Practice makes perfect: planning for floods in Ethiopia

Within less than a year, flooding in Ethiopia has affected over half a million people. And since July 2020, at least 300,000 people have been displaced.

Although there is no quick fix to end the heavy rainfalls, something can be done to reduce their impacts on communities: developing a solid plan.

The Ethiopian Red Cross, together with its partners, has developed an Early Action Protocol for floods to help communities in Ethiopia save lives and prevent suffering.

This gives the Red Cross and its partners time to warn communities and take action to prevent or reduce the impacts of a looming disaster.

Life-saving decisions

The Ethiopian Red Cross is working with government agencies, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre and the 510 global data initiative to monitor weather forecasts and analyse their potential impact on vulnerable communities.

Equipped with data, the Red Cross can now make informed decisions about early actions needed, such as the evacuation of people and livestock at risk. They can also come up with sound plans for clearing drainages, reinforcing riverbanks, getting clean water to people and distributing cash or vouchers.

Flood simulation

To test the Early Action Protocol, the Ethiopian Red Cross and its partners carried out a flood simulation in March 2021. Simulations are crucial to make sure communication between all the different partners flows well and see whether the early actions set out in the protocol can make a difference to people’s lives and livelihoods.

The simulation produced some useful insights:

  • When lead times are short, a combination of cash and in-kind support could help communities choose the early actions most relevant to them.
  • With a well-organised team and logistics in place, the Early Action Protocol can be implemented within a seven-day lead time.
  • Involving local government leaders as well as traditional and community leaders in the simulation increases communities’ trust.
  • Simulations are not only useful for testing assumptions, but also for encouraging partners to take action before a flood happens.

IKEA Foundation support

Although it was just a simulation, the activities contributed to a reduction of real flood risk in the area through strengthening weak riverbanks, awareness-raising, and building relationships between organisations and local communities.

This activity was part of the Netherlands Red Cross Innovative Approaches to Response Preparedness programme (IARP).

Supported by the IKEA Foundation with a grant of over €10 million, IARP is a Forecast-based Financing programme in Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. The project began in January 2018 and will run until the end of 2022.

Partner

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/

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Research by our partner the Global Alliance for the Future of Food shows that a tenfold increase in funding is required to support this much-needed transformation ⚠️

Transitioning to agroecological and regenerative food systems is essential. In collaboration with our partners, we’re calling on civil society, governments, investors, and other donors to work with us to unlock the innovative partnerships and investments needed to achieve global climate targets πŸ§‘β€πŸ€β€πŸ§‘

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In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 πŸ“£

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In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 πŸ“£

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In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 πŸ“£

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In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 πŸ“£

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In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 πŸ“£

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In the lead up to #COP28, we asked some of our #changemakers what they would say if they had the chance to speak on the main stage at COP28 πŸ“£ Swipe through to see what they have to say to the world leaders πŸ‘‰ What would you say? Please comment below! πŸ‘‡ @india_climate_collab @worldresources @worldbenchmarkingalliance #ClimateAction #ClimateChange #PeopleAndPlanet
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Food systems currently contribute to one-third of global GHG emissions πŸ₯¬

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Our expert panel will explore how we can decouple food systems from fossil fuel use by shifting toward regenerative and agroecological food production.

Watch the event live at the link in bio πŸ”—

#ActionOnFood #FoodProduction
Food systems currently contribute to one-third of global GHG emissions πŸ₯¬ Join us and our partners at the #COP28 Food Systems Pavilion on December 2nd between 09:30am and 10:30am GMT for the anticipated Power Shift eventπŸ’‘ Our expert panel will explore how we can decouple food systems from fossil fuel use by shifting toward regenerative and agroecological food production. Watch the event live at the link in bio πŸ”— #ActionOnFood #FoodProduction
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Launched in April of this year, #EnergyforHealth will bring solar power to 25,000 healthcare facilities across India by 2026.

The programme will reduce CO2e emissions by 3 million tons over 20 years and improve health services for 170 million people.

Visit their exhibition in the #BlueZone to see how #EnergyForHealth can be a model for improving healthcare and reducing emissions from the health sector 🌏

#RenewableEnergy #PeopleandPlanet
At #COP28UAE we’re supporting @selcoofficial to demonstrate the power of the #EnergyForHealth programme πŸ§‘β€πŸ€β€πŸ§‘ Launched in April of this year, #EnergyforHealth will bring solar power to 25,000 healthcare facilities across India by 2026. The programme will reduce CO2e emissions by 3 million tons over 20 years and improve health services for 170 million people. Visit their exhibition in the #BlueZone to see how #EnergyForHealth can be a model for improving healthcare and reducing emissions from the health sector 🌏 #RenewableEnergy #PeopleandPlanet
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