Marie-Ange Baudoin, Tsegay Wolde-Georgis. Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts in the Greater Horn of Africa[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2015, 6(1): 49-61. doi: 10.1007/s13753-015-0041-x
Citation: Marie-Ange Baudoin, Tsegay Wolde-Georgis. Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts in the Greater Horn of Africa[J]. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, 2015, 6(1): 49-61. doi: 10.1007/s13753-015-0041-x

Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts in the Greater Horn of Africa

doi: 10.1007/s13753-015-0041-x
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This study is part of the research program: “Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change: Lessons Learned for Resilient Adaptation to a Changing Climate”. It was made possible through the support of the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, US Agency for International Development. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect views of the US Agency for International Development. The authors also wish to acknowledge with much appreciation members of the following organizations who provided their time, energy, and ideas: the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC in Nairobi), NOAA’s National Weather Service, the University of Nairobi, the University of Colorado, the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) and One Acre Fund NGO. In addition, we give a special thanks to Peter and Ann Usher for their support and warm welcome during the field investigations conducted in Nairobi.

  • Available Online: 2021-04-26
  • This article assesses the current state of disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA), and focuses on interventions and policies to mitigate hydrometeorological risks. The research analyzes, as main case study, the program “Regional Climate Prediction and Risk Reduction in the Greater Horn of Africa” funded by the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID OFDA) in the early 2000 that targeted risk preparedness. The research method combines a desk review of relevant documents and research papers with surveys and interviews directed to key proponents of DRR across the GHA. Results highlight current strengths and weaknesses in the way DRR is implemented in the GHA. Significant improvements in the climate-forecasting capabilities in the GHA since the 2000s are acknowledged, but the practice of DRR remains technology driven and impacts on the ground are limited. The key findings highlight the significant communication gaps that exist between the producers of climate information and their end users, the communities at risk. The article urges the establishment of bridges that connect climate experts, policymakers, and representatives of the local communities, and for the implementation of a feedback loop from forecast users to their producers, in order to strengthen risk resilience across the GHA.
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