Strengthening early warning and early action systems for meteorological, hydrological and climate extremes in Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) (CREWS Cambodia and Lao PDR 2.0) – World Meteorological Organization WMO

Project Report: CREWS Cambodia and Lao PDR 2.0 Initiative

1.0 Introduction and Strategic Context

The Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Cambodia and Lao PDR 2.0 project represents a significant investment in regional climate resilience. The four-year initiative, funded with USD 7.82 million, will operate from September 2025 to September 2029. Building upon the foundational success of the first phase, this project is strategically aligned with the global Early Warnings for All Initiative and is designed to make substantial contributions towards achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), most notably SDG 13 (Climate Action) by strengthening adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

2.0 Core Objectives and Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

The project’s primary aim is to enhance the capacity of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) to deliver accurate, timely, and impact-based forecasts. This directly supports the targets of SDG 13 (Climate Action). The specific objectives are multi-faceted and link to a broad range of SDGs:

1. Enhance Forecasting Capabilities: To strengthen impact-based flood forecasting and advance seasonal to sub-seasonal prediction. This supports climate-sensitive sectors and contributes to:
   • SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By providing actionable climate information for agricultural planning and food security.
   • SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): By informing more effective water resource management.
   • SDG 1 (No Poverty): By protecting livelihoods dependent on agriculture and water from climate shocks.
2. Integrate Modern Technologies: To deploy advanced technologies and impact-based forecasting methodologies to ensure early warning services are user-oriented and support anticipatory action. This work is critical for building resilient infrastructure and communities, aligning with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
3. Strengthen Community Resilience: To reinforce local preparedness through targeted training, flood risk mapping, and improved response mechanisms. This objective focuses on protecting lives and well-being, directly addressing:
   • SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By reducing mortality and injury from natural disasters through effective evacuation planning.
   • SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): By making human settlements safer and more resilient.
4. Ensure Inclusivity: To pay particular attention to vulnerable and at-risk groups, ensuring early warning systems are inclusive, accessible, and responsive. This commitment to leaving no one behind is a core principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, underpinning progress across all goals.

3.0 Implementation and Strategic Partnerships

3.1 Leadership and Collaboration

The project will be led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), leveraging a multi-stakeholder partnership model that is essential for achieving SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Key implementing partners include the World Bank and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). This collaboration ensures a comprehensive approach that integrates meteorological science, development finance, and disaster risk reduction expertise.

3.2 Sectoral Integration

A key implementation strategy involves expanding collaboration with sectoral partners in agriculture, water management, and disaster risk reduction. The project will focus on translating complex climate forecasts into sector-specific products and actionable guidance. This approach ensures that the project’s outputs directly inform planning and decision-making, maximizing its contribution to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

4.0 Expected Outcomes and Long-Term Impact

The CREWS Cambodia and Lao PDR 2.0 project is expected to deliver a robust and inclusive early warning system for the sub-region. By strengthening institutional capacity, integrating modern technology, and empowering local communities, the initiative will significantly enhance resilience to climate-related hazards such as floods and storms. The project’s strong alignment with the SDG framework ensures that its outcomes will contribute not only to immediate disaster risk reduction but also to the long-term sustainable development of Cambodia and Lao PDR.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article connects to this goal by focusing on building resilience for “vulnerable and at-risk groups.” Climate-related disasters like floods and storms disproportionately affect the poor, and enhancing early warning systems helps protect livelihoods and prevent people from falling into poverty due to these shocks.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The project explicitly aims to support “climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture.” By providing advanced seasonal to sub-seasonal predictions, the project helps farmers make informed decisions, protecting crops and livestock from extreme weather events, thereby enhancing food security.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is addressed through the project’s focus on community-level preparedness. Activities such as “flood risk mapping, and the development of improved response mechanisms such as evacuation planning” are direct measures to make human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  This is the central SDG addressed. The entire project is designed to “enhance early warning systems and climate resilience” in Cambodia and Lao PDR. It directly aims to strengthen the capacity of national institutions to forecast and manage climate-related hazards like floods and storms, which is a core component of climate action and adaptation.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights the collaborative nature of the project, which is “led by WMO, working closely with other CREWS implementing partners World Bank and UNDRR.” This multi-stakeholder partnership, involving international organizations and national institutions, exemplifies the global cooperation needed to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 1.5

   “By 2030, build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events…” The article directly aligns with this target by stating, “Particular attention will be paid to vulnerable and at-risk groups, ensuring that early warning systems are inclusive, accessible, and responsive to the needs of all communities.”

2. Target 2.4

   “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices…” The project supports this target by advancing “seasonal to sub-seasonal prediction in support of climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture,” which helps build resilient agricultural systems capable of adapting to climate change.

3. Target 11.5

   “By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected… caused by disasters… with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.” The project’s goal of improving early warning systems for floods and storms is a direct strategy to reduce the human and economic impact of these disasters.

4. Target 11.b

   “…implement integrated policies and plans towards… adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters…” The project supports national institutions in developing and implementing disaster response mechanisms, including “evacuation planning and standard operating procedures,” which are key components of integrated disaster resilience plans.

5. Target 13.1

   “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.” This is the primary objective of the CREWS project, which aims to “enhance early warning systems and climate resilience” and “reinforce local preparedness and resilience through targeted training.”

6. Target 13.3

   “Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change… impact reduction and early warning.” The project directly addresses this by working to “strengthen the capacity of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs)” and providing “targeted training” at the community level.

7. Target 17.16

   “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships…” The project itself is an example of this target in action, being a “USD 7.82 million CREWS investment” led by the WMO in partnership with the World Bank and UNDRR to support Cambodia and Lao PDR.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicators for Targets 1.5, 11.5, and 13.1

  While not explicitly stating indicator numbers, the project’s success can be measured by a reduction in the number of deaths, missing persons, and people affected by disasters (Indicator 1.5.1, 11.5.1, 13.1.1). The project’s aim to improve flood and storm forecasting and evacuation planning directly implies a goal to lower these numbers.

• Implied Indicators for Targets 1.5, 11.b, and 13.1

  The project’s focus on supporting national institutions and developing “standard operating procedures” implies progress towards Indicator 1.5.3, 11.b.2, and 13.1.2, which measure the number of countries with national disaster risk reduction strategies. The project strengthens the implementation of such strategies.

• Implied Indicators for Target 13.3

  The strengthening of “National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs)” and the provision of “targeted training” at the community level are direct measures of improved human and institutional capacity for early warning, a key component of this target.

• Mentioned Indicator for Target 17.16

  The article explicitly mentions the “USD 7.82 million CREWS investment,” which serves as a direct financial indicator for the mobilization of resources through multi-stakeholder partnerships to support sustainable development goals.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: wmo.int