The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has given the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) financial support for the implementation of the “Strengthening Early Warning Systems for Anticipatory Actions” project.
Plan of action
Initially, the project will focus on pilot implementations in Ethiopia and Kenya, with the lessons learned informing the scaling-up of initiatives across the region. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that vulnerable communities throughout the IGAD region have access to life-saving early warning information and that they can take timely action in the face of impending disasters.
Machine learning and artificial intelligence
This initiative, aimed at leveraging machine learning (ML) to enhance early warning information systems (EWS), marks a collaborative effort involving weather and climate research institutions, a university and a humanitarian organization. It is expected to bolster disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
The funding provided by WFP will also benefit the Kenya Meteorological Department and Ethiopian Meteorological Institute, supporting the enhancement of their national and sub-national forecasts. By transforming the quality of early warning information available to communities in disaster-prone regions, the project endeavors to facilitate proactive responses to critical alerts.
Supported by Google.org, this project addresses this pressing need by harnessing cutting-edge technology and innovative approaches. Through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), ML and data analytics, the project aims to enhance the accuracy and timeliness of disaster alerts, empowering communities to take proactive measures to safeguard lives and livelihoods.
Dr Guleid Artan, director at the ICPAC, said, “With the involvement of partners such as Google, the University of Oxford, the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute, the Kenya Meteorological Department, and the World Food Programme, the project aspires to revolutionize early warning systems in the IGAD region and enable communities to prepare and act preemptively against impending hazards.”
In related news, the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) has been awarded funding from the Complex Risk Analytics Fund (CRAF’d) to implement a project to mitigate climate-induced disasters in Eastern Africa. Click here to read the full story.