Exit Workshop on DRR Capacity Building in Ethiopia: Outcomes and Way Forward
On 23 November 2021, an exit workshop was held for the “Disaster Risk Reduction Capacity Building in Ethiopia”. Experts gathered to share main outcomes, exchange experiences, and discuss the way forward. This project was funded by the Government of Italy.
The workshop covered two key components focusing on the Forest Fire Information Management System for early warning in Ethiopia, which was implemented by the Disaster Risk Management Commission (DRMC) of Ethiopia and UNDRR, with the technical and scientific support of the CIMA Research Foundation. This project was developed in the context of the “Africa Road Map for Improving the Availability, Access and Use of Disaster Risk Information for Early Warning and Early Action, including in the Context of Transboundary Risk Management”[1]. Technologies, including the MyDEWETRA[2] platform, an open-source web-based system for real-time monitoring and forecasting of natural hazards and the forest fire forecasting model RISICO were deployed to assist the issuance and dissemination of early warnings for early actions across Ethiopia.
Thomas Tamanini, Programme Coordinator at Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Addis Ababa. said, “This is only a start to build the multi-hazard early warning systems for early action, which will include floods, droughts among other natural hazards. The goal is to put in place preventive measures for people affected.”
Amjad Abbashar, Chief, UNDRR Regional Office for Africa, noted “I am pleased that this work on early warning and preparedness is also part of a greater initiative implemented in collaboration with national, regional, and continental partners. In this respect, it contributes to a wider network of activities, focused on improving the availability and quality of risk information for early warning and early action.”
Nesibu Yasin Seid, Deputy Commissioner, Disaster Risk Management Commission said “The project on disaster risk reduction in general, and the forest fire information management system in particular, is important for the early warning systems for early action in Ethiopia since the country faces many potential risks. ”
The other component discussed was the Risk Sensitive Budget Review of Ethiopia. This was carried out with the aim of supporting the DRMC in tracking and promoting investments that contribute to DRR in Ethiopia. The outcome of this review uses evidence on Ethiopia's domestic resources and official development assistance dedicated to DRR activities. It also provides Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) information on consolidated sectoral planned and/or actual spending.
“This project is only the beginning. I hope each and every partner will keep working effectively together to come up with fruitful results”, said Girma Kabtamu, Director General, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (EFCCC).
Finally, the project also produced a working paper "Assessing vulnerabilities to disaster displacement: a good practice review for stakeholders working on displacement, including those collaborating within the Durable Solutions Initiative in Ethiopia. The Durable Solutions Initiative was developed by the Government of Ethiopia, the United Nations, international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and donors for communities affected by internal displacement in the country. The DSI provides a principled operational framework to guide the work of all partners to support internally displaced persons to rebuild their lives in sustainable ways. The working paper was undertaken with UNDRR's partner, the International Institute for Environment and Development, a policy and action research organisation.