Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems Regional Multi-Stakeholder Forum - The Americas and the Caribbean

Overview

The development of multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) in the Americas and the Caribbean has evolved significantly over recent decades. These systems, however, vary widely from one country to the next.  Initial efforts focused primarily on single hazards, such as hurricanes and floods, due to the region's vulnerability to these recurring phenomena.

Devastation caused by disaster events such as Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and subsequent hurricanes and events triggered by other hazards highlighted the need for more integrated systems.

In the 2000s, regional bodies like CDEMA and international organizations such as UNDRR and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) have been pushing for enhancing EWS to address multiple hazards simultaneously and foster a more coordinated and integral approach. This shift aims to enhance efficiency by utilizing shared resources, streamlining data collection, enhance capacities and strengthen public-private partnerships and greater community engagement.

MHEWS are recognized as essential tools across the region, with recent initiatives such as Early Warnings for All (EW4All) targeting further enhancements to accessibility, inclusiveness, infrastructure, governance, financing and trust building.

Coordination mechanisms such as the Caribbean Regional Early Warnings Consortium (REWSC) and the EW4All Regional Coordination Mechanism strive to bring together know-how and experience to leverage cooperation cohesion.

The Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2022, aims to ensure everyone globally is protected by early warning systems by 2027. Co-led by UNDRR and WMO, along with other pillar leads ITU and IFRC, it focuses on four pillars: disaster risk knowledge (pillar 1); detection, observation, monitoring, and forecasting (pillar 2); warning dissemination and communication (pillar 3), and preparedness and response capabilities (pillar 4); as well as the interpillar on governance. 

To enhance collaboration, the first Americas and Caribbean Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) Regional Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) will take place on the morning of 5 December with CDEMA, UNDRR and WMO as co-chairs. 

Under the theme "Road to Resilience - Checkpoint 2024: Levelling Up for a Dynamic Future," the Americas and the Caribbean MHEWS Multi Stakeholder Forum will bring together ministers, technical agencies, and diverse stakeholders to address gaps, share sound practices and experiences, and strengthen partnerships for inclusive disaster preparedness.
 

Main Objectives

The general objective of the forum is to gather diverse voices to shape and advance early warning systems in the region, ensuring progress toward the EW4All 2027 target and beyond. It aims to follow up on the proposed roadmap from the First Regional Summit between National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and National Disaster Risk Management Offices (NDRMOs) held in 2023 in Punta del Este, Uruguay, and foster interactive engagement among governments, civil society, and the private sector to enhance national leadership in early warning systems. 

The event will promote coordinated action, review normative frameworks and Sendai Target G progress, showcase innovative practices, and refine the region’s strategic approach to early warning systems. Additionally, it will put forward consolidated inputs from the region for consideration within the Sendai Framework Regional Action Plan Ministerial Meeting (afternoon of 5 December) and the global EW4All Multi-Stakeholder Forum (June 2025), while advancing a 2025-2027 regional workplan.

The specific objective of the MHEWS Regional Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF) is to take stock, identify challenges, and explore opportunities for the effective design, implementation, and sustainability of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) across the Americas and the Caribbean. The forum will also seek to strengthen the inclusion and active engagement of diverse societal groups, with a view to ensuring broad participation and shared ownership.

Event Outcomes

1.    The benefits of implementing MHEWS in countries exposed to different hazards is well understood.

2.    The benefits of strong policy and normative frameworks, and institutional and governance arrangements to support MHEWS implementation to ensure sustainability are discussed and agreed.

3.    The importance of building ownership of MHEWS at the country level through integrating its costs and shared responsibilities into national strategies and public-private partnerships is discussed and understood.

4.    Avenues are explored to engage end users and beneficiaries as active participants and decision-makers of MHEWS into concrete action.