Kathmandu, 11 Oct: The government has made public the draft of the National Roadmap for Early Warning for All, 2083–2087 for feedback and suggestions, aiming to reduce disaster risks.
The draft, prepared by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), sets a target of expanding, upgrading and operating a multi-hazard early warning system across Nepal within five years. The authority published the draft on Asoj 16 and has requested the public to submit feedback and suggestions within seven days.
According to the roadmap’s vision, all citizens, including the most vulnerable groups, areas and communities, will receive timely and effective early warnings by 2087, helping protect lives, property and livelihoods.
“Early Warnings for All” is a global initiative of the United Nations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced the initiative in March 2022, with the goal of ensuring that every person on Earth has access to effective early warning systems that can save lives by the end of 2027.
The roadmap aims to strengthen disaster risk knowledge, assess exposure and vulnerability, establish and operate scientific assessment and mapping systems and robust data infrastructure, and effectively deliver early warnings to communities through an integrated communication procedure. It also seeks to strengthen preparedness by enhancing the capacity of disaster response agencies to protect lives, property and livelihoods.
Classification of Early Warning Systems
The roadmap divides the early warning system into four main pillars and one cross-cutting area. It also allocates responsibilities for implementation, including overall coordination, international leadership, national pillar leadership and national co-leadership.
The four main pillars are disaster risk knowledge; hazard detection, observation, monitoring, analysis and forecasting; information dissemination and communication; and preparedness and response capabilities.
The cross-cutting area covers governance, coordination, advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, and financing.
The estimated cost of implementing the roadmap is approximately Rs. 57.9949 billion.
Multi-Hazard Risk Profile
Under the first pillar, the roadmap proposes developing dynamic, regularly updated multi-hazard risk profiles from the national to the local level.
Detailed assessments of risks, vulnerabilities and existing capacities will be conducted to prepare risk profiles that local governments can also use. These profiles will be updated annually.
Proposed activities include collecting and mapping risk-related data, developing multi-hazard models, using geographic information systems and satellite imagery, and mapping safe routes and shelters.
A central information system will also be developed to store disaster risk data, with access provided to relevant institutions.
The roadmap aims to complete these activities within five years of its implementation.
Major Investment in Forecasting Systems
The largest share of the proposed budget will be allocated to forecasting systems. These systems will be upgraded to improve hazard monitoring, analysis, modelling and forecasting.
The draft proposes establishing a National Multi-Hazard Forecasting Centre equipped with technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
It also proposes institutionalising local weather interpretation units in all seven provinces, downscaling global weather models using local data from Nepal, and validating the models twice a year, before and after the monsoon season.
The draft further proposes developing forecasting standards for infrastructure such as airports, hydropower projects and schools. It also seeks to clarify forecasting roles and responsibilities for the 41 types of hazards identified under the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act.
Early Warnings Directly to Mobile Phones
The information dissemination system will be strengthened legally and technically.
The draft proposes reviewing the policies and laws required to introduce a mobile phone broadcasting system, preparing technical specifications and assessing the readiness of telecommunications service providers.
It also proposes approving and implementing a national emergency telecommunications plan, developing operating procedures and standards for emergency telecommunications, and clarifying the roles of authorised agencies and officials responsible for issuing early warnings for different hazards.
In addition to agencies responsible for preparing warnings, television broadcasters, radio stations and mobile operators will receive training to work in accordance with an integrated early warning procedure.
Preparedness and Response Capabilities
The roadmap proposes extending forecast-based early action to local governments.
For example, it aims to localise forecast-based early action procedures for specific hazards, including floods and extreme heat, in at least 20 percent of local governments.
The proposed measures include establishing trigger points for initiating early action based on forecasts to reduce risks, improving systems based on lessons learned after disasters, and integrating gender equality, disability inclusion and social inclusion into early warning systems.
Local Governments as a Priority
The draft proposes improving coordination between disaster-resilient and climate-resilient plans at the provincial and local levels.
It aims to prepare plans based on local disaster and climate resilience frameworks in at least 50 percent of local governments.
The roadmap also proposes preparing risk-informed land-use plans in at least 20 percent of local governments.
Ensuring Access for All Groups
The roadmap seeks to ensure that early warnings reach children, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, single individuals, women, marginalised communities, tourists and workers temporarily residing in high-risk areas.
This approach indicates an effort to make early warning systems not only technology-driven but also inclusive and accessible.
The draft proposes improving websites and communication platforms in accordance with international accessibility standards so that persons with disabilities can also receive information easily.
The authority has stated that the financial resources required to implement the roadmap will be mobilised through annual government budgets, the utilisation of relevant funds, private-sector investment and international sources.
Home Ministry to Lead Early Warning System Implementation
The Ministry of Home Affairs will lead the national early warning system pillars. An early warning monitoring committee, including co-leadership representatives, will also be established.
The committee will include representatives from the NDRRMA, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the Water Resources Research Centre, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The committee will also include representatives of international partner organisations. It will facilitate oversight of implementation progress, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic guidance to support the effective implementation of the roadmap.
