Armenia Advances EW4All to Strengthen Disaster Preparedness and Climate Resilience

Armenia has taken a significant step toward building a comprehensive national early warning system, as government agencies, international organisations, and development partners convened in Yerevan to validate a roadmap aimed at improving disaster preparedness and climate resilience.

The Early Warnings for All (EW4All) National Roadmap Validation Workshop, held on 17 March, marks a critical milestone in Armenia's efforts to develop a coordinated, multi-hazard early warning framework capable of saving lives and reducing economic losses.

Building a Nationwide Early Warning System

The initiative focuses on ensuring that Armenia can:

• Anticipate natural hazards such as floods, landslides, and storms

• Deliver timely and accurate warnings to the public

• Enable communities and authorities to act before disasters strike

More than 70 participants attended the workshop, including representatives from:

• Government ministries and emergency agencies

• Telecommunications operators

• UN agencies and international organisations

• NGOs and development partners

A Coordinated Approach to Risk Reduction

Officials emphasized that early warning systems are only effective when backed by strong institutional coordination and preparedness mechanisms.

"Early warnings must lead to timely and effective response across all regions," said Armine Hayrapetyan of Armenia's Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The system aims to ensure that:

• Families can evacuate safely ahead of disasters

• Emergency services are prepared in advance

• Communities receive clear, actionable information

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Secretary-General Celeste Saulo highlighted the importance of scientific capacity, noting that the WMO stands ready to support Armenia in improving:

• Detection and observation systems

• Monitoring and data analysis

• Forecasting capabilities

Four Pillars of the EW4All Framework

Participants reviewed and validated Armenia's roadmap based on the four core pillars of the global EW4All initiative:

1. Risk Knowledge – Understanding hazards and vulnerabilities

2. Detection and Forecasting – Strengthening monitoring and prediction systems

3. Warning Dissemination – Ensuring alerts reach people quickly and clearly

4. Preparedness and Response – Enabling effective action at community and institutional levels

The workshop concluded with the endorsement of a Joint Statement, formalizing commitment to implementing the roadmap.

Investment and Modernisation Efforts

The process continued with a Partnership and Investment Dialogue on 18 March, focusing on:

• Upgrading Armenia's meteorological service (Armhydromet)

• Expanding observation and forecasting infrastructure

• Enhancing digital systems for real-time data sharing

International partners discussed funding priorities and cooperation frameworks to support these upgrades.

Strengthening Science–Policy–Community Linkages

Levon Azizyan, Director of Armhydromet, stressed that effective early warning systems depend on integration across science, government, and communities.

"The roadmap strengthens coordination so that risk information leads to timely and coordinated action," he said.

Aligning with National Disaster Law

The initiative supports Armenia's recently adopted Law on Disaster Risk Management and Population Protection, providing a legal and institutional foundation for:

• Multi-hazard risk management

• National preparedness planning

• Community-level resilience building

A Critical Step in Climate Adaptation

With climate change increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, early warning systems are becoming a core pillar of national resilience strategies.

Globally, the UN-backed EW4All initiative aims to ensure that every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems by 2027.

For Armenia, the validated roadmap represents:

• A shift toward proactive disaster management

• Reduced loss of life and property

• Stronger coordination between national and international stakeholders

Looking Ahead

The next phase will focus on implementation, investment mobilisation, and system upgrades, with continued support from international partners.

As Armenia moves forward, the success of the EW4All roadmap will depend on sustained collaboration, funding, and technical innovation—ensuring that early warnings translate into real-world protection for communities.