| ITEM |
DESCRIPTION
|
|
Introduction |
During the last
plan period the Centre with its collaborative partners
developed a project aimed at making early warning systems
operational in the Horn of Africa. The project is based
on the long history the Centre has had in implementing
early warning for food security in eastern Africa. The
Centre has, in collaboration with several other partners,
notably the Environmental Analysis and Remote Sensing
Consultants of the Netherlands, implemented projects to
provide information about food security and environmental
monitoring for IGAD countries. The countries of the Southern
African Development Coordination (SADC) have successfully
implemented the early warning systems with funding from
the Netherlands and other donors. The countries
of the Eastern Africa Sub-region have yet to have an operational
system for early warning for food security. This project
will be useful in environmental monitoring, management
and food security. |
|
Objectives |
To make operational
early warning systems in the eastern Africa sub-region;
to produce relevant databases; produce bulletins and disseminate
the data and information. |
|
Justification |
The countries
of Eastern Africa are prone to frequent famines and with
a population of more than 146 million people, the effects
are far reaching. The region is environmentally precarious
without any operational system to forewarn on pending
environmental disasters. The system should utilize the
common data for common advantages. |
|
Target Beneficiaries |
The expected beneficiaries
are the countries of eastern Africa through establishment
of the operational systems. Others are national and international
organisations involved in food early warning systems and
environmental assessment and monitoring. Disaster mitigation
organisations such as food relief organisations will be
direct beneficiaries. The RCMRD will benefit from advanced
technologies, rich databases as well as equipment from
implementing such a project. |
|
Inputs |
Highly skilled
manpower, acquisition of hardware and software, data purchase,
restore microwave link and networking, state-of-the-art
communication systems |
|
Outputs |
The outputs are
namely:- establishment of operational early warning system;
availability of crop yield data; enhanced capacity (in
hardware, software and human resources) validation of
early warning data methodologies. |
|
Verification/ Evaluation |
Remote Sensing
data collection; Field Measurement; actual ground data
collection. Also through reports and publications (bulletins). |
|
Funding |
The project is
estimated to cost US$998,664 over a period of 5 years
with significant inputs from the Centre and its collaborators |
|
Risks |
Lack of funding,
inadequate skilled manpower, poor communication network
|
