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Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in the least developed countries

The Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the decade 2022-2031 (DPOA) adopted in March 2022, has placed high priority on addressing climate change and building resilience by including this among its six priority areas.

The DPOA calls for reinforcing the comprehensive multi-hazard early warning systems and resilience-building measures for the LDCs. Furthermore, the DPoA mandates the UN Secretary-General to undertake a comprehensive study on Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) in the least developed countries (LDCs), including the existing arrangements, lessons learned and identified gaps.

In response to this request, the 51³Ô¹Ï Office of the High Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, in cooperation with UNDRR and WMO, prepared the study entitled ¡°Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in the Least Developed Countries¡±.

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The study was prepared drawing on available data, consultations with least developed countries and development partners, the full 51³Ô¹Ï development system, as well as the institutions supporting the Secretary-General¡¯s Early Warnings for All Initiative. The study builds on the work and analysis carried out in the 2023 Report on the Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), launched at COP28, and follows the same broad methodology.

A series of case studies were included in the study to provide real-world examples of how countries, institutions or organizations, and communities are designing, implementing and operating EWS and MHEWS. These case studies have been prepared by members of the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP) as well as implementing partners of the EW4All initiative and highlight successes and best practice to inform the global scaling-up of MHEWS to meet the goal of EW4All.

To gain insights and further detail underlying the facts and figures, a series of consultations were undertaken with representatives of the LDCs , and subsequently with development partners . The initial findings from the data were presented at these consultations and participants were invited to comment on the trends observed, to offer insights, which have been incorporated into the report.

A further consultation was undertaken with more than fifty representatives of the wider UN development system , at which participants had the opportunity to provide feedback on the first draft of the study and to discuss related issues. The insights gained from this consultation were used to further refine the report content, findings and recommendations.

It is hoped that the reports findings and recommendations will provide useful guidance to the international community to support the implementation of this critical commitment of the DPoA and to help achieve the Secretary-General¡¯s goal of ensuring that by 2027 everyone on Earth is protected from hazardous weather, water, or climate events through effective multi-hazard early warning systems that save lives and livelihoods.