Opening remarks - Partners’Coordination Meeting on Early Warning Services

As we meet here today in Malawi, we are reminded that early warnings can mean the difference between life and death: in the south of the country, ongoing drought is threatening livelihoods, while in the north, recent floods have displaced communities.  

Across Southern Africa, hazardous weather events are currently driving an increase of humanitarian needs. Yet far too often, communities at the last mile do not receive, trust, or act on critical warnings.

My message today is simple: we must ensure that science-based, authoritative climate, weather, and water information reaches everyone—leaving no one behind—and that early warnings are actionable, trusted, and integrated into decision-making at all levels.  

This is not a luxury, but a real necessity. Programmes such as CREWS are proving that targeted, country-driven investments can turn this vision into reality, particularly in the most vulnerable contexts.  

Evidence shows that countries with comprehensive early warning system (EWS) capacities experience disaster-related mortality rates up to six times lower than countries with limited EWS capabilities. CREWS-supported interventions demonstrate how robust, science-based forecasts – combined with effective communication, preparedness, and institutional coordination – directly save lives, especially in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.  

I propose that we use this meeting to accelerate the implementation of EW4All, with a clear focus on achieving measurable progress by 2027. CREWS provides a practical delivery mechanism for this ambition. This is a call to expedite action and mobilize resources that enable coordinated, large-scale interventions—fully nationally led and owned—ensuring that early warning systems are embedded sustainably within national institutions and programmes. Together, we can turn technical expertise and international support into lasting, life-saving impact for all communities. Much has been accomplished, but the needs still remain.  

In its third year since the global call for EW4All, more than 60 % of  countries have reported the existence of MHEWS. Continuing the positive trend observed in previous years, progress on MHEWS implementation has been made within each country, each region and across every pillar.  

CREWS has played a catalytic role in closing critical gaps, yet LDCs and SIDS continue to experience great vulnerabilities and special efforts are required for closing the MHEWS gap in these regions.  

I am confident in what we can achieve when we work together. The foundations are already in place: global models, tools, and systems delivered through regional centers, combined with national meteorological and hydrological services working closely with disaster management authorities, telecommunications partners, and communities. By building on CREWS as a proven partnership platform, we can ensure that these efforts are greater than the sum of their parts—turning coordination, knowledge, and innovation into lasting, life-saving impact for all communities.