Africa Drought Watch: a new system for drought monitoring and early warning to strengthen climate resilience in Africa

Drought is a progressive and complex phenomenon. It advances gradually, often without being immediately perceived, but over time it results in less productive fields, reduced watercourses, communities that must adapt or relocate, and economic systems that come under increasing pressure. In Africa, this phenomenon is today one of the most pressing challenges of climate change: a risk multiplier that strikes by undermining the development agenda of communities and of different countries.

In this context, the Africa Drought Watch (ADW) has been established, the new continental system for drought monitoring and early warning developed under the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) programme. Its official launch will take place on 9 September 2025, during the high-level event "Anticipating Drought, Accelerating Early Warning" at the second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2): it is a key instrument to transform data into action, strengthen resilience, and support informed investments.

An African platform for drought risk management

The Africa Drought Watch represents a decisive step in the continent's capacity to anticipate and address drought. To date, only 9% of African States have a national drought monitoring and early warning system: a figure that highlights the urgency of closing the gap. ADW was created precisely for this purpose: to provide a continuous, accessible, and harmonized platform that brings together satellite data, climate indices, and local knowledge, transforming them into ready-to-use information for governments, institutions, and communities.

The system is produced and updated monthly by the African Union Commission as part of the AMHEWAS programme activities, in collaboration with the African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD), the Regional Climate Centres (RCCs), the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the national meteorological and hydrological services.

And with the technical and financial contribution of international partners, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), UNDRR, NORCAP and CIMA Research Foundation. This co-production network ensures that each bulletin reflects realities on the ground, is scientifically accurate, and responds to the needs of the different stakeholders involved.

CIMA Research Foundation has played a central role in the co-design and co-production processes of the Africa Drought Watch, working closely with experts from the African Union Commission, other regional partners, and the different countries. The Foundation's commitment has focused on translating scientific evidence and climate data into shared operational tools, developed through an inclusive approach that has made it possible to integrate local needs, regional knowledge, and international methodologies. This work has helped make the system a truly co-created tool, capable of strengthening the decision-making capacities of governments and communities.

The ADW bulletin integrates multiple indicators to monitor short- and long-term drought conditions.

By combining the analysis of these indices with satellite data, seasonal forecasts, and input from regional experts, the bulletin can distinguish between temporary and localized episodes of rainfall scarcity that can be managed at the national level, and prolonged water crises that require systemic responses at the regional or continental level.

The added value of ADW is not only technical but also operational. The maps and analyses produced each month support immediate decisions - such as the activation of preparedness measures or the mobilization of resources - and guide strategic planning that includes infrastructure investments, national resilience plans, and climate adaptation policies.

From forecasting to action: the link with AMHEWAS and African resilience

The launch of the Africa Drought Watch is not an isolated act, but is part of a broader vision of proactive risk governance supported by the African Union and global partners. Through AMHEWAS, ADW becomes part of a multi-hazard system capable of linking monitoring to anticipatory response, reducing humanitarian costs and enabling governments to act before impacts turn into crises.

The AMHEWAS alert scale, for example, distinguishes different levels of severity - from early signs of rainfall deficit to situations of widespread emergency - assigning response responsibility at the subnational, national, regional, or continental level. This multi-level approach makes it possible to calibrate political and technical action in a timely and coordinated manner.

During the Summit, ADW will be presented as a public good led by the African Union Commission, capable of supporting the financial readiness of Member States, facilitating access to climate funds, and stimulating informed and sustainable investments. The initiative is directly linked to global commitments on drought resilience, from the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership to the International Drought Resilience Alliance, and represents a crucial step towards a future in which drought governance definitively shifts from reaction to anticipation.

A shared commitment for the future

The launch of the Africa Drought Watch at the 2nd Africa Climate Summit marks the beginning of a new phase. It is the result of an inclusive co-development process that has involved governments, regional institutions, research centres, and international partners, with the common goal of strengthening the continent's resilience.

In an Africa increasingly exposed to frequent and prolonged droughts, ADW is not only a technical tool, but a driver of political and social transformation. With its ability to translate complex data into concrete decisions, it becomes the meeting point between science and governance, between anticipation and action.

A necessary step to protect food systems, water resources, and communities, and to make drought resilience an integral part of sustainable development and shared prosperity across the continent.