or district) disaster risk profiles and contingency plans 
  • Improved the capacity of first responders (local government & community institutions) to collect and analyse forecasting information
  • Improved the coordination and timely decision making at national and regional level to facilitate and initiate early actions by relevant stakeholders
  • Documented knowledge on the development and testing of the early warning system, and shared this knowledge to inform future programming and actions.

 

WHO WAS INVOLVED?


The project was delivered through a consortium led by Oxfam and included the Africa Climate Change Resilience Alliance (ACCRA) and Christian Aid.

 

WHERE DID THE PROJECT TAKE PLACE?


This project took place in Ethiopia over six Woredas (districts) that are located in three regional states:

  • Oromia region: Moyale Woreda and Ziway Diguda Woreda
  • Gambella region: Gambella Zuria Woreda and Gog Woreda
  • Tigray region: Alamata and Endehmoni Woreda.

 

FIND OUT MORE


Project One Pager

Africa Climate Change Resilience Alliance (ACCRA)

ACCRA-Oxfam partnership