Enhancing Community Early Warning Systems in the Horn of Africa – Impact Collaboration

Posted on August 15, 2023

Omeva Consulting Joins Forces to Improve Early Warning Systems for Agro-Pastoral Communities in the Horn of Africa. In an ambitious effort to bridge the gap between food security, climate resilience, and disaster preparedness, Omeva Consulting is proud to announce its participation in a groundbreaking impact collaboration aimed at enhancing community early warning systems in the Horn of Africa. This initiative is a partnership with Urban Foresight (UK), i-shamba (Kenya), Maanshiil Consult (Ethiopia), and is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Data for Children Collaborative.

In May 2023, the Jameel Observatory, FAO, and Data for Children Collaborative issued a call to action to address a critical question: “How can we bridge the disconnects between food security, climatic and natural disaster Early Warning Systems and the anticipatory actions that pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the Horn of Africa can take to overcome recurring shocks and threats to their lives and livelihoods?” On March 25, after a comprehensive process to uncover and clarify key dimensions of the problem, project partners convened to begin the implementation phase.

As part of this collaboration, Omeva Consulting brings its extensive expertise in data analysis, agri-tech, and insights into rangeland management and drought resilience, developed over many years of working in Namibia, one of the most arid countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our focus is on empowering pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Ethiopia and Kenya by making early warning systems more responsive to their needs.

The project is led by Urban Foresight (UK) and includes key partners such as i-shamba (Kenya), Maanshiil Consult (Ethiopia), and Omeva Consulting (UK and Namibia). The collective aim is to recommend enhanced communication content and methods between early warning system providers and agro-pastoral and pastoral communities in Ethiopia and Kenya to increase the effectiveness of early warnings and anticipatory actions.

The project's primary objectives are:

• Identify existing early warning communications methods, both formal and informal, modern and traditional.
• Engage directly with communities to understand barriers to current communications channels, their preferences, and how they interpret the content received.
• Co-Design Recommendations: Collaborate with communities to co-design recommendations for the preferred content and means of communication for effective early warning response.
• Document Traditional Knowledge: Document community practices and traditional knowledge used to anticipate climate shocks and natural disasters, assessing their effectiveness and potential scalability.
• Integrate Local Practices: Explore opportunities to integrate community practices and traditional knowledge into formal early warning systems to enhance their effectiveness.

Here are the additional paragraphs to place before the final paragraph: One of the critical components of this initiative is the establishment of a robust feedback loop between the communities and the early warning system providers. By fostering continuous dialogue, we aim to ensure that the alerts and recommendations are timely, relevant, and actionable. This iterative process will help in refining the communication strategies and content, making them more effective and culturally appropriate.

Furthermore, the project places a strong emphasis on capacity building within the communities. Training sessions and workshops will be conducted to equip local leaders and volunteers with the necessary skills to interpret and disseminate early warning information effectively. This grassroots approach will empower communities to take proactive measures in response to imminent threats, thereby enhancing their resilience to climatic and natural disasters.

Additionally, a key focus of the project will be on gender inclusivity. Recognizing the unique roles and challenges that women face in pastoral and agro-pastoral communities, the project will ensure that women's voices and perspectives are integral to the development and implementation of early warning systems. This approach aims to empower women as critical agents of change, enhancing their capacity to contribute to community resilience and disaster preparedness.

This initiative is more than a project—it is a commitment to building resilience and saving lives in some of the most vulnerable communities. We invite stakeholders, partners, and interested parties to join us in this mission to create a more resilient future for the Horn of Africa.

For further information, please contact:

Maria Luisa de la Puerta, Omeva Consulting
Email: maria@omevaconsulting.com
Aurelie Walker, Urban Foresight
Email: aurelie.walker@urbanforesight.org