RAPIDE: Strengthening Early Warning Systems and Disaster Risk Management through Cooperation between Italy and Burkina Faso

Floods, droughts and heatwaves do not stop at national borders. As climate-related hazards become increasingly frequent and severe, strengthening early warning systems has become essential. This requires not only technological advancement, but also dialogue, knowledge exchange and cooperation among institutions operating in different contexts while pursuing shared objectives.

It was in this spirit that the institutional study visit to Italy of the Burkina Faso delegation was organised within the framework of the RAPIDE project - Renforcement de l'Alerte Précoce basée sur les Impacts pour une Décision Efficace au Burkina Faso.

For one week, representatives of Burkina Faso's leading institutions responsible for disaster risk management - including National Council for Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation (CONASUR), theNational Meteorological Agency (ANAM), the Directorate General for Water Resources and Hydraulics / Directorate for Water Studies and Information (DGREH/DEIE), the Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGPC), the Permanent Secretariat for the Coordination of Agricultural Sector Policies and Sustainable Development (SP-CPSADD) and the Directorate General for Sectoral Studies and Statistics / Food and Nutrition Security Information and Early Warning Service (DGESS-SAP) - met with the Italian Civil Protection Department, CIMA Research Foundation, and several institutions and technical bodies from the Aosta Valley, including the Autonomous Region of Aosta Valley, the Aosta Valley Civil Protection, the Aosta Valley Functional Centre, Fondazione Montagna sicura, and the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The meetings provided an opportunity to examine organisational models, monitoring systems, operational procedures and early warning systems developed in Italy to anticipate and manage natural hazards.

More than an exchange visit, the initiative fostered genuine mutual learning and the exchange of good practices among project partners. In a global context increasingly characterized by frequent and severe extreme events, the effectiveness of early warning systems depends not only on technologies and data, but also on institutional coordination, knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders operating at different levels.

Early warning systems and risk governance: the value of institutional exchange

From the operational rooms of the Italian Civil Protection System to environmental monitoring networks and the experience gained in managing risks in alpine environments, the visit provided first-hand insight into how scientific information is translated into operational decision-making.

One of the key lessons emerging from the exchanges was the importance of close cooperation among institutions. Although Italy and Burkina Faso face different geographical, climatic and socio-economic conditions, both countries share the challenge of transforming data and forecasts into timely decisions capable of reducing the impacts of extreme events on people and territories.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of developing early warning systems that are not only technically robust, but also integrated, coordinated, and understandable to all stakeholders, from national authorities to local communities.

"This institutional exchange was an incredibly enriching experience. Countries must prepare in a coordinated, system-wide manner to effectively address risks. This visit provided a valuable opportunity to share technical expertise and practical know-how on strengthening chains of communication and validation of early warning systems. Too often, the focus of international cooperation remains on responding after disasters occur," said Simone Trucco, Head of Programmes for WeWorld in Burkina Faso.

This is precisely the ambition of the RAPIDE project: to strengthen anticipatory action and preparedness capacities in Burkina Faso. The mission also contributed to reinforcing project ownership among partner institutions and fostering a shared reflection on how innovative solutions observed in Italy can be adapted to the Burkinabè context.

A project bringing together research, institutions and communities for greater resilience

The RAPIDE project is funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and implemented by a consortium led by CIMA Research Foundation, in collaboration with WeWorld and partner institutions in Burkina Faso.

Within the framework of the project, the visit represented an important opportunity to develop a shared vision for future activities and identify technical and organisational solutions that can be adapted to the national context.

"Our experience in providing scientific support to institutions demonstrates that an effective early warning system results from the integration of observation, modelling, territorial knowledge and decision-making processes. Through RAPIDE, we aim to contribute to the development of tools and procedures that make risk information increasingly actionable for operational decision-makers," said Lauro Rossi, Programme Director at CIMA Research Foundation.

The visit confirmed that effective early warning systems rely first and foremost on collective commitment, requiring the complementary contributions of institutions, research centres, civil society organisations and local communities. This collaborative approach lies at the heart of the RAPIDE project and will continue to guide its activities in the months ahead.