The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has launched a four-day workshop in Johannesburg to prepare for the anticipated effects of El Niño during the 2026/27 rainfall season. According to AllAfrica, the event brings together member states and humanitarian partners to assess risks and refine contingency strategies. The SADC Secretariat is organizing the session with support from the European Union’s humanitarian aid directorate and the Regional Anticipatory Action Working Group.
Pumeza Tyali, head of South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre, opened the proceedings. She urged participants to enhance multi-hazard early warning systems and ensure that vulnerable groups, such as women and persons with disabilities, receive actionable alerts. Tyali stated that the workshop’s value would be judged by the practical measures resulting from its discussions, emphasizing inclusive preparedness for high-risk communities.
Dr. Manuel Lutango, SADC’s disaster risk reduction lead, indicated that the meeting would evaluate progress since the 2024 regional workshop. The agenda includes validating the regional contingency plan for the upcoming season and reviewing the multi-hazard anticipatory action framework. Delegates are also working to align sectoral preparedness and advance talks on pre-arranged financing to support early interventions.
Dr. Lewis Hove of the Food and Agriculture Organization noted that accurate forecasts are often undermined by funding delays and supply shortages. Pablo Torrealba, representing the European Union’s humanitarian office, stressed the need to shift from reactive responses to systematic anticipatory action. He highlighted the challenge of converting timely warnings into pre-positioned supplies and clear operational procedures.
The Johannesburg session builds on recommendations from the recent Maputo International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, which urged faster implementation of continental early warning systems. AllAfrica reports that the current deliberations aim to link seasonal forecasts with resource mobilization and defined operational responsibilities. The workshop is scheduled to conclude on 23 October 2026.