Maputo - Mozambique is one of the 30 priority countries in the EW4All initiative launched by the United Nations in 2022. Unfortunately, meteorological and climatic emergencies are recurrent in the country, causing human suffering, economic and environmental damage. Especially in a climate crisis context, the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond promptly to the impacts of extreme hydro-meteorological phenomena such as cyclones, floods, and droughts is crucial. Early Warning Systems (EWS) play a fundamental role in this context.

For this reason, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Fondazione CIMA, the Italian Civil Protection Department, and the NGO WeWorld have joined forces to support INGD - Instituto Nacional de Gestão e Redução do Risco de Desastres, in strengthening its early warning capacities, through the reorganization of the legal framework and the implementation of dedicated projects like Ready2Act.

There remains a need to continue strengthening, institutionalizing, and decentralizing the national early warning system, enabling civil protection to make decisions based on scientifically-based risk information. Thanks to the Italian Embassy in Mozambique and AICS Maputo, which facilitated the connection between the Italian and Mozambican civil protection systems, and the local knowledge of WeWorld, with whom CIMA has collaborated for years on Disaster Risk Reduction in Mozambique, a technology transfer and training initiative has been defined that contributes in this direction.

Ready2Act, led by Fondazione CIMA, represents the first application of the common intent and vision of Mozambique and Italy on civil protection issues. On June 18 and 19, the first national seminar will be held in Maputo, where activities on Early Warning and Disaster Preparedness carried out in Mozambique by local institutes and international agencies will be shared. The event represents an opportunity for dialogue on the need to strengthen multi-sectoral and multi-level coordination in various phases of prevention, preparedness, and response.

In addition to project partners, speakers at the Maputo event include Luca Ferraris, President of Fondazione CIMA; Luigi D'Angelo, Operational Director for Emergency Coordination at the Italian Civil Protection Department; Gianni Bardini, Italian Ambassador to Mozambique; Gabriel Belem Monteiro, Vice President of INGD; and representatives from WeWorld, DNGRH - National Directorate for Water Resources Management, INAM - National Institute of Meteorology, various United Nations agencies with UNDRR at the forefront, the African Union Commission, and other participants representing relevant institutions involved in Disaster Risk Reduction actions in Mozambique.

"Our collaboration with Mozambique began in 2015, where we contributed scientifically to flood risk profiling," said Ferraris. "In 2020, we worked with WeWorld on disaster risk reduction activities in the provinces of Manica and Cabo Delgado, initiating a fruitful dialogue with the Mozambican Civil Protection Institute (INGD) together with the Italian Civil Protection Department, leading to the definition of the Ready2Act project. I would like to thank the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, which supported and gave direction to this dialogue, funding the initiative and framing it within Italy's commitment at continental level on preparedness and timely response to disasters, including the AMHEWAS initiative carried out with UNDRR and the African Union."

"As Paolo Enrico Sertoli, Director of the AICS office in Maputo, explained," Since 2020, AICS has focused on Early Warning and Early Action. During COP28, we reiterated our commitment in the field of disaster risk reduction, adhering to the 'Getting Ahead of Disasters' Charter, and in addition, at our request, the OECD DAC Outcome Document on Climate Action and Finance in Fragile and Conflict-affected Contexts added the following sentence: 'We recognize that for most fragile contexts, and those facing conflict, addressing these realities will require working through the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus, integrating climate resilience and adaptation activities, conflict prevention, humanitarian aid, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), including anticipatory action, and other policy priorities as needed.' In line with Italy's global commitment, AICS Maputo supports the Ready2Act project, which aims to enhance the multi-risk early warning systems in the country, minimizing damage to material goods and saving lives with timely and prepared action to adverse natural events, of which Mozambique is often a stage."

D'Angelo added, "We still remember the dramatic passage of Tropical Cyclone Idai in Mozambique in March 2019, which caused violent floods and the loss of over 600 lives. On that occasion, the Civil Protection Department, responding to the request for help from Maputo authorities, coordinated the deployment and operation of an Advanced Medical Post and a health team in Beira. Today, however, we are happy to support Mozambique in strengthening its monitoring, prediction, and alert capabilities, as well as in disaster preparedness and response. Civil Protection means teamwork, and our participation in this project once again highlights the importance of prevention and planning, especially in a general context that unfortunately continues to experience a steady increase in extreme weather events."