Call summary :

...Purpose

This grant will support the African Union Commission and the Regional Economic Communities to strength AMHEWAS programme and to increase capacities of national institutions and stakeholders of Angola, Cote D’Ivoire, Mauritius, Seychelles and Zambia to operate effective impact-based early warning and early action systems.

Outcome

By enhancing access to technology and risk information, and by strengthening the AMHEWAS programme, national disaster risk management authorities and hydrometeorological services will improve their coordination and capacity to use risk information for timely, impact-based early warnings, as well as early and anticipatory action. As a result, African countries will become less dependent on international support to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to disasters caused by natural hazards and the impacts of climate change.

Outputs and suggested activities

Output 1: AMHEWAS advisories and bulletins are improved for drought impact-based monitoring, and AMHEWAS early warning capabilities are strengthened and extended to new hazards by 30 June 2026 (90,000 USD MAX)

- Technical and scientific assistance to AUC and Regional Economic Communities for enhancing the drought continental watch, improving the impact-based forecasts integrating data on exposure, vulnerability, displacement, disability, gender, and at-risk groups.
- Technical and scientific assistance for updating existing bulletins and advisories on floods distributed by situation rooms in AUC, ACMAD, and RECs, improving the IBF including experience of the IBF for Flood and drought in the IGAD region and data on exposure, vulnerability, displacement, disability, gender, and at-risk groups.
- New data source and products for monitoring and forecasting relevant hazards (at least 2) in Africa-i.e., Forest fires, landslides, and heatwaves- and data on exposure, vulnerability, displacement, disability, gender, and at-risk groups are integrated into the open-source platform myDEWETRA in use at AMHEWAS.
- Online training materials on AMHEWAS is updated and one online training is organized for REC.

Output 2: Tools and methods for improving and testing resident capacity for Early Warning and Early Action are developed and applied in Angola, Cote Ivorie, Zambia through AMHEWAS by 30 June 2026 (120,000 USD MAX)

- Prepare 1 set of Guidelines for setting up National Situation Room, including functions, design, and development of technical specifications. The guidelines should take stock of the existing Sit Rooms realized under AMHEWAS.
- Preparation of a handbook and all necessary material for designing and rolling-out of simulation exercises in Angola, Cote D’Ivoire and Zambia on the use and integration of AMHEWAS products in national system, with the aim of enabling different agencies and organizations to practice working together, improving coordination and communication and use of AMHEWAS products for Early Warning and Early Action. The handbook will take stock of existing guides and will specifically look at gender integration and vulnerable groups to ensure they are effectively included.
- Organize one in-person Training of Trainers to build the capacity of experts from AUC, REC, and Member of the Network of Centre of Excellence for DRR, to conduct simulation exercise at national or subnational level based on guideline.
- Remote support to AUC, REC, and NOE in the organization of the simulation exercises Angola, Cote D’Ivoire and Zambia, based on the handbook.
- Contribute to online training organized by AUC and RECs for National Situation Room officers and NMHS for knowledge transfer on AMHEWAS products and use of myDEWETRA platform. At least one training per RECS will be organized (4 RECS).

Output 3: Open sources platform for early warning and early action is in operation in Mauritius and Seychelles by 31 December 2025 (125,000 USD MAX)

- Platform Customization: Adapt the myDEWETRA platform for Mauritius and Seychelles, integrating local hazard, exposure, and vulnerability data, integrate regional early warning products and link with AMHEWAS.
- Capacity Building: Conduct at least one training course per country (including Venue and catering) to enhance technical skills in operating the platform, customizing bulletins, and generating impact-based alerts.
- Standardizing Alerts: Develop and validate clear, actionable templates for bulletins and alerts and integrate into myDEWETRA.
- Multi-Agency Coordination: Conduct two workshops ( one for Mauritius and one for Seychelles) per country to align National Emergency Operation Centres early action plans and procedures with alert levels.
- Second one Local expert on risk knowledge for Early Warnin