UNDP engages stakeholders on 12.5 million dollar Early Warning for All Project (EW4ALL)
In anticipation of a full roll out of a 12.5 million USD dollar Early Warning for All Project in Antigua and Barbuda, key stakeholders were briefed last week on the critical aspects of their preparedness and participation in the initiative.
The project, funded through the Green Climate Fund, which is the largest global fund dedicated to help fight climate change, is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It aims to ensure that an effective system is in place that guarantees various groups are educated, warned and protected from climate and weather-related hazards.
According to Elizabeth Charles-Soomer, Cluster Lead for Prevention, Resilience and Recovery at UNDP Multi-Country Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the project came out of the understanding that with adequate preparedness, advanced and scientific weather observation and information regarding hazards, lives and livelihoods would be better protected. Damage overall would also be reduced.
The project has four components – Disaster Risk Coordination and Governance; Knowledge, detection, observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting; Warning dissemination, communication and Preparedness and response capabilities. The project is to be implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
“Early warning focuses on 4 pillars – ensuring there is good governance, coordination of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) initiatives, knowledge of risks, and effective communication – the infrastructure available and suitable messaging – how information is communicated to the public, including those who are disabled and vulnerable”, says Charles-Soomer.
Antigua and Barbuda is among seven countries in the world that are benefiting from this Early Warning for All initiative which forms part of a broader global project.
The Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services (ABMS) and the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) are the two main beneficiary agencies of the project however participation involving the whole of government is required. The Development Control Authority (DCA), Sector Ministries, Legal Affairs and Telecommunications along with the Private and Civil Society Sectors are all key to the process. The Ministries of Finance and the Department of Environment are also key project partners.
“Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services (ABMS) is well recognised regionally and provides critical forecasting services to Antigua and Barbuda as well as to other surrounding islands. Reliable observation and forecasting services are required for air and sea travel as well as for the safety of the general population. NODS provides critical services to Antigua and Barbuda and to the region as the focal point for the Northeastern CDEMA Disaster Response Cell. It is thus important to look at how these agencies are structured to be able to deliver the project interventions given their level of responsibility and their current capacity”.
NODS has come up with a proposal which I hope government can support – to establish a Disaster Risk Reduction (DDR) Cell with critical and experienced staff within the Disaster Risk Unit in the Ministry of Finance”, says Charles-Soomer.
Critical to the project are the review of the Disaster Management Act, the Antigua and Barbuda Met Services Bill, Planning Regulations, Sector Disaster Risk Reduction Plans, Specific Risk Assessment for Barbuda, the setting up of a Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Fund and a full institutional review and capacity building programme for the Met Office. Once funding is received, a Project Inception meeting will be held in February 2026 bringing together the donors, UN agencies and the various stakeholders, signalling the official start of the project.
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