The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has highlighted Liberia’s significant progress in advancing early warning systems to protect communities from recurring floods, storms, and other hazards.
Under the leadership of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, the Liberian government has intensified efforts to enhance disaster preparedness through national coordination, regional collaboration, and community engagement.
Central to this strategy is the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, designed to ensure that every person receives timely, inclusive, and actionable alerts during disasters.
Liberia’s approach under EW4All is comprehensive, strengthening national institutions, improving forecasting and risk knowledge, and linking early warnings to immediate community action.
As the first country in West Africa to implement EW4All, Liberia has reinforced observation networks, upgraded digital infrastructure, and introduced multi-channel alerting systems.
Crucially, the initiative incorporates gender- and disability-inclusive designs, ensuring that vulnerable populations are not overlooked.
The program is further supported by regional cooperation through ECOWAS and CREWS West Africa, while community-led preparedness and response efforts ensure that forecasts translate into effective action on the ground.
These measures are already helping Liberians respond quickly to floods and storms, protecting lives and livelihoods while building resilience to escalating climate risks.
A UNDRR report noted, “Liberia’s efforts under EW4All set an important precedent in West Africa, showing how strong national leadership, regional collaboration, and community involvement can combine to save lives and reduce disaster risk.”
With climate-related hazards increasing in frequency and severity, Liberia’s proactive approach underscores the critical importance of inclusive, well-coordinated early warning systems to protect communities and strengthen resilience for the future.
