People-centered coordination for MHEWS in diverse contexts

Efforts in Cambodia, Central Asia, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nepal, and Panama, exemplify the growing emphasis on coordinated, people-centred Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) tailored to complex risk contexts. 

In Nepal, the Framework project has strengthened inclusive preparedness through locally led planning, early warning protocols, and community engagement in remote districts like Panchthar. Local Emergency Operations Centres) using tailored standard operating procedures which enabled anticipatory action ahead of the 2024 monsoon floods, resulted in improved evacuation outcomes which also showcased the value of collective municipal leadership and grassroots coordination. 

Across five transboundary river basins in Central Asia, the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction and national hydrometeorological services, supported by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), are advancing cross-border flood preparedness through harmonised data-sharing protocols. Despite challenges in basin selection and stakeholder trust, trilateral meetings and standardised formats are laying the groundwork for collaborative forecasting and upstream-downstream risk mitigation. 

In the transboundary Sixaola River basin shared by Costa Rica and Panama, an initiative strengthened joint watershed governance and hazard management through a bi-national EWS. Emphasising community empowerment, gender equity and women's empowerment, and indigenous knowledge, the project responded to limited hydrometeorological infrastructure - just one weather station across 146 km - and mounting environmental pressures. By engaging 30 institutions and representatives from seven Indigenous territories, it improved risk knowledge and forecasting capability via new stations, sensors, predictive models, and climate-responsive floodplain mapping. Participatory validation and Community Emergency Committees connected 88 communities with national authorities, enabling inclusive disaster risk reduction planning. Outreach strategies featured multilingual messaging, digital resources, and local radio, while governance was formalised through MoUs and bi-national protocols. The initiative not only enhanced disaster preparedness but also restored ecosystems, strengthened social protection and livelihoods, and demonstrated that when meaningful cross-border collaboration places people first, geographic and institutional boundaries can be bridged. 

In Cambodia, a nationwide initiative under the CREWS project developed the EW4All roadmap and introduced impact-based forecasting in three river basins. Partnerships with national agencies, NGOs, and civil society have enabled community-based flood management, gender-responsive training, and subnational emergency planning. Cambodia's leadership in coordinated MHEWS is now recognised at international DRR forums. 

In South Kivu and Maniema provinces of the DRC, anticipatory action led by Humanitarian Action for Africa) has improved early warning coverage for floods and landslides in rural communities that had no prior warning infrastructure. Local volunteers conducted seasonal awareness campaigns and monitoring activities, reducing disaster impacts by advising communities to take low-cost, scalable anticipatory actions like roof reinforcement and pre-emptive evacuation. Linking community alerts to governance systems enhanced trust and responsiveness, despite limited resources. 

Together, these initiatives demonstrate that successful coordination in MHEWS requires multilevel partnerships, locally adapted strategies, and efforts to bridge institutional gaps and geographic divides. Whether through cross-border information exchange, subnational alignment, or village-based alert networks, the integration of scientific tools and community voices is key to safeguarding lives and livelihoods under increasingly unpredictable risk conditions.