Eastern Africa Advances Early Warning Systems
Tanzania has followed in the footsteps of its neighbours including Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda in launching the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative to protect the public from hazards including floods and extreme heat.
An official launch event from 19-20 March 2025 brought together more than 100 representatives from government agencies, development partners, non-governmental organizations and community leaders to share experiences and knowledge and to ensure coordination and collaboration in the path ahead.
It marked a significant milestone in strengthening resilience against weather, water and climate-related hazards and ensuring the safety and well-being of communities across the country.
“Early warning systems are vital for saving lives, protecting property and infrastructure, and ensuring long-term sustainability, particularly in the face of climate change and increasing extreme weather events,” emphasized Deputy Minister of Transport, Hon. David Mwakiposa Kihenzile.
The event in Dodoma was organized by the Tanzania Meteorological Authority and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark through the project Denmark’s Contribution to EW4All through WMO . This is one of a number of important partnerships which are injecting new impetus and urgency into accelerating the provision of early warnings in Africa .
The Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative aims to ensure universal protection from hazardous weather through life-saving multi-hazard early warning systems by the end of 2027, as called for by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in 2022.
Kenya plans to be the next country in East Africa to launch the Initiative.
The Tanzania Meteorological Authority also released the State of the Climate Report for Tanzania 2024, highlighting the challenges of extreme weather and climate impacts but also the progress being made by African countries in climate monitoring and climate service provision.
“The State of the Climate report for Tanzania shows that 2024 was the hottest year on record for our country. These alarming changes underscore the importance of working together to address these challenges. Early Warning Systems play a key role in our preparedness,” said Mr Kibenzile.
Tanzania, like neighbouring countries, is exposed to the impacts of El Niño and La Niña events which can exacerbate flooding and drought. In 2024, it witnessed a rare tropical cyclone, Cyclone Hidaya, which made landfall on 4 May 4, was the strongest tropical storm ever recorded in Tanzania, contributing to widespread flooding.
The Danish Ambassador to Tanzania, Jesper Kammersgaard, reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment.
“In light of climate change, the need for Early Warning Systems is more crucial than ever. This initiative is a significant step forward, and Denmark is proud to contribute to its success,” the Ambassador remarked.
Development partners including the UN Development Programme (UNDP), World Food Programme (WFP), UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), International Telecommuncation Union (ITU) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), attended the launch event.
Ahead of the launch, a comprehensive gap analysis was conducted across the four pillars of the EW4All Initiative in order to shape the national EW4All roadmap. The workshop laid the groundwork for a national coordination mechanism to ensure efficient collaboration and implementation of the roadmap.
The Tanzania Meteorological Authority will continue to lead the coordination of the EW4All Initiative, with ongoing support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark through the Denmark’s Contribution to EW4All through WMO project.
Once finalized, the roadmap will serve as a strategic guide for addressing gaps in Tanzania’s EWS, with key support from WMO, UNDRR, ITU, and IFRC.
TMA Dodoma Morena Photos PAUL_PHOTOGRAPHER
https://wmo.int/media/news/eastern-africa-takes-strides-towards-early-warnings-all