A flood early warning platform to enhance climate resilience in West Africa

For many years, several countries of the West African region have been experiencing recurrent flood disasters triggering significant socio-economic impacts. According to the IPCC 6th Assessment Report, increases in heavy precipitation can lead to frequent floods for most African regions. Achieving and maintaining water security is particularly challenging under current climatic variability and projected climate change. Furthermore, challenges are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To cope with these challenges, WADiRE-Africa prototyped a flood early warning platform and built cross-sectoral coordination capacity of expert and leaders by UNESCO and ICHARM in coordination with AGRHYMET. The platform provides a solid technological and educational foundation on the virtual environment of flood risk management information to enhance resilience in Niger and Volta basin countries based on the satellite-based data and numerical simulation systems calibrated by using the past observed data sets. WADiRE-Africa’s achievements contribute to build capacity at local, national and regional levels on flood risk management through integrated flood management approaches and pave the road for follow-up activities. The e-learning methodology adopted during the project drew the attention of national and local authorities, as well as the international community, as an alternative methodology to leverage resilience by addressing flood disaster and it could serve as an example to other flood-prone regions. To support cross-sectoral and inclusive decision making on floods, policy makers are encouraged to establish a flood early warning platform, where practitioners, scientists and community leaders work together to promote data integration and foster “facilitators” and capacity building across the whole flood management value chain.