UN-Habitat, IGAD launch El Niño flood guide for Horn of Africa cities
The new framework helps city leaders prepare for heavy rainfall and protect vulnerable communities before disasters strike.
UN-Habitat and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) launched a preparedness framework on November 6 to help cities in the Greater Horn of Africa prepare for El Niño flooding. The guide, developed with ICPAC, aims to shift city authorities from disaster response to proactive preparation using climate forecasts.
The advisory, titled El Niño Preparedness: An Anticipatory Action Framework for City Leaders, offers practical steps for municipal governments to mobilize resources, strengthen warning systems, and protect infrastructure. It addresses heightened risks in informal settlements and flood-prone neighborhoods amid expectations of heavy rainfall.
The framework outlines how city leaders can translate forecasts into concrete decisions by using impact-based scenarios, pre-agreed action triggers, anticipatory financing, and stronger coordination. It also identifies sector-specific measures to reduce the effects of flooding and disease outbreaks on urban populations.
Why it mattersCities and vulnerable urban communities in the Horn of Africa face heightened risks from El Niño-related flooding and extreme weather events.