Contingency Funds and Early Warning System
Written by Administrator
The drought Early Warning System (EWS) collects data for selected ecological, socio-economic and human well-being indicators.
The system provides timely risk information in a given area and the impact of food stress on communities or households. A district is assigned a warning stage ranging from 'normal' to 'emergency', based on the EWS results.
The normal stage denotes low risk, which moves to alert (moderate risk) at the appearance of evidence of trouble. The phase moves to alarm (high risk) when the situation deteriorates substantially, and eventually to a full emergency if the crisis is not prevented.
The EWS must allow prompt implementation of activities aimed at mitigating effects of drought. Thus, early response triggered by the EWS is vital for an effective drought management system.
Drought Contingency Plans include activities planned in advance of a drought and are activated only when the situation deteriorates, and according to specific EWS signals and triggers. The plans necessitate availability of sufficient contingency funds that can be promptly disbursed to finance appropriate response in a timely, effective and efficient manner.
Strengthening the early warning system
A flexible Drought Contingency Fund (DCF) would reduce response times between early warning signals and activation of mitigation measures. DMI/ALRMP plan to support the creation of a National Drought Contingency Fund with capacity to disburse funds to affected districts in a flexible, effective and efficient way.
Crucial to the functioning of the DCF is the identification of a reliable Early Warning System (EWS) trigger for the release of contingency funds. Although the current EWS is effective at predicting emerging food security stress, the system could be improved by tightening the early warning system to make it more evidence-based and transparent.
This would enhance the credibility of the system and provide a refined and accountable trigger for the release of contingency funds for early response. DMI/ALRMP, therefore, commissioned a study for strengthening the early warning phases by determining classification based on a more quantitative, evidence-based and transparent method.
The study was conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) office within OP/ALRMP, which was already dealing with development of an EWS in Kenya.
The study involved statistical analysis for recommending thresholds for individual indicators in each district, developing a rigorous system for assigning early warning phases based on combinations of indicators, and linking the early warning phases to the contingency fund dispersal mechanism.
The drought Early Warning System (EWS) collects data for selected ecological, socio-economic and human well-being indicators. The system provides timely risk information in a given area and the impact of food stress on communities or households. A district is assigned a warning stage ranging from 'normal' to 'emergency', based on the EWS results.
The normal stage denotes low risk, which moves to alert (moderate risk) at the appearance of evidence of trouble. The phase moves to alarm (high risk) when the situation deteriorates substantially, and eventually to a full emergency if the crisis is not prevented.
The EWS must allow prompt implementation of activities aimed at mitigating effects of drought. Thus, early response triggered by the EWS is vital for an effective drought management system.
Drought Contingency Plans include activities planned in advance of a drought and are activated only when the situation deteriorates, and according to specific EWS signals and triggers. The plans necessitate availability of sufficient contingency funds that can be promptly disbursed to finance appropriate response in a timely, effective and efficient manner.
Strengthening the early warning system
A flexible Drought Contingency Fund (DCF) would reduce response times between early warning signals and activation of mitigation measures. DMI/ALRMP plan to support the creation of a National Drought Contingency Fund with capacity to disburse funds to affected districts in a flexible, effective and efficient way.
Crucial to the functioning of the DCF is the identification of a reliable Early Warning System (EWS) trigger for the release of contingency funds. Although the current EWS is effective at predicting emerging food security stress, the system could be improved by tightening the early warning system to make it more evidence-based and transparent.
This would enhance the credibility of the system and provide a refined and accountable trigger for the release of contingency funds for early response. DMI/ALRMP, therefore, commissioned a study for strengthening the early warning phases by determining classification based on a more quantitative, evidence-based and transparent method.
The study was conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) office within OP/ALRMP, which was already dealing with development of an EWS in Kenya.
The study involved statistical analysis for recommending thresholds for individual indicators in each district, developing a rigorous system for assigning early warning phases based on combinations of indicators, and linking the early warning phases to the contingency fund dispersal mechanism.
