As climate risks intensify, Africa is seeking to strengthen its capacity to anticipate and prepare for disasters. In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, governments, scientists and partners are coming together from September 2 to 4, 2026, for the African Early Warning Forum to seek solutions that can better protect communities before disasters strike.
Despite contributing less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Africa is one of the continents most exposed to climate change. Of the 54 African countries, 17 are among the 20 most vulnerable countries in the world. Floods, droughts, storms and other extreme weather events are hitting populations that are already vulnerable. The risk is even greater in areas that are vulnerable, unstable or affected by conflict.
“Africa remains vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, but also to other challenges, such as environmental degradation, socio-economic issues, and therefore we need to make sure that all sectors contribute towards the issues of early warning and addressing disasters. An early warning can actually not remain as an end by itself. We therefore need to strengthen the entire value chain of early warning, from generating risk knowledge, to forecasting, to dissemination, to preparedness, and finally to timely response.”
Harsen Nyambe, AU Commission Director for Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy – Namibia
Given this vulnerability, early warning systems have become essential to protecting communities. Disasters caused 3,000 deaths and directly affected 13 million people in 2025, according to a report by the World Meteorological Organization. They also triggered 7.8 million internal displacements and pushed 20% of the population into acute food insecurity, further deepening existing social and economic vulnerabilities.
“The early warning for all initiatives aims to ensure every person is protected by a mental health early warning system by 2027. Despite progress since 2022, gaps remain in forecasting infrastructure, institutional coordination, last-minute communication, and sustainable financing.”
Hanna Abebe Demisse, Chief of Staff and Special Adviser, Ministry of Planning and Development – Ethiopia
In Addis Ababa, the African Forum is seeking to accelerate the response to climate risks. In 2026, 26 countries now have multi-hazard early warning systems, compared with just 10 in 2015. But the challenge remains immense: only 40% of African countries have operational systems, while economic losses have reached USD 2.9 billion. In the face of this urgent challenge, Africa is turning to financing, partnerships and sustainable innovation.
“Today, we are looking at what are known as natural disasters, whose risks may seem more manageable. And yet, even in these cases, the human footprint is clearly present. Such events force us to look at ourselves as we truly are, and to acknowledge the human condition in all its vulnerability.”
Ignazio Cassis, Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs – Switzerland
Gathered in Addis Ababa, participants at the African Forum are calling for a more coordinated approach to early warning systems. The goal is to strengthen national capacities, improve the sharing of weather data, and bring early-warning tools closer to communities at risk. Governments, scientists, and technical and financial partners are therefore being urged to join forces to better prevent climate-related disasters.
