Session objectives

The purpose of the session is to explore how policy, legal and regulatory frameworks and institutional arrangements might best be developed to support the inclusive multi hazard early warning systems of tomorrow. The session will examine through first-hand experience how we currently implement inclusive governance with regard to early warning systems. A number of speakers from local communities, National Disaster Management Agencies (NDMAs), Meteorological Agencies, and governmental institutions will share current processes, best practices, and challenges from their experience in the field of inclusive early warning and early action. Building upon this and through a collaborative process, the session will then explore what the early warning and early action systems of tomorrow might look like and how these systems can be enhanced through inclusive governance. 

Early-warning systems enable communities, businesses, managers of services, and facilities (e.g., schools, health facilities, or dams.) to better understand the risks and hazards they face and take action to protect themselves, their assets and services in the event of an oncoming crisis, saving lives and livelihoods, and minimizing disruptions. In order to fulfill their purpose, early warning systems need to reach the population at large and multiple end-users, including vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, the elderly, and low literacy and linguistic minorities, providing different groups and users with actionable information relevant to their realities.  These people are often excluded from decision-making processes within local and national systems and governance arrangements, and as a result, they experience unequal access, their needs are not always adequately met and they are not enabled to take preventative action. 

Overarching governance framework for people center multi-hazard early warning systems are essential to driving effective and inclusive early warning systems. Good governance frameworks clarify roles and responsibilities across the key components of early warning systems1 and should enable transparency, equity and inclusiveness, coherence, responsiveness, effectiveness and efficiency, and accountability for results.

Format

The session invites four panellists to deliver their accounts of developing governance around inclusive early warnings through a panel discussion and Q&A led by the session moderator. This will be followed by a collaborative future-looking exercise to imagine the early warning systems of tomorrow. The session will conclude with an interactive Q&A where all participants will be invited to pose questions to the panel. 

Guiding questions

• When we talk about inclusive early warning systems, how do we currently define inclusive governance?   

• How might we build upon this definition to enhance inclusivity in the early warning systems of tomorrow?  

• What are the best avenues for how the private sector can play a role in the further development of inclusive early warning systems?   

• Which civil society, communities, public sector, private sector partnership arrangements are required for building inclusive early earning early action systems? 

Key Results

• Review the current state of governance arrangements for inclusive multi hazard early warning - early action systems. 

• Identify pathways for enhancing inclusive governance for people-centered effective early warning and early action systems.  

Session objectives

A growing number of developing country governments are interested in using Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to provide public infrastructure assets and services. The sectors responsible for the various elements of the Early Warning System Value Chain are now considering this approach.  

The main objective of the session is to discuss public-private engagement around the 4 components of the People Centered EWS: Disaster risk knowledge; Detection, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of the hazards and possible consequences; Warning dissemination and communication; Preparedness and response capabilities.   

Public and private sector representatives will share how their activities are helping improve operational efficiency, quality and sustainability in the provision of public good services, including the challenges faced.   

Mutual trust is the foundation of all partnerships and is a topic that is important to unpack.  The importance of “doing something together” even on a small pilot scale to concretize the discussion and build trust cannot be over-emphasized.  Panelists will share examples of concrete collaborations, and share lessons learned on how these helped or did not help to build trust. 

The panel will also explore synergies between each component and recommend to the extent possible, where systematic knowledge exchange should take place to ensure parties benefit from the collaboration. 

This learning event will serve as a consultation process supporting the development of the Words into Action Guide on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems.

Session objective

The purpose of the event is to inform participants of the MHEWC-III on the status and main contents of the WiA guide on MHEWS and encourage initial feedback including suggestions to improve the content and as such its applicability. Session participants will discuss the content of selected sections of the consultative version of the WiA guide to reinforce the contents and its ‘how to’ approach.

Session methodology

1. The content of the MHEWS WiA guide will be presented.
2. Participants will be requested to share generic feedback.
3. Working in smaller groups will facilitate receiving comments and suggestion for four selected sections of the WiA guide.

In addition, participants will be able to provide any additional feedback through a brief online questionnaire. The online questionnaire will contain the same questions that are asked during the meeting.

Participants are encouraged to register if they are interested in participating in the virtual or in-person discussions. This will facilitate defining the breakout groups. Note that after the presentation participants will be divided into groups (in-person as well as virtual) to share initial feedback and focus on specific aspects of the WiA guide.

The Consultative Draft can be found here. 

Background and Context

In 2015, Member States adopted the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 to reduce the human and economic loss caused by disasters and avoid the creation of new risks. To help implement this Sendai Framework, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has launched the Words into Action (WiA) Guides as a series of guidelines, based on global expertise, communities of practice, and networks of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) practitioners. The guidelines provide practical and specific advice on implementing a people-centered approach to DRR in line with the Sendai Framework.

Contributing to the WiA series, UNDRR, United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are leading the elaboration of a new WiA guide that will provide practical guidance to the implementation of the Sendai Target G with special focus on Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS). The envisioned WiA guide will provide advice for governments, stakeholders, and partners on how to institutionalize, operate, monitor, and strengthen people-centred inclusive approaches for multi hazard early warning systems.

In addition to the organizations above, a Reference Group (RG)^[1] was formed to guide the process, make recommendations, and provide expert advice. This included for example the selection of good practices and contributions to different sections of the WiA Guide.

To ensure that all relevant aspects are included in the WiA guide and to integrate the users’ point of view, the document proposes steps to ensure a participative consultation and validation.

Groups
 

Group 1: Early Warning – Early Action 

• What practical recommendations could you suggest reinforcing the contents of the section 3.1 of the guide that trigger the implementation of early actions after an alert was issued? 

Group 2: Impact-based Forecasting (IBF) 

• What else must be considered for a successful shift to IBF? Please indicate if proposed steps in section 3.2.3 are clear enough or further information should be included. 

Group 3: Governability to foster institutionalization of MHEWS 

• Please suggest advocacy activities / campaigns / strategies to foster the institutionalization of MHEWS. Please complement section 2.2 of the Guide. 

Group 4: Financing mechanisms 

• Which strategies can be implemented to ensure proper financing mechanisms to sustain the implementation of MHEWS? Please complement section 2.3 of the Guide.  

Question for all groups 

• What is your overall feedback to the initial draft of the guide? Do you have any suggestions to improve the content of the guide considering the practical nature (how-to) of the guide?

Session objectives

The Session objectives will explores: 

1. The gaps, boundaries, constraints and limitations of MHEWS in saving lives, reducing livelihood impact and loss and damages for both extreme (sudden-onset and new creeping hazards) linked to Climate Change and or complex cascading or compounding geophysical /biological hazards? 

2. emerging challenges of Early Warning Systems in context of both Climate Change and Urbanization’ and how to adapt EW messages to the needs of people and communities in an integrated and sustainable way 

3. Review and solicit input on a new methodology that draws on the MHEWS checklist here New strategies and opportunities for the international community to support LDCs and SIDS measure the effectiveness of MHEWS and provide support in how we redesign/enhance MHEWS to better connect the systems to timely and appropriate Early Actions and decision making across the range of timescales? 

Guiding Questions

1. What are the successes and proven benefits of effective MHEWS? 
2. What are the gaps, limitations of MHEWS in saving lives, reducing livelihood impact and loss and damages for both extreme (sudden-onset and new creeping hazards) linked to Climate Change and or complex cascading or geophysical compounding geophysical /biological hazards?  
3. What do you think are the emerging challenges of Early Warning Systems in context of both Climate Change and Urbanization/development trends?  
4. How to adapt MHEWS and messages to the needs of people and communities in an integrated and sustainable way? 
5. What are the new strategies and opportunities for the international community to measure the effectiveness of MHEWS and support how we redesign/enhance MHEWS to better connect the systems to timely and appropriate Early Actions and decision making across the range of timescales?  
6. How can countries and communities at risk benefit from advances in science, technology, governance and community-based engagement behind early warning systems 

Expected outcomes

1. Showcase how MHEWS save lives, reduce impact on livelihood, and reduce disruption to social services and infrastructure systems. 

2. Highlight why and how early warning systems are not effective, and improve understanding of the gaps, boundaries, limitations and emerging challenges of existing MHEWS in the light of new creeping and sudden-onset hazards linked to Climate Change and complex geophysical/biological hazards. 

3. Identification of new strategies and opportunities for the international community to further advance and enhance MHEWS for the benefit of society, in particular towards reducing not only loss of lives, but also impacts on livelihood and infrastructures etc 

4. Introduction to/feedback on a new methodology and tool for measuring the effectiveness of MHEWS. 

The kick-off the Third Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference (MHEWC-III), part of the Preparatory Days of the Global Platform 2022 (GP2022). 

This year's theme is: From Stock Take to Scaling Actions on Target G: Accelerating the Knowledge and Practice of Early Warning Systems for Risk Informed Resilience.

As we approach the mid-point of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, MHEWC-III provides a unique opportunity to review key accomplishments, share skills, experience, and expertise within an active network of early warning practitioners.

The MHEWC-I: Saving Lives, Reducing Losses took place 22-23 May, 2017 in Cancún, Mexico, as a pre-event to the Fifth Session of the GPDRR (GP2017). The MHEWC-II took place in Geneva, Switzerland 13-14 May, 2019 as a pre-event to the Sixth Session of the GPDRR (GP2019). The MHEWC-III builds on the progress and achievements of the first two conferences.

Agenda
 

• Opening remarks
• IN-MHEWS Partners Introductory Video
• Keynote Speech
• Interactive Icebreaker

Background and Context

Expected Outcomes

• Outcome statement to feed into GP2022 thematic session on early warnings and early action that puts forward recommendations to enable transformation for multi hazard EWS enabling risk-informed early action to reduce impacts and losses 
• Roadmap/Agenda with strategic priorities, governance arrangements and joint work program for IN-MHEWS updated and voluntary commitments by partners confirmed
• Contribution to a stock take on progress in the implementation of Sendai Framework target G
• Methodologies and frameworks for assessing effectiveness of EWS/ Target G custom indicators disseminated 
• Contribute to a validated Words into Action guide on Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems

Guiding Themes

• Enablers of transformative change
• Multi-sector governance
• Gender sensitive early warning systems
• Inclusive, people centered risk-informed systems
• Risk knowledge and impact-based forecasting
• Anticipatory action
• Risk communication and warning dissemination
• Monitoring, evaluation and learning
• Science, technology and innovation
• Public-private partnerships

In this side event we present winning DRR-projects from the UNDRR and Munich Re Foundation RISK Award programme. The organizations (NGOs and academia) come from Chile, India, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. All have developed different innovative project ideas for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. They have implemented their projects as blueprints on a local level with the help of the RISK Award funding (€ 100,000). The four approaches tackled four different important aspects of DRR: 

• Inclusion of people with disabilities 
• Community-based adaptation including women and youths 
• Nature-based solutions using mangroves 
• Alternative home and living concepts in a changing, flood-impacted, environment 

The project owners will show how eminently important DRR projects can be implemented and set on a path to sustainability with local participation, limited financial resources, but great motivation, visibility and perseverance. 

Session objectives

We want to discuss solutions for the following questions: 

• What are the success factors to make a pilot project work? 
• How do you achieve the participation of as many population groups as possible?  
• Long-term funding of projects is often a problem in NGO-run projects. How was this dealt with here? 
• What role do local governments play?  
• What are the hurdles and challenges in scaling up local DRR interventions? What are potential strategies to overcome them?

The wealth of Indigenous Knowledge has not been well-recognized by DRR practitioners and policymakers (A/HRC/27/66). This online side event will identify, develop, and implement culturally relevant, emergent innovative approaches, tools, and methodologies for reducing risk and building resilience strategies which are scalable and replicable, and aimed to empower Indigenous communities. 

The Indigenous Knowledge Research Infrastructure (IKRI), launched as a global partnership during UN 2021 Food Systems Summit, offers new opportunities to make use of geospatial information and AI to contribute to the measurement of indicators established to track advances in the implementation of the Sendai Framework and turning the global Covid-19 crises into an opportunity for the much-needed radical transformation.

IKRI expects to stimulate collaborations between disaster management authorities, developers and providers, and Indigenous communities for promoting nature-based solutions in DRR. IKRI is highlighted in the 2022 UN ECOSOC Partnership Forum and aims to contribute to HLPF2022. 

Session objectives

1. Introduce the IKRI Global Research Initiative and Knowledge Repository concept to DRR community 
2. Understand interests and the requirement of DRR stakeholders  
3. Stimulate collaborations between disaster management authorities, and the Indigenous communities for promoting nature-based solutions in DRR 
4. Examine policy and regulatory aspects of IKRI focusing on intellectual property rights related to indigenous knowledge  
5. Build global support network for design, development, and implementation of IKRI

In the last years, substantial progress has been made in enhancing financial protection against disaster risks for poor and vulnerable people. 

Thanks to the collective efforts under the InsuResilience Global Partnership, 150 million people were financially protected through CDRFI solutions in 2021 alone. 

However, significant challenges remain: the bulk of disaster funding is still arranged ex post; the DRF landscape remains fragmented and mainly driven by the supply side; solutions are not always easily accessible or tailored to specific needs of vulnerable countries; affordability barriers amplified by fiscal pressures and intensifying external debt issues remain a persistent issue for vulnerable countries, and have been exacerbated by the impact of Covid-19.  

At the same time, climate and disaster risks continue to increase dramatically, and will do so for decades even if the Paris Agreement’s goals are met, implying additional constraints for vulnerable countries to access finance for investments in resilient pathways.  

Against this backdrop, the question arises whether the current Global DRF Architecture is fit for purpose: not only for delivering on the InsuResilience Vision 2025, but also for meeting growing demands and ensuring sustained protection and resilience for vulnerable countries in the years and decades to come. The suggested panel discussion will convene high-level experts to lay out tangible ways for a systemic global approach to DRF. 

Session objectives

1. Introduce the vision of Germany’s G7 presidency “Global Shield against Climate Risks” 
2. Build mutual understanding on the enhancement of Climate and Disaster Risk Finance 
3. Identify key drivers for  further enhancing the Climate and Disaster Risk Finance Architecture 

This multi-stakeholder side event focuses on loss and damage associated with climate change impacts, recognizing that losses and damages are already occurring around the world, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable people, communities and countries, including through disaster displacement and planned relocation. 

Economic and non-economic impacts are most acutely felt in the poorest countries, with the greatest burden placed on people and communities with fewer resources, capabilities and systems to manage disaster and climate related shocks and stresses, in particular LDCs and SIDS. 

This panel discussion with representatives from the climate change and DRR sectors, academia, action and art, will be based on the latest findings of the IPCC Working Group II on climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. It will bridge conversations with relevant policy agendas, including the Sendai Framework, the 2030 Agenda, the Global Compact for Migration, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and others. 

Session objectives

1. Raise awareness of loss and damage and promote coordinated and enhanced action across climate change and DRR, in support of those most affected by disasters in the context of climate change. 
2. Promote action across sectors, following a whole-of-society approach, to prevent and prepare for the adverse effects of climate change, including disasters, and the impacts on the most vulnerable.  
3. Generate actionable recommendations to reduce climate impacts through cross-sector collaboration, integrating climate action and DRR into development planning.  

The Pacific has made significant progress advancing an integrated agenda on DRR & CCA at many levels – from the regional level with the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP), the national level through integrated policies and implementation mechanisms to the community level. 

This engaging panel session will draw upon the legacy of learnings from the region and importantly focus on what the future may look like across various levels. The session also seeks to provide insights to other regions that can learn from the progress in the Pacific to advance integration in their regions. In doing so, we will also draw on lessons from East Africa and how they built upon the Pacific progress to advance integration in their region. We want to profile what works in practice to empower others, drawing upon a strong base of lessons and evidence. 

This online side event will: 

• Discuss the integration of DRR and CCA as well as the intersection between integrated programs and sustainable development goals. 
• Highlight lessons from approaches in the Pacific have demonstrated the importance of meaningful participation from vulnerable groups in planning and action at all levels. 
• Reflect challenges and opportunities towards financing mechanisms that can support integrated approaches across the DRR and climate financing spectrum 

Session objectives

Discrete objectives of the session are to:  

1. Profile the progress of the Pacific region in DRR/CCA integration and discuss the importance of a sustained effort by developing countries with the support of partner organizations 
2. Interrogate common challenges across different levels of integration 
3. Facilitate learning across levels with a focus on leadership, governance, inclusion and financing 
4. Generate interest in other regions outside of the Pacific in advancing integration.

Registration