Risk and disaster management experts are set to meet in Kenya to explore ways of cutting losses linked to various disasters countries undergo.
Delegates at the 2nd Eastern Africa Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action (EADP-2) this month are expected to discuss among others early warning systems, action across multiple hazards, policy and governance, and sustainable financing to help countries explore ways of managing disaster better.
“Four in five people affected by a disaster now receive warnings before it strikes. That’s real progress. But a warning is only as good as what people can do with it,” said Nancy Hey, Director of Evidence and Insight at Lloyd’s Register Foundation during the launch of the forum.
A World Risk Poll 2026 report by the foundation indicate that Across Africa, wider internet access, better household preparedness and stronger financial resilience have helped improve disaster preparedness.
Kenya and Uganda recorded the biggest gains in resilience across Africa, rising 8 and 6 points respectively on the World Risk Poll Resilience Index since the last poll.
While Kenya has operationalized the National Disaster Risk Management Act, 2026, 18 counties have been flagged as high risk.
The government has similarly activated its National Contingency Plan and set up a National Crisis Communication Centre for early warnings and public updates.
In Tanzania, the government runs an Emergency Operations and Communication Centre that sends alerts by SMS, media and digital channels as authorities warned of a likely very strong El Niño.
According to UN figures, the 2023 El Niño displaced an estimated 633,000 people in Ethiopia and 1.3 million in Somalia.
Floods during the 1997 El Niño killed 2,823 people across Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Uganda. Forecasters in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam have singled out the Lake Victoria basin, shared by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
How the region handles this season will likely be the strongest test yet of its early warning systems, and of the resilience the poll has measured.
At least 400 experts from 40 countries across the globe who will attend the forum to be held in Mombasa County.
