The Water at the Heart of Climate Action (WHCA) project is driving critical advancements in hydrometeorological capacity across the Nile Basin, where climate-induced water extremes threaten infrastructure, livelihoods, and ecological stability. Implemented in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, and Rwanda, the project contributes to the global Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, aiming to establish inclusive, multi-hazard early warning systems by 2027.
Climate variability has turned the Nile Basin into a region of heightened hydrological risk. The WHCA project directly addresses these vulnerabilities by enhancing technical systems for water monitoring, forecasting, and early warning dissemination. Supported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the project focuses on modernizing National Meteorological and Hydrological Services to better support water-sensitive sectors.
Key technical interventions include the expansion and upgrading of hydrological observation networks to enable real-time data acquisition on rainfall, river discharge, and soil moisture. This data underpins the development of high-resolution forecasting models, which are increasingly capable of producing impact-based forecasts that move beyond simple hazard prediction. These forecasts incorporate socio-economic and geographic context, allowing stakeholders to assess potential outcomes — such as whether forecasted rainfall may flood a critical market area or damage transportation corridors.
A central component of WHCA is its emphasis on cross-border data integration and stakeholder coordination. In each of the five countries, early warning systems are being restructured to deliver tailored, actionable information to end users ranging from local disaster managers to national water authorities. Visualization tools and decision-support systems are being developed to harmonize datasets and improve accessibility across institutional boundaries.
A recent gathering in Addis Ababa brought together over 40 hydrological experts and regional stakeholders to evaluate current capabilities and align on shared strategies for capacity development. Examples such as Ethiopia’s predictive rainfall modelling, Sudan’s river level monitoring systems, and Rwanda’s data visualization innovations demonstrate the potential of harmonized basin-wide approaches.
WHCA represents a structural shift from reactive water management to anticipatory climate action. By embedding water-centric risk analysis into national and regional systems, the project is advancing an integrated, scientifically robust early warning architecture. In doing so, it strengthens not only the technical capacity of participating countries but also their collective climate resilience through shared hydrometeorological intelligence.
