The Federal Government of Somalia, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF), has launched a major national initiative to strengthen resilience to climate-related disasters through the establishment of an inclusive and people-centred Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) under the Advancing Early Warning for All (EW4ALL) initiative. 

This project aims to address Somalia’s urgent need for strengthened disaster preparedness, improved early warning dissemination, and anticipatory action to reduce the impacts of recurrent droughts, floods, and other climate-induced hazards affecting communities across the country. The project aims to reduce disaster-related fatalities in Somalia by 42% and increase early warning coverage from 20% to full national coverage by 2030.

The project will be implemented nationwide under the leadership of the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), in close collaboration with federal ministries and Federal Member State authorities. UNDP will serve as the implementing partner under the Direct Implementation Modality (DIM). The initiative is supported by a US$12.7 million GCF grant, complemented by additional co-financing from UNDP and partners.

The EW4ALL programme focuses on strengthening the full early warning value chain through three core pillars: enhancing governance and coordination; strengthening disaster risk knowledge, observation, monitoring and forecasting; and improving warning dissemination, communication, and community preparedness.

“This initiative represents a critical step forward in strengthening Somalia’s national capacity to anticipate and respond to disasters,” said Dr Ahmed Abdi Aden, Deputy Commissioner of SoDMA. “By investing in early warning systems and preparedness, we are shifting from reactive responses to proactive risk management, ultimately saving lives and protecting livelihoods.”

The programme will establish a robust governance framework with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, strengthen coordination across institutions, and develop legal and regulatory systems for disaster risk management and emergency telecommunications. It will also upgrade hydrometeorological observation networks, improve forecasting systems, and enhance data sharing to support evidence-based decision-making.

Modern early warning dissemination systems including mobile alerts, early warning sirens, and community-based communication networks will be deployed to ensure timely and actionable information reaches even the most remote and vulnerable communities.

“Somalia is on the frontlines of climate change impacts, and investing in Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) is not a choice but a necessity,” said Dr Ismail Jimale, Head of Programme Development Unit, SODMA. “This project strengthens our institutional capacity and ensures that vulnerable communities are better prepared for the risks ahead.”

The initiative is expected to directly benefit 1.2 million people through improved access to early warning services, while indirectly benefiting an estimated 8 million people through enhanced preparedness and disaster risk reduction systems. Particular focus will be placed on vulnerable groups, including women, youth, internally displaced persons, and rural communities.

“Through the Early Warnings for All initiative, we are partnering with the Government of Somalia and key stakeholders to ensure that timely, reliable, and accessible early warning systems reach the most vulnerable communities. By placing people at the centre of climate resilience efforts, this programme adopts a transformative approach that empowers individuals and institutions alike to anticipate, respond to, and recover from climate shocks. It will play a critical role in safeguarding lives, protecting livelihoods, and sustaining development gains in the face of escalating climate risks,” stated Lionel Laurens, Resident Representative for UNDP in Somalia. 

“Investing in robust early warning systems is essential to safeguard lives and livelihoods in Somalia. The Advancing Early Warnings for All project reflects the Green Climate Fund’s commitment to deliver climate finance where risks are highest and capacities are most constrained. By strengthening multi-hazard early warning and early action, we are supporting communities and institutions to anticipate and act on climate risks before they escalate,” said Catherine Koffman, GCF Regional Director for Africa.

The initiative marks a major milestone in operationalizing Somalia’s National EW4ALL Roadmap (2024–2027), National Transformation Plan (NTP) and aligns with global frameworks including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The project also brings together global pillar leads World Meteorological Organization (WMO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as well as regional technical support from the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC).

Somalia is one of seven countries participating in the Advancing Early Warnings for All initiative — alongside Antigua and Barbuda, Chad, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji and Cambodia — as part of the United Nations Secretary-General’s global push to ensure everyone is protected by effective early warning systems by 2027. 

Over the coming years, the EW4ALL project is expected to drive a systemic shift toward proactive disaster risk management, strengthening institutional capacity and empowering communities to take early action in the face of climate hazards.