By: Kanto
Kai Okanta
Uganda is strengthening
efforts to act before disasters strike, with government, communities, donors,
humanitarian and development partners, technical agencies and the private
sector examining how mobile technologies can improve early warning dissemination
and anticipatory action.
The discussions took place
at the 3rd National Anticipatory Action Dialogue and Donor Conference, where
stakeholders reviewed progress and explored ways to strengthen systems that
enable early action ahead of disasters.
The GSMA Mobile for
Humanitarian Innovation team, including Carol Gitobu and Mercy M., participated
in the dialogue and validated findings from its Mobile Technology Readiness
Assessment while examining how mobile technologies can strengthen early warning
dissemination and anticipatory action in Uganda.
Discussions highlighted the
importance of EW4All Pillar 3 sensitisation and emerging solutions such as cell
broadcast, which can help improve last-mile reach and ensure life-saving
warnings reach people faster.
The engagement also focused
on strengthening the systems and capacity needed to move from disaster response
to anticipatory action, with financing, early warning systems, locally led
action and capacity building identified as key areas.
As Hon. Sam Engola, Minister
for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, emphasised, the focus must now
be on implementation: shifting from responding to disasters after they occur to
acting before they become emergencies through stronger financing, better early
warning systems, locally led action, and greater capacity building.
The dialogue reflects
Uganda's broader effort to strengthen anticipatory action by improving access
to timely warnings and ensuring communities can take action before disasters
become emergencies.
