Oxfam GB on behalf of ACCRA in partnership with Christian Aid, NDRMC and NMA is implementing a project i.e. “Improved Early Warning – Early Actions (EW-EA) to Strengthen Disaster Preparedness in Ethiopia” with the financial support of START Network (on behalf of DFID) under its Disaster Emergency Preparedness Programme (DEPP). The project aims to invest in capacities of people and technology throughout the DRM system which will support the development or enhancing of a culture in information based decision making leading to early actions thereby reducing losses of livelihoods and human suffering, and absorbing the opportunities if any from a given expected particular events.
Ethiopia’s DRM policy and strategy envisages development of “Area Specific Multi Hazard Multi Sector Early Warning System (EWS) linked with Woreda Disaster Risk Profile (WDRP)” to enable community and government machinery to initiate timely emergency response. The system study for the improved Early Warning System Development is being concluded. However, this system study must be supported with strong ICT based Early Warning Information System whereby early warning information, alerts, communication messages, and proposed emergency/ development responses are based on accurate, timely and relevant information.
Currently, the improved Early Warning system study has identified the following sub systems to be part of the Improved Early Warning System of Ethiopia and in particular for the six target Woredas of the Project:
Moreover, the indicators, triggers and alert stages as well as response actions have also been identified and are ready to be piloted in the six target woredas.
Therefore, Oxfam on behalf of its project partners is in process to commission an assignment to undertake the development of Early Warning Information and Communication feedback System (EWICS) for its piloting in six target Woredas across three regions (Oromia, Tigray and Gambella).