Effective early warning systems necessitate translation of hazard forecasts into sector and location-specific risk and impact information which can be integrated into decision-making processes for informed anticipatory actions.

Early warning is a key element in building resilience to weather- and climate-related risks. In order to galvanize Forecast-based Actions (FbA) in the communities, National Hydrological and Meteorological Services (NMHSs) need to develop capacities along the entire service delivery chain for generating targeted impact-based forecasting and timely dissemination of accurate, understandable and customized information.

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (United Nations, 2015), WMO Guidelines on Multi-hazard Impact-based Forecast and Warning Services (2015, WMO-No 1150) as well as the Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems: A Checklist (2018), highlight the significance of integrating risk and impact information in early warning systems by utilizing the advances in information and communication technologies and Earth observations.

RIMES implemented Enhancing weather and climate resilience in RIMES member States through capacity building on impact forecasting- Phase I, from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2018, aimed at building resilience to weather- and climate-related hazards by building capacity on impact forecasting in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka in the Asian region, and Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa in the Pacific region.

Enhancing capacities for impact-based forecasting and its application through Phase II

Building on the gains of Phase I, Phase II of the project shall focus in the following areas of interventions

1. Training of weather and climate information users on potential impact assessment, risk analysis, and application of outputs in planning and decision-making for resource and risk management in agriculture and disaster management sectors
2. Technical support in conducting seasonal forums, subregional dialogues and facilitating potential impact assessments to inform seasonal planning
3. Expansion of decision support system to aid potential impact and risk analyses in the agriculture sector
4. Capacity building of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to enable them to respond to user demands from climate-sensitive and disaster management sectors
5. Support NMHS and ministry participation in RIMES 4th Ministerial Conference for experience and knowledge sharing

Aligned with the Strategic Note 2021-2024 of the ESCAP Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness, these interventions serve to strengthen people-centered, multi-hazard early warning systems.

Furthermore, to address the countries' needs from additional sectors beyond the scope of this program, such as tourism and energy, in conjunction with the RIMES Master Plan and WMO-RIMES Joint Strategy & Action Plan formulated as per recommendation of the Member States, RIMES will adopt a flexible framework to meet these emerging needs and demands, and to expand similar programs to other countries in the long term.