UN-Habitat, IGAD launch guide to help Horn of Africa cities prepare for El Niño flooding
NAIROBI,Kenya, Nov 6- The UN-Habitat and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have launched a new preparedness framework to help cities across the Greater Horn of Africa take early action against El Niño-related flooding, as concerns grow over the impact of heavy rainfall on vulnerable urban communities.
The guide, developed in collaboration with the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), seeks to shift city authorities from responding to climate disasters after they occur to preparing in advance using climate forecasts and early warning information.
Titled El Niño Preparedness: An Anticipatory Action Framework for City Leaders, the advisory provides practical measures for municipal and city governments to mobilise resources, strengthen warning systems and protect critical infrastructure before flooding strikes.
It comes amid expectations of heavy rainfall in parts of the region, with informal settlements and other flood-prone neighbourhoods facing heightened risks from extreme weather events.
The framework outlines how city leaders can translate climate forecasts into concrete decisions through impact-based scenarios, pre-agreed action triggers, anticipatory financing and stronger coordination among government institutions.
It also identifies sector-specific preparedness measures aimed at reducing the effects of flooding, disease outbreaks and other climate-related hazards on urban populations.
A key focus is ensuring that local authorities have the financial resources and institutional arrangements needed to act before disasters occur, rather than relying primarily on emergency interventions after communities have been affected.
The framework further emphasises the importance of protecting vulnerable populations and maintaining essential services during climate-related emergencies.
By linking regional climate information with city-level planning, UN-Habitat and its partners seek to strengthen urban resilience and help local governments make timely decisions that reduce the loss of lives and damage to infrastructure.
The initiative places city and municipal authorities at the centre of anticipatory action, recognising that effective disaster preparedness requires coordination between climate forecasting agencies, urban planners, emergency responders and local communities.
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Bruhan Makong is a Senior News Reporter for Capital FM in Nairobi, covering diplomacy, foreign policy, national security, climate, and human rights across East Africa and the wider region.
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