In response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Greater Horn of Africa, the European Union has pledged EUR 4 million to launch a joint initiative aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from the devastating effects of climate extremes, conflict, and displacement.
The project, titled “Scaling Coordinated Multi-Hazard and Conflict-Sensitive Anticipatory Action in the Greater Horn of Africa,” aims to assist 450,000 people in Ethiopia and Somalia over the next two years.
By strengthening early warning systems and improving weather forecasting capabilities, the initiative will allow governments and communities to take proactive measures before climate shocks, such as droughts and floods, spiral into full-scale crises.
As climate extremes become more frequent and intense in the region, they are compounding existing factors such as conflict, displacement, and economic instability, deepening hunger and livelihoods losses.
According to Rukia Yacoub, WFP’s Deputy Regional Director for Eastern Africa, early action saves lives and builds resilience, reducing the strain on already limited humanitarian resources.
Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), emphasized the urgency of preparing for future shocks, saying, “The IGAD region faces escalating risks from droughts, floods, cyclones, and conflicts, worsening humanitarian crises that threaten lives and livelihoods. This project proposes a holistic, regional, and harmonized approach to strengthen early warning systems for anticipatory action, enhance cross-border coordination, and facilitate risk-informed decision-making to ensure timely, life-saving early actions.”
The joint project will focus on improving the accuracy and timeliness of weather forecasts, enhancing cross-border coordination, and supporting risk-informed decision-making to better prepare for future climate-related challenges.
Ségolène de Beco, the head of the European Union’s regional humanitarian aid office in Nairobi, expressed the EU’s commitment to promoting resilience in the region, stating, “By supporting this new programme, the European Union intends to enhance our delivery of anticipatory action ahead of disasters which are predictable in the region and promote the resilience of communities across the region.”
In total, the project will receive EUR 6.7 million, including an additional EUR 2.7 million contribution from the five implementing partners.
The initiative marks a crucial step in mitigating the impacts of climate extremes and ensuring that communities in the Greater Horn of Afric are better equipped to face future challenges.
The funding will be provided through the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).
Other funding partners include the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), and the World Food Programme (WFP).
