African countries and international partners have called for faster expansion of multi hazard early warning systems across the continent, urging governments to strengthen financing, technology, cross border cooperation and community level preparedness to ensure warnings reach people before disasters strike.
The call came through the Addis Ababa Call to Action on Early Warnings in Africa adopted following the Africa Early Warnings Forum held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from September 2 to 4, 2026.
The forum brought together more than 400 participants from over 50 African countries, including government officials, regional organisations, development banks, financing institutions, technology companies, academics, civil society groups and community based organisations.
The meeting was organised by the four pillar leads of the United Nations’ Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, World Meteorological Organization, International Telecommunication Union and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in partnership with the African Union Commission.
The EW4All initiative, launched by the UN Secretary General in 2022, aims to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected by multi hazard early warning systems by 2027.
Africa has made progress towards that goal. According to the forum, 41 African countries are now reporting on their early warning systems, while the comprehensiveness of these systems has more than doubled since 2022.
However, major gaps remain, particularly in Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and fragile countries. Participants highlighted shortages in monitoring and observation infrastructure, forecasting capacity, warning dissemination and sustainable financing.
The forum also warned that climate change, rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation and socioeconomic vulnerabilities are increasing the continent’s exposure to extreme weather and other hazards.
A central message of the Addis Ababa declaration was that having an early warning system in place is not enough. Warnings must reach communities in forms they can understand, trust and act upon.
The call therefore urges countries to build inclusive systems capable of reaching women and girls, children, older people, persons with disabilities, displaced populations, Indigenous Peoples and communities in remote, informal and underserved areas.
Governments were also urged to treat multi hazard early warning systems as essential public infrastructure and a core public service rather than temporary projects. This includes establishing dedicated domestic budgets while attracting additional support through public private partnerships and innovative financing.
The forum called for greater investment not only in technology but also in risk assessment, skilled personnel, maintenance, observing networks, communications, preparedness, anticipatory action and community engagement.
Participants further stressed the importance of connecting warnings directly to early action. Governments were encouraged to establish predefined triggers and pre arranged financing so that authorities and communities can act before a disaster occurs.
The recommendations cover sectors including agriculture and food security, health, water, education, infrastructure, urban planning and social protection.
Technology and artificial intelligence were also identified as important tools for strengthening warning systems. The forum called for wider deployment of mobile enabled public warnings and Cell Broadcast systems, supported by interoperable standards and clear institutional responsibilities.
It also urged governments and partners to develop responsible applications of AI, supported by reliable data, cybersecurity, technical expertise and strong human oversight.
Cross border cooperation was another key priority. African countries were encouraged to improve the exchange of meteorological, hydrological and risk information across national boundaries, particularly because hazards such as floods, storms and droughts can affect several countries simultaneously.
The declaration also called for stronger and more diversified financing, including national and regional disaster funds contingency and anticipatory financing, insurance and risk-transfer mechanisms, development-bank funding and blended finance.
Countries were encouraged to document disaster losses avoided impacts and the economic benefits of early warning investments to build stronger cases for long term financing.
The Addis Ababa forum has also opened the regional to global consultation process for the Early Warnings for All initiative, which will continue through 2026 and 2027 through regional meetings, virtual discussions and stakeholder consultations.
The African Union Commission, supported by the EW4All pillar leads, has been asked to coordinate implementation of the Addis Ababa Call to Action across the continent.
Participants stressed that 2027 should be treated not as the end of the global early-warning effort but as an important milestone in building systems that provide timely warnings and enable effective action.
The overall objective is to move beyond simply installing warning technology towards ensuring that every person, including those in the most vulnerable communities receives a reliable warning in time to act and reduce disaster losses.