CREWS Portfolio

CREWS in Chad 2019-2025

Chad Hydromet and Early Warning Services

CREWS webpage: CREWS Chad

Implementing Partners: WB’S GFDRR (Lead) and WMO

Operational Partners: Agence Nationale de la Météorologie (ANAM); Agriculture and Rural Development Agency (ANADER); Direction des Ressources en Eau (DRE); Direction Générale de la Protection Civile (DGPC); and Le Système d’Information sur la Sécurité Alimentaire et d’Alerte Précoce du Tchad (Food Security Monitoring and Warning System, SISAAP)

Status: Completed in 2025; the country has high levels of institutional and social fragility

Value: US$ 3.2 million

In Chad, repeated droughts have substantially impacted agricultural production while flooding has led to infrastructure and crop destruction as well as massive displacement of population, with 1.2 million people living in displacement at the end of 2024 following the worst floods in decades.¹ Flooding is also a high priority hazard in the country, including in the city of N’Djamena, where, in July 2024, torrential rains and flooding killed 576 people and left 1.9 million homeless.² CREWS’ work in Chad has therefore focused on flooding – in urban and rural settings – as well as convective storms, drought and food security. Through its implementing, operational and local partners, CREWS has strengthened national capacity to deliver climate, hydrometeorological and early warning systems, improving the availability and quality of weather, water and climate services in selected sectors and communities.

Celebrating success

Providing tailor-made advice for farmers

Farmers in Chad are now able to make informed decisions relating to their crops thanks to the improved agrometeorological bulletins produced by ANAM and DRE, and distributed by ANAM and ANADER. These bulletins are tailored for specific crops and locations based on the crop calendars which indicate crop exposure and vulnerability for a particular season. The crop calendars were developed by ANAM staff following training in the use of specialist software and assistance from Fundació Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and AGRHYMET³ together with hands-on peer-to-peer training from other West African forecasters on how to calculate climate indices.⁴ Chad was the first to put their new skills into action by independently developing their own national crop calendar software⁵ and subsequently using the calendars to create insightful products for farmers.

Disseminating warnings and advisories through favoured channels

In Bongor, Linia-Mani and Mailaou-Tchendjou, local communities are now receiving warnings and advisories over their preferred channels – including radio and through community groups – ensuring that this life-saving information reaches the people at risk, enabling them to take action to save lives, maximize crop production and reduce losses related to climate, weather and hydrological extremes. Community representatives co-designed bulletins with technical experts and identified radio as an important channel. These warnings and forecasts are now being broadcast by three local radio stations – FM Liberté, Radio Karal and RTN Bongor and the same information is also being cascaded within local communities, including through 280 trained farmer-producers and extension agents from the ANADER. Staff from ANAM and DRE are now also disseminating warnings using CAP following access to – and training on the use of – a CAP warning composer tool, both provided as open source software by WMO.

Building the foundations for an urban flood model for N’Djamena

Hydrologists from the DRE now have essential data to enable them to forecast flooding in the city of N’Djamena. Crucial hydrological data – related to bathymetry, topography, river levels and flows – was collected for the Chari and Logone Rivers through targeted data collection campaigns that were organized by the World Bank’s Integrated Flood Control and Urban Resilience Project (PILIER), the Ministry of Urban Planning and the Municipality of Ndjamena. With support from CREWS, DRE hydrologists updated the river-level curves that are used to convert water levels into runoff and then assimilate this information in the FANFAR flood model, run by AGRHYMET with support from the Sveriges Meteorologiska och Hydrologiska Institut (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Service, SMHI). To ensure full coverage – even for areas that are hard to reach – station data was complemented by satellite telemetry from HydroSatChad, as a result of a partnership between DRE, the Lake Tchad Basin Commission (LCBC), the French Research and Development Institute (IRD) and the French Center for Space Studies (CNES).

Preparing the way for targeted investment to build technical capacity

A US$ 13 million investment in early warning systems was approved by the GCF Board in February 2025, to be led by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and involving all four EW4All pillar leads. Together with a contribution from the World Bank PILIER project, it will address gaps in technical capabilities and thereby ensure that technical staff in the key agencies have the equipment, tools and training that they need to deliver effective early warning services. The implementing partners carried out capacity assessments of ANAM (by WMO) and DGPC (by the GFDRR) as well as Chad’s early warning system overall. These assessments, together with the results of the Ready to Respond (R2R) diagnostic, have led to the prioritization of a hydromet monitoring and forecasting centre for ANAM and a response coordination centre for the Civil Protection Directorate (DGPC) which will be funded through an R2R investment plan valued at US$ 28 million as part of the PILIER project. These investments are aligned with the agencies’ strategic plans, two of which – for ANAM and DGPC – were updated thanks to technical support from the WMO and GFDRR.

Establishing a national coordination mechanism for early warnings

A national coordination mechanism for early warnings has been established, providing a platform for the rollout of EW4All in Chad. The EW4All workshops have raised awareness about the importance of early warnings – and support from CREWS – with the government and United Nations officials in the country. Chad’s EW4All Roadmap was adopted by the Minister in charge of civil protection in October 2025 setting a clear path for scaling up early warning in Chad and entry points for funders to support the country in this endeavour.

Overcoming challenges

The project team worked together to overcome – or minimize the impact of – several challenges during the project. These included:

• Managing low technical capacity and staffing of the key national institutions, including the meteorological (ANAM), civil protection (DGPC) and hydrological (DRE).
• Leadership changes meant that the project team needed to make – and re-make – the case for a national early warning system and to adjust the project to address new challenges. These delays contributed to the need for additional funding to finalize project outputs, provided by CREWS through an Accelerated Support Window (ASW) action.
• Finding local consultants with the necessary skills/ experience – but without conflicts of interest in terms of the institutions involved – was a challenge and common in countries where there are few technical experts in hydrometeorology.
• Delays in the start of the UNDP GCF project (FP258) meant that ASW funding was essential for sustaining the project outcomes and maintaining service delivery from ANAM and DRE, especially for operations and maintenance, which is not yet funded by government.

Learning to share

It has been essential for stakeholders across the country to understand the reason for the project and the benefits it is expected to bring. A robust communication plan, supplemented by slides – to support the implementation of the project overall as well as specific project activities – and other promotional material (for example, posters or flyers) ensured that stakeholders were kept informed of project progress.

Good working relationships between technical staff within and across the different institutions is fundamental to success as early warning systems need inputs from many experts across multiple disciplines, for example, to identify priority hazards and vulnerable communities.

The delivery of life-saving public services like early warning systems need reliable funding from the central government. Where it is lacking, there is risk of project outcomes not being sustained.“… through these activities we’ve already seen that the impact on the ground was that many farmers are interested, and the community radio stations that relayed our information have testified that, through the information, they saw that their audience had doubled. So, the impact is quite real, and we plan to build on this foundation [in order to be able] to provide an even closer and more extensive services.” Mr Bianpambé Patallet, Directeur Général, ANAM.⁶

1. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. Chad – Floods trigger more displacements than in the past 15 years combined, May 2025. Accessed April 2026: https://www.internal-displacement.org/spotlights/chad-floods-trigger-more-displacements-than-in-the-past-15-years-combined/
2. World Bank. Floods 2024: N’Djamena’s resilience thanks to preventive measures, December 2024. Accessed April 2026: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2024/12/13/floods-2024-ndjamena-resilience-thanks-to-preventive-measures
3. AGRHYMET is the Regional Climate Centre (RCC) for Africa and the Sahel: https://agrhymet.cilss.int
4. Climpact – a software package that is used to calculate climate indices that are relevant for the health, agriculture and water sectors (see https://climpact-sci.org/, accessed April 2026) and INCLICS (see https://github.com/Lucmto/INCLICS).
5. CREWS. South-South knowledge transfer – Climate-smart crop calendar. Accessed April 2026: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/cc9fa54d5d654ef19b7366aa6a4db8a6
6. YouTube. CREWS Initiative: Mr Bianpambé Patallet presents his vision and challenges for early warning systems in Chad, accessed April 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMi_neA6Chc

CREWS in Malawi 2022-2026 (ongoing)

Strengthening risk informed planning, hydro-meteorological and early warning services in Malawi

CREWS webpage: CREWS Malawi

Implementing Partners: WB GFDRR (Lead) and WMO

Operational Partners: Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS); Department of Water Resources (DWR); Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA); District Council; IFRC, Red Cross Climate Centre (RCCC) and National Societies (Malawi Red Cross Society, MRCS); and Africa Conservation Tillage Network (ACT)

Status: Ongoing

Value: US$ 3 million

Malawi is highly exposed to drought and flooding. The country is also very vulnerable to the effects of climate variability and change, with nearly 80 percent of the population dependent on rain-fed agriculture or pastureland.¹ CREWS’ work in Malawi has therefore focused on strengthening the technical capacity of the national institutions that are delivering weather, water, climate and early warning early action services. The outputs from CREWS’ investment include improved warnings for communities – and tailored products for farmers and fishers – which are disseminated across a range of channels. The impact is even greater. When Cyclone Jude struck Malawi in March 2025, communities were able to access, understand and act upon the warnings they received, tangibly reducing the negative impacts of the event.

Celebrating success²

Investing in forecasting capacity results in improved forecasts and warnings

Forecasters at DCCMS are implementing impact-based forecasting and tailoring their advice to meet the varying needs of different economic sectors and the location-specific vulnerabilities of Malawi’s diverse communities. DCCMS is also adopting methodologies for verifying its forecasts – an important first step for understanding and improving the accuracy of their services. This has been achieved through specialist training and technical support from WMO, including the installation – and operationalization – of a suite of meteorological systems at DCCMS.³

To enable effective preparedness and anticipatory decision-making within Malawi’s climate-sensitive sectors – including agriculture, health and disaster risk management – WMO also supported DCCMS to convene national stakeholders at a series of climate outlook forums. These events – held at national and district levels – enabled technical agencies to work with user groups to interpret meteorological data and co-produce sector-specific seasonal outlooks.

The forecasts and warnings issued by DCCMS take advantage of other investments in Malawi’s meteorological and hydrological observations including those of the Regional Climate Resilience Programme in Malawi (RPCR2) and the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP). GFDRR’s weather radar experts have also provided technical assistance to DCCMS in relation to the design of a new central radar and the implementation of a radar in the south of the country. Crucially, these activities are aligned with the ongoing and sustained operational implementation of the National Framework for Water and Climate Services in Malawi, which is guiding coordinated service delivery and was developed by DCCMS with support from WMO. They are also strategically aligned with DCCMS’ Strategic Plan and Operational Plan which have been developed under the technical guidance of specialists from GFDRR.

Improving access to forecasts and life-saving warnings

Public access to early warning information has been improved as a result of the project. DCCMS has refined its communication products and increased its dissemination channels in direct response to the insights gained from a national user needs assessment conducted in early 2025 with support from WMO. Taking account of user preferences, accessibility requirements and sectoral decision contexts, DCCMS has since implemented a multi-channel approach with its user-friendly forecasts transmitted over radio and cascaded through civil protection committees. Forecasts and warnings are also published on a new and improved website thanks to WMO technical assistance to implement the ClimWeb package of digital tools⁴ and CAP-compliant warnings are widely available through RSS feeds and Google platforms as well as being shared with the WMO community through the WMO Severe Weather Information Centre. A particular highlight in 2025 was the launch of the Zanyengo weather app. Co-designed with users, the app delivers forecasts and warnings to android smartphone users across the country in both English and Chichewa.

Ensuring communities are better prepared

In the lead up to Cyclone Jude making landfall in Malawi in March 2025, training delivered by CREWS in collaboration with Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) meant that communities were more able to interpret warnings and activate their preparedness plans. In Zomba and Mzuzu, 159 participants (71 women) received training on early warning systems, the interpretation of forecasts and effective preparedness actions.

With support from MRCS, Malawi has also initiated its transition from paper-based planning to the use of digitally enabled preparedness and anticipatory action tools with the training of 40 people (including 21 women) in the development and use of electronic contingency plans.

“This information about early warnings, we get them through the phones, WhatsApp and sometimes Facebook, and we also get them through the radio, TV, and also leaflets from the Zomba City Council. After getting the message, we do call people from the area, the community, regarding our assembly point, and we let them know this is what we have got.”

Raphael Talipu, Ward Representative, Malonje Community, Zomba

Advancing social inclusion and gender mainstreaming

Contingency planning and early warning outreach approaches have been refreshed to ensure inclusive service delivery for women, youth and persons with disabilities as DCCMS acts on the insights gained from gender-sensitive risk assessments and community consultations undertaken in 2025. The findings of the report on gender and inclusion mainstreaming – developed with technical support from WMO – will guide future work, ensuring that gender- and vulnerability-specific risks are systematically incorporated into preparedness planning and dissemination approaches. This work builds on the strong foundation of inclusivity demonstrated throughout the project and exemplified by the high numbers of women participating in capacity building events.

Building community resilience by collaborating with the private sector

Complementary people-centred early warning and resilience activities have been initiated with ACT, a private sector organization which is developing weather index insurance for smallholder coffee farmers in Malawi’s hilly agroecological zones. The results from ACT’s baseline assessment in Ntcheu District will inform the design of people-centred, climate-responsive early warning and resilience solutions that link forecasting, preparedness and risk financing for smallholder farmers of perennial crops where climate risks affect production and post-harvest activities.

Overcoming challenges

The project has achieved significant success despite a challenging context which persists:

• In the post event analysis for Cyclone Freddy, DCCMS was found to have performed well. However, the lack of reliable and sustainable financial resources continues to limit DCCMS’ effectiveness and its ability to fulfil its core mandate.
• While a framework has been developed to enable different institutions and ministries to work together, it has not yet been implemented and as a result, institutional arrangements – and associated funding – remain siloed rather than coordinated.
• A volatile macro-economic situation – including significant fluctuations in currency exchange rates and variations across financial markets – makes it difficult to accurately estimate the cost of project activities, with them sometimes being underestimated.

Learning to share

A broad communication/dissemination strategy informed by user needs has ensured consistent messaging and the provision of warnings in local language. The integration of indigenous knowledge and the integration of non-technical dissemination channels – such as markets, churches and other social spaces – were recognized as crucial to improving reach and trust.

At the community level, increased awareness and understanding of anticipatory action has resulted in improved action/ response plans. For example, communities identified local risk reduction measures such as maintaining drainage channels, planting trees and safer shelters.

The results of ACT baseline activities highlighted the importance of trusted communication channels, cooperative structures and livelihood-specific framing of early warning information, offering valuable lessons for scaling people-centred early warning services under CREWS and EW4All.

1. CREWS (2017). CREWS Mali Project Document. Accessed April 2026: https://crews-initiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CREWS_CProj_02_Mali_0.pdf
2. Please also see the two impact stories on the CREWS website: Prepared and Informed: CREWS Malawi in Action, September 2025. Accessed April 2026: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/082988fd929a4da6953f75d00823825a and Artificial Intelligence for EW4All – Pilot Project in Malawi, January 2026. Accessed April 2026: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ca9279e98c7b4d3d9211e03c010d2472
3. Examples of new systems delivered to Malawi with CREWS support include ENACTS Maprooms and WIS2Box.
4. CREWS. Digital Tools Power Life-Saving Warnings Across Africa. Accessed April 2026: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/792518a8d6b04217969002c6e5f6bc48

CREWS in Togo 2019-2025

Togo Hydromet and Early Warning Services

CREWS webpage: CREWS Togo

Implementing Partners: WB GFDRR (Lead) and WMO

Operational Partners: Agence de la Météorologie Nationale (ANAMET); Direction des Ressources en Eau (DRE); and L’Agence Nationale de la Protection Civile (ANPC)

Status: Completed

Value: US$ 2.4 million

Togo is frequently affected by a range of natural disasters – especially droughts and floods, with flooding events causing major damage to infrastructure and significant loss of life while also accelerating erosion and degrading the quality of the farming land.¹ Thanks to CREWS, Togo’s national institutions and population are more able to prepare in advance of high-impact events. National capacity for early warning has been strengthened and people from all walks of life – from journalists to educators and members of mothers’ clubs for disaster disk reduction (DRR; réduction des risques de catastrophe, RRC) – are more aware of hazards, warnings and how to take action. Building on the strong foundations set by CREWS, in 2025, Togo became the first country to be approved for scale-up investment from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), setting a clear example for other projects to follow and other funds to replicate.

Celebrating success

Demonstrating how CREWS opens doors to new funding opportunities

Not only was Togo the first country to take advantage of the GCF-CREWS scaling-up framework but it was the first single-country project in the GCF portfolio. The GCF project – with a value of US$ 27 million – will strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities in areas at high risk of climate change and disasters. It builds on CREWS’ work to strengthen the technical capacity of Togo’s institutions whilst mobilizing local actors and communities. The diagnostics and strategic planning work completed – with technical support from the GFDRR and WMO – were key inputs to design of the GCF project but have also catalysed other investments in the country. For example, the World Bank supported a technical study on flood mitigation in Greater Lomé which was used in the preparation of an urban development project within the Togo Urban Transformation Program (P514363) financed by the World Bank (US$ 200 million).

Using new technical skills to improve services for key sectors

Sector-specific products and services have been improved as specialist staff from ANAMET, DRE and ANPC employ the knowledge and skills that they have acquired. Amongst other new skills gained through training and technical support from WMO, forecasters are able to interpret nowcasting satellite products while agrometeorological specialists have developed crop calendars (supported by Fundació URV)² that enable them to tailor seasonal forecasts for specific locations and crops [see Chad feature]. Meanwhile, DRE hydrologists are implementing new seasonal and riverine hydrological forecasts thanks to specialized training – provided by WMO – on various systems.³ In addition, experts delivered dedicated GIS training so that national actors can leverage the data and tools of the online GIS portal hosted by the ANPC. The training was primarily conducted at the national level; however, international exchanges were established with Italy, Senegal and Sweden in the areas of operational forecasting and early warning processes. These exchanges have provided opportunities to strengthen cooperation between countries and institutions, an essential step towards managing the impacts of transboundary hazards.

Developing operating procedures for issuing and responding to warnings

Operational readiness was assessed during a 4-day long national simulation exercise which provided ANAMET, DRE and ANPC with the opportunity to begin developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) with technical support from PREDICT.⁴ These SOPs have allowed for a review of roles and responsibilities among institutions and communication channels – key elements for achieving efficiency in the production and delivery of forecasts and alerts. Continued development of the SOPs will be a key activity in the GCF project.

Responding to women’s needs for early warnings thanks to a focus on gender-inclusivity

Women leaders and DRR mothers’ clubs became a focus for community sensitization and outreach during the project, prompted by insights gained from women who participated in consultations and planning activities. Women from local communities, civil society and municipal councils collectively raised the issue of differential risk perceptions based on gender and explained how women’s needs for weather and early warning services may differ to those of other groups. The technical capacity of women has also been improved through the active participation of women in the training events, workshops and international exchanges (with Fondazione Centro Internazionale in Monitoraggio Ambientale, CIMA Foundation) and Sveriges Meteorologiska och Hydrologiska Institut (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, SMHI).

Improving awareness of weather forecasts and warnings through targeted outreach

Recognizing the power of community – and connections – the project team implemented an ambitious programme of community sensitization that directly reached 6,607 people in Togo, raising awareness of the early warning arrangements in the country and the work ANAMET, DRE and ANPC. These events targeted journalists, representatives from local authorities, educators and people working in hospitals, schools and markets, as well as people whose community is at risk of flooding, women leaders and members of DRR mothers’ clubs. With awareness increased, the project partners worked to improve the availability and accessibility of forecasts and warnings, with WMO providing training and technical support to enable ANAMET staff to launch a new public website and to issue CAP-compliant alerts.

Overcoming challenges

During the implementation phase, the project team faced several challenges, including:

• Progress in the early stage of the project was significantly hampered by the COVID pandemic, for example, through travel restrictions, the suspension of in-person meetings and limitations on the number of participants in workshops and training events.
• Significant staff changes at the DRE – with only one Director and a short-term contract whilst other positions were vacant – meant delays in the implementation of hydrological activities.
• Several municipalities and local technical services lack the human and logistical resources to ensure the sustainable continuation of activities.
• Although planned, the multi-stakeholder disaster risk reduction monitoring and evaluation system has not yet been fully operationalized making it challenging to monitor national progress across activities linked to early warning.

Learning to share

Building on developed and enhanced knowledge through CREWS, ANAMET improved meteorological and climatological end-user products and delivered tailored guidance to farmers, which improved crop planning practices.

The importance of local ownership was exemplified by the role taken by the ANPC. Its leadership – in terms of coordination, technical supervision and stakeholder mobilization – enabled consistent implementation of activities across the country.

Regional platforms provided opportunities for specialists to share knowledge and experience, learn from each other and build strong working relationships. Regional training events not only strengthened technical skills but improved cross-border collaboration and coordination.

The use of objective vulnerability criteria (hydro-climatic, socio-institutional) ensured that interventions were targeted while the integration of CREWS outputs into national plans and procedures – and even the national school curriculum – ensured that project outcomes will be sustained.

Large-scale capacity building improved the uptake – and use – of warning information by local communities. In particular, the DRR Women Leaders Group and Mothers’ Clubs proved to be robust community structures that enabled women to participate fully in awareness-raising, local monitoring and risk reduction initiatives.

1. CREWS (2019). Togo Project Proposal. Accessed April 2026: https://crews-initiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/workdoc6_8th_Steering_Committee_CREWS_Togo_0.pdf
2. [2] CREWS. South-South knowledge transfer – Climate-Smart Crop Calendar, September 2025. Accessed April 2026: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/cc9fa54d5d654ef19b7366aa6a4db8a6
3. DRE staff have received training in how to use PRESATO, FANFAR, VoltAlarm and GEOGLOWS.
4. PREDICT, also known a Predict Services, is a private company supported by Météo-France that provides integrated support for managing climate-related risk phenomena (floods, storms, coastal flooding, etc.) to municipalities. PREDICT. Who are we? Accessed April 2026: https://www.predictservices.com/en/who-we-are/

CREWS in Southeast Asia 2021-2025

Reinforcing the capacities of meteorological and hydrological services and enhancing the early warning systems in Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic

CREWS webpage: CREWS Southeast Asia

Implementing Partners: WMO (Lead), WB GFDRR and UNDRR

Operational Partners: Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC); Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG, the Indonesian Agency for Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics); CIMA Foundation; Global Water Partnership (GWP); Hydraulic Research Center (HRC); Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT); People in Need (PIN); Partnership for Development in Kampuchea (PADEK); Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) for Africa and Asia; University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ); and World Food Programme (WFP)

Operational partners for Phase 2.0 are being identified.

Status: Phase 1.0 completed, Phase 2.0 initiated

Value: US$ 5.5 million (and US$ 7.8 million for Phase 2.0)

The Lower Mekong countries are extremely vulnerable to a host of disasters. Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic have consistently figured among the most disaster-prone countries in the region and the world. Among the various hydrometeorological hazards affecting these countries, floods and droughts are the most critical hazards and the focus for CREWS, with the project improving the monitoring and management of these hazards at all levels – from the implementation of community-based systems to the advocacy of transboundary cooperation.

Celebrating success

Catalysing new investments through EW4All Roadmaps

The governments of Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic have successfully unlocked financing to scale up early warning systems in their countries. Cambodia has secured investment from the Green Climate Fund (US$ 5 million) and the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) (US$ 7.5 million) whilst Lao People’s Democratic Republic has mobilized US$ 6.8 million and has applied for SOFF funding (approximately US$ 7.2 million). Together, the countries have also obtained CREWS funding for a second phase of work which started in July 2025. By aligning national priorities and strengthening institutional leadership, CREWS has supported the countries in developing EW4All Roadmaps that will guide these – and future – investments in inclusive and sustainable early warning systems that leave no one behind. These foundational plans have built a strong sense of ownership amongst the local actors, national ministries and development partners who coproduced them with technical support from WMO, GFDRR and UNDRR.

Ensuring a coherent approach to improving hydromet infrastructure

GFDRR supported the development of hydromet investment plans which set out how best to improve and/or modernize the hydromet networks in each country. These plans are based on the gaps and needs identified through a combination of hydromet assessments and in-depth consultations with the national meteorological and hydrological services in each country carried out by project partners including WMO and RIMES. Crucially, the plans include advice on the ongoing costs of operating and maintaining the different elements of the recommended systems, ensuring that these are not overlooked. The plans were developed in close collaboration with the relevant government agencies in each country and are critically important to ensure a coherent and coordinated approach which maximises the funding opportunities being offered by development agencies who are eager to support the development of hydromet services in the region.

Adopting a coordinated approach to the management of water resources

Vital plans for the management of water resources and drought are now in place and provide a blueprint for managing life-giving resources both within and across national borders. Work on these plans was led by the relevant ministries in each country and developed with support from national consultants and their respective Country Water Partnerships; in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, additional support was received from the Global Water Partnership Southeast Asia. These utilized the vulnerability index maps for flood and drought which were developed in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (in partnership with ADPC and WFP) and updated in Cambodia (in partnership with the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) and WFP). To ensure early endorsement, promote inclusivity and foster a sense of shared ownership, the scope and outline of each of these plans was shared during stakeholder consultations.

A participatory process was used to develop the Drought Management Plans which are aligned with the relevant National Drought Management Policy Guidelines and structured around the three pillars of the Integrated Drought Management Programme. A similar, inclusive approach was taken for the development of each country’s Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) strategy and action plan. In both Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic, this work has been led by the country focal points for Sustainable Development Goal 6.5 which aims to implement IWRM at all levels by 2030 – including through transboundary cooperation, an essential consideration for countries in the Lower Mekong basin.¹

The project teams promoted their work and raised awareness of Communities of Practice for IWRM and drought at a Regional Learning Exchange Workshop in Bangkok in May 2025.² These communities promote knowledge exchange in the region by “engag[ing] more water and drought management experts, practitioners and other multi-stakeholders from different multidisciplinary levels (national, subnational and community), especially [those] who are involved in IWRM and drought management action plan development”.

Building resilience through community-based systems

Community-based flood management (CBFM) systems³ were piloted – and have been sustained – in three communes in Cambodia (led by NCDM and supported by ADPC and PADEK) and two communes in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (led by GFDRR and supported by ADPC). System design was informed by community risk mapping, flood risk assessments and the installation of flood level-markers to support real-time monitoring. Technicians and community members received training and tested their skills in tabletop exercises and practice drills while improved coordination between community organizations and government institutions ensured a community-driven yet nationally aligned approach. In Cambodia, the CBFM manuals were made available in English and Khmer to maximize involvement of local stakeholders.

A people-centred and gender-responsive approach was central to the development of these systems, with key actors attending national workshops on gender mainstreaming in flood forecasting and early warning systems. In Lao People’s Democratic Republic, this work was complemented by a national perception survey which highlighted significant communication gaps, particularly among persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and remote communities.⁴ In Cambodia, it was supported by new guidance on how to integrate Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion into every pillar of early warning systems.

“Having advanced warning information makes it easier for our citizens to prepare household items, important documents, food, textbooks and livestock. They don’t wait for the flood to come to prepare. They prepare in advance.”

Representative from Veal Village, Srae Sdok Commune, Cambodia

“We cannot stop the disaster, but we can be prepared for it”

Khemma Phuanthavisong, Primary School Director, Thin Village, Oudomxay Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Overcoming challenges

In support of the global goal, there was a conscious and strategic shift in both countries to focus on EW4All. This meant that resources initially allocated to the development of strategic plans or National Frameworks for Weather, Water and Climate Services were reallocated to EW4All activities. A compounding reason for this decision was the government change in Cambodia which led to changes in the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology. As a result of the change in focus, the EW4All Roadmap for Lao People’s Democratic Republic was the first in the region to be endorsed.

In both countries – but especially in Lao People’s Democratic Republic – the sustainability of project outcomes is a particular concern given a challenging economic climate.

Learning to share

Pilot areas and communities should be carefully selected. Plans must include capacity building, policy development and practical exercises held in parallel with activities that address technical issues and make improvements to infrastructure. Capacity building must be delivered at an appropriate level given local capacity, include practical work and be contextualized and tailored to meet local needs. Effective internal coordination, with investment at the institutional level.

Institutionalize two-way communication noting that integrating participatory features into national systems demands time, trust, and sustained support.

A strategic approach to inclusive engagement is essential to ensure the meaningful participation of – and ownership by – local groups and communities:

“enabling vulnerable groups to participate and take ownership.” Community member, Oudomxay Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

1. United Nations Water. Progress on Integrated Water Resources Management (SDG target 6.5). Accessed April 2026: https://sdg6data.org/en/indicator/6.5.1
2. Global Water Partnership Southeast Asia. Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) in Southeast Asia. Accessed April 2026: https://www.gwp.org/en/GWP-South-East-Asia/WE-ACT/programmes/climate-risk-and-early-warning-systems-crews-in-southeast-asia/
3. CREWS. Community-Based Flood Management (CBFM) – Building Flood Resilience Through Community Engagement in Cambodia. Accessed April 2026: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/462c8d74bea145a898dbc98f4567c41e
4. United Nations Lao PDR. National Weather Forecasts and Early Warning System Perception Survey Report, Lao PDR. Accessed April 2026: https://laopdr.un.org/en/296358-national-weather-forecasts-and-early-warning-system-perception-survey-report-lao-pdr

CREWS in the Caribbean 2024-2027 (ongoing)

Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Services in the Caribbean – Phase 2

CREWS webpage: CREWS Caribbean 2.0

Implementing Partners: WMO (Lead) and UNDRR

Operational Partners: Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA); Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH); and Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO)

Status: Ongoing; 1 country is affected by violent conflict (Haiti)

Value: US$ 7 million

Economic and social life in the Caribbean is intricately linked to the climate and the natural environment, making countries more vulnerable to disaster risk, climate variations and change. The region is also home to numerous highly-exposed small island developing States (SIDS) who typically have high levels of vulnerability due to their small size and/or complex topography, reliance on climate-sensitive economic activities such as agriculture and tourism, dependence on rainfall for fresh water and limited institutional capacity.¹ It is in this context that CREWS’ second project in the region seeks to strengthen the operational capacities of the national institutions involved in early warning by leveraging the expertise of regional centres, promoting regional cooperation and improving regional governance. Through the project – which passed the halfway stage in 2025 – regional governance and coordination mechanisms have been strengthened, investments have been aligned, and alerting has been improved. Representatives from countries and territories across the region have also had the opportunity to reflect and learn from the experience of Hurricane Melissa which struck in October 2025.

Celebrating success

Taking advantage of opportunities to align investments and strengthen regional governance

Coherence has been improved between global financing mechanisms, regional institutions and national authorities as they collectively seek to advance the implementation of the Global Basic Observing Network in the Caribbean. In May 2025, a Caribbean Regional Workshop – co-hosted by the Systematic Observations Financing Facility, the Inter-American Development Bank and CREWS – brought together representatives from 16 Caribbean countries to share priorities, identify governance gaps and agree on coordinated pathways for closing weather and climate data gaps. Participants agreed to strengthen regional governance by aligning investments, ensuring that improvements in basic observations – and other parts of the early warning value chain – translate into effective operational early warning services.

Helping the private sector to make business continuity plans

Barbados has set a pathway for other countries and territories in the region to help their private sector organizations to prepare for hazardous events. With support from the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce (CARICHAM), a landscape assessment of business continuing planning in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises was completed. This baseline work enabled the project team to work with the private sector to develop templates for five important economic sectors: tourism, retail and trade, manufacturing, professional services and finance. The templates were endorsed by CARICHAM, meaning that this innovative work – which has been undertaken at a national level in Barbados – can be scaled up across the region.

Learning from the experience of Hurricane Melissa

Hurricane Melissa wreaked havoc across the Caribbean in October 2025, putting national and regional early warning mechanisms to the test. Against this backdrop, in December 2025, the Regional Early Warning Systems Consortium – which is chaired by CDEMA – convened members and observers over two days to strengthen regional coordination, review progress, and define a forward-looking pathway for advancing multi-hazard early warning systems. A thematic focus was operational learning from Hurricane Melissa, which enabled frank reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of existing early warning arrangements. Participants highlighted the critical importance of timely data sharing, cross-agency coordination and clear communication between technical agencies and disaster management authorities. Building on the success of their proposal to the Green Climate Fund, Trinidad and Tobago shared insights on the advancement of national multi-hazard early warning system programming, demonstrating how country-level initiatives can both inform and benefit from regional collaboration. [link to Box 3]

Showcasing innovative ways to improve awareness of lightning

Twelve schools took part in the Caribbean Lightning Safety Awareness Contest 2025, with entries from the Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Conceptualized by CMO – who co-delivered it with CDEMA, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), CIMH and WMO – this regional initiative sought to strengthen public awareness of lightning safety and first aid through youth engagement and creative expression. On International Lightning Safety Day (28 June), the winners were announced – first place in the 6-11 year age group went to Camperdown Primary and Infant School in Jamaica while the winner of 12-18 year old category was Manzanilla Secondary School in Trinidad and Tobago. The initiative exemplifies CREWS’ gender-responsive and inclusive approach, equally engaging girls and boys and reaching diverse communities through schools. The first-placed schools won lightning detectors and automatic weather stations, enabling them to complement their teaching about the weather with live monitoring tools, while private-sector partners from the HydroMeteorological and Environmental Industry Association – including AccuWeather, Campbell Scientific, Earth Networks and Vaisala – supported sustainability and innovation. Beyond awareness, this initiative – which comprised a series of lightning awareness and education events across the region – strengthened disaster risk knowledge and directly improved early warning communication and accessibility, positioning children as trusted messengers of safety within their families and communities.

Expanding CAP alerting through training, planning and the provision of digital tools

With support from WMO, the roll out of CAP alerting has continued across the region resulting in more than 1350 CAP warnings being issued in 2025 alone. Trainers from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago led CAP implementation workshops in Dominica, Grenada and Saint Lucia in early 2025. With technical support from WMO and the regional trainers, participants from each country developed draft national CAP implementation plans with timelines for operationalization and following the workshops, WMO’s free, open-source CAP tool was prepared – and uniquely configured – for each country. In addition, CMO established virtual user groups as a mechanism for providing technical support. All three countries are now listed on the WMO Register of Alerting Authorities and in October 2025, Grenada and Saint Lucia transmitted their first CAP messages. Lessons learned from this activity are informing the plans for broader regional roll-out.

Overcoming challenges

Hurricanes are a significant hazard in the Caribbean and can limit progress or cause delays, as experienced with Hurricane Beryl in 2024 and Hurricane Melissa in 2025. Recognizing this, during the hurricane season, the majority of project activities are conducted online, ensuring continued engagement. Targeted support also works in these dynamic contexts. For example, following a special request for CREWS support, in October 2025, WMO rapidly organized a specialist from Leonardo Germany GmbH to train five technicians from the National Meteorological Service of Belize (NMS). This rapid response not only brought Belize’s radar system back online but also empowered national technicians with essential hands-on skills in radar calibration and preventive maintenance.

“On behalf of the NMS technicians, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who helped in making this training possible. It was desperately needed, since we had no practical experience with the radar before the training week. The training has significantly improved our understanding and abilities which will benefit the NMS by ensuring that the radar is properly maintained in the years to come,”

Dwayne Scott, Head of ICT at NMS Belize

Learning to share

Regional projects are well-placed to scale up activities that were successfully piloted at the national level. For example, business continuity planning templates developed in Barbados have been endorsed by CARICHAM, paving the way for regional roll out. Similarly, technical programmes can be implemented incrementally to build up regional capacity and experience as exemplified by the Severe Weather Forecasting Project which is now being scaled up beyond the Eastern Caribbean.

The Caribbean Lightning Safety Awareness Contest 2025 demonstrates how CREWS funding, regional coordination and private-sector partnerships can combine to enhance public awareness and strengthen technical capacity.

1. CREWS (2023). CREWS Project Presentation Note to the Steering Committee for the Strengthening Hydro-Meteorological and Multi-Hazard Early Warning Services in the Caribbean – Phase 2 (CREWS Caribbean 2.0). Accessed April 2026: https://crews-initiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/CREWS-Caribbean-2.0-Project-Proposal.pdf