
Representatives from the government and relevant partners successfully concluded the final validation workshop for the country’s first-ever Early Warnings for All (EW4ALL) Project proposal. Partners and stakeholders came together in a validation workshop at Savoy Hotel Resort & Spa after weeks of meetings and discussions to work on a road map, Gap Analysis and an Action Plan for the implementation of EW4ALL in Seychelles.
The EW4ALL Initiative in Seychelles is a crucial initiative in building the country’s resilience to climate change. Early warning systems can be a lifeline, especially for those in vulnerable and remote communities who may otherwise struggle to access critical information. This kind of initiative can save lives and livelihoods by ensuring that timely, reliable, and actionable information reaches those who need it most before disasters hit. And by empowering local authorities and communities with the tools and knowledge required to respond to extreme weather events, the project is taking a holistic approach. Strengthening these systems could also foster a culture of preparedness and reduce the long-term impacts of climate-related hazards on vulnerable populations.
When launching the validation workshop yesterday, the Minister for Agriculture, Environment & Climate Change, Mr. Flavien Joubert said that “the workshop marks a critical step in implementing our roadmap and action plan, which aim to address gaps and ensure effective, multi-hazard early warning systems by 2027” whilst also urging the government, civil society, and the private sector to continue collaborating and working together as “this shared responsibility demands commitment, innovation, and resource mobilization”.
The one-day workshop included presentations of the EW4ALL Action Plan and roadmap, a compilation of the Launch Workshop’s findings, and the creation of a national coordination framework to direct the expansion of early warning systems. Key partners involved in the nation’s early warning, emergencies, and disasters were amongst the attendees present as well as representatives of the four pillars structured around the EW4ALL initiative.
The Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS) was represented by the RCSS Secretary General – Ms Marie- May Esparon, Mrs. Barbara Carolus Andre – the Liaison Officer for the Early Action Protocol (EAP), Mr. Benjamin Vel – EAP Project Manager and Mr. Jean Yves Joseph, the RCSS Disaster Coordinator.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Joubert emphasized the importance of such a document, noting that the overall initiative is vital for building a more resilient Seychelles in the face of escalating climate impacts. “The devastating floods of December 2023 – among the most significant in our history -are still fresh in our minds. These events caused loss of lives, destruction of property, and disruptions to livelihoods. Rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion are already altering our coastlines and impacting farmers,” he stated.
The four foundational pillars of early warning systems; Pillar 1: as Disaster Risk Knowledge is being undertaken by the Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD), Pillar 2: as Observations and Forecasting being carried out by the Seychelles Meteorological Authority (SMA), Pillar 3:as Dissemination and Communication being led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Pillar 4: as Preparedness to Respond – spearheaded nationally by the Red Cross Society of Seychelles (RCSS).
Throughout the discussions, several gaps were identified such as the need to have and or review legislatives, guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures to ensure alignment with current needs and responsibilities.
Another key takeaway from the workshop was the establishment of the National EW4ALL Coordination Committee who will be tasked with overseeing its implementation and making sure that all aspects of the roadmap are being considered.
Early Warnings for All (EW4All) – a global initiative to ensure that everyone on Earth is protected by early warnings by 2027 – is being fast-tracked into action on the ground in various countries, including Seychelles. Launched by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the initiative is being co-led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), with support from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Leading the workshop was Ms. Alice Soares – EW4All and CREWS-SWIO Project Technical Coordinator from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) along with Ms Divina Sabino as the local consultant from the UNDRR.
Ms. Soares pointed out that she is impressed with the contributions and commends everyone for the great work.
The launch of the EW4All process in Seychelles was held with a National Workshop on 30-31 July 2024 that brought together the different actors engaged in Early Warning Systems (EWS) in Seychelles. This is for the assessment of the current EWS and identification of the gaps and areas for improvement, with the goal of developing a Roadmap and Action Plan that would address them by 2027. This Launch Workshop was followed by a serious of discussions with the national and international Pillar Leads.