humanitarian crm workshop - ifrc ewea

TranslatingClimate Information

Into Action

Early Warning, Early Actionin the West and Central

Africa Zone

Meaghan DalyHumanitarian Climate RiskManagement Workshop23 February, 2010

Partnership to Save Lives

Since 2007…

“Tools and support toimprove humanitarianpreparedness anddecision-makingthrough climateinformation”

The Federation Map RoomPrecipitation forecasts for:

Next 24 hoursNext 6 daysNext 3 months

Context fordecisions

Early Action Across Time Scales?

GO!

Seasonal• Pre-position Stocks• Train Volunteers• Sensitize Community• Enable EWS Mid-Range

• Mobilize Assessment Team• Alert Volunteers• Warn Community• Local Preparation Activities Short-Range

• Deploy Assessment Team• Activate Volunteers• Evacuate Community

Early Action Across Time Scales?

READY!

SET!

GO!

Bridging the Gap

• Identifying available climate info tools• Developing capacity to use the tools• Building partnership with climate info producers• Communicating the needs of the IFRC

Putting Climate Info to Work

• 2008 Floods in Westand Central Africa

• Clear forecast signal• Advanced appeal for

funding• Preparedness• Reduced response time• Fewer lives lost

> 50% chance ofextremeprecipitation

50% chance ofabove averageprecipitation

Early Warning, Early Action in 2008

GO!

• Pre-emptive funding appeal for zone• 9 national contingency plans• 30% more volunteers trained in Togo• Pre-position stocks in for 7,500 people• Enabled EWS in Togo

• Filled sand bags in Senegal• Dam release warning in Togo• Response Teams deployable within 48 hours

• Assessment teams alerted and deployed• Successful evacuation of community in Togo• Appeal submitted within 48 hours in Gambia

READY!

SET!

GO!

GO!

2008 vs. 2007

Preliminary findings…

• Fewer lives lost: from 30+ to 2• Reduced response time: from 40 to 2 days• Costs reduced: estimated 33% savings

Community BasedEarly Warning

KeystoSuccess

• Forecast consensus• Forecast context• No-regrets strategies• Monitoring across time-scales• Training and communication• Regional partnerships

Looking Ahead• Cautious interpretation• Forecast focal points• EW>EA capacity• Institutional learning• Evaluation

Remember that this is a process!

Thank you.

mdaly@climatecentre.org