Unveiling the Enhanced East African Drought Watch: Strengthening Early Warning Systems in the IGAD Region
The East African region is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including recurrent droughts that threaten livelihoods, food security, and economic stability. As climate variability intensifies, there is an urgent need for enhanced early warning systems to support proactive and effective response measures.
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) has been at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to address climate-related challenges in the IGAD region. The East African Drought Watch, is one of the platforms designed by ICPAC to monitor, predict, and mitigate the impacts of drought across East Africa. Since the initial launch of the system's first version, significant developments have occurred and this webinar serves as a platform to unveil the upgraded and improved second version of the system.
Panelists
Solomon Muingi
Journalist The Star Newspapermoderator
Solomon is a weather and climate journalist and Earth Ambassador. He is a winner of the ICPAC Climate Action Awards East Africa 2021 under the Media for Climate -print category. He is also a Star Newspaper correspondent of the year 2021. Currently, Solomon is a correspondent at the Star Newspaper in Kenya.
Jason Kinyua
Data and GIS Developer ICPACdiscussant
Topic: Unveiling the enhanced East African Drought Watch System
Jason is a proficient Data Scientist and a software engineer with a track record in developing and deploying systems, web apps, and dashboards, configuring and maintaining servers, and enforcement of security measures to reduce the possibility of an attack and/or unauthorized access. He has consistently proven his ability to meet deadlines and achieve project objectives, solve mission-critical problems, and prioritize crucial tasks while maintaining the highest standards expected of his role.
Viola Otieno
Early Warning Expert for Drought African Union Commissiondiscussant
Topic: Continental application of the enhanced Drought Watch
Viola is an accomplished Earth Observation (EO) Expert with more than 10 years of experience in GIS, Spatial Analysis, Remote Sensing, and Database Design, specializing in regional drought monitoring and accelerated development. During her tenure at the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), she led EO operations, enabling the integration of EO technology into decision-making and planning processes. Viola's proficiency extends to developing early warning products using EO and in-situ data, as well as fostering engagement with diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders worldwide.
Ahmed Sulaiman
Food Security Analyst ICPACdiscussant
Topic: Application of the System in Disaster Risk Reduction, Agriculture, and Food Security
With a robust background in Agriculture and rural development and a keen interest in food security, Ahmed Sulaiman serves as a food security analyst at the IGAD Food Security and Resilience Analysis Hub, boasting extensive experience across the development, humanitarian, and research sectors. He has a keen focus on sustainable livelihoods and grassroots resilience-building initiatives which make him play a pivotal role in analyzing and assessing food security trends and challenges across the region. Ahmed is passionate about leveraging data and research to inform policy decisions and drive positive change in the realm of food security. He actively engages with stakeholders at regional, national, and local levels to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing aimed at building resilient food systems.