CREWS for South Asia
Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS)
The Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative is a financial mechanism which funds projects in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to establish risk-informed early warning services. Beginning of 2024, the CREWS Steering Committee approved CREWS South Asia (CREWS SA) for the pipeline and requested WB as lead implementing partner to facilitate the formulation of the full proposal.
CREWS SA will be implemented by the World Bank (WB – lead implementing agency), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) with additional involvement of the WMO network/UN agencies, especially the Regional Integrated Multi-hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) which serves as SAHF secretariat, as well as MeteoSuisse, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and others.
Project Overview
The Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) South Asia Project represents a groundbreaking regional initiative designed to strengthen collaboration and enhance early warning capabilities across South Asia. Built around and in support of the South Asia Hydromet Forum (SAHF), this four-year project addresses the urgent need for improved hydrometeorological services in one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
Key Facts:
- Duration: 2025-2029 (48 months)
- Lead Implementing Partner: World Bank (WB)
- Additional Partners: World Meteorological Organization (WMO), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
- Project Recipients: South Asia Hydromet Forum (SAHF), Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, and Nepal (SAHF member countries with LDC/SIDS status)
Why This Project Matters
South Asia, home to 25% of the world’s population, faces acute vulnerability to hydrometeorological and climate hazards. Between 2000 and 2024, the region witnessed:
- 957 reported disasters affecting over 1.4 billion people
- Over 230,000 lives lost to climate-related hazards
- US$ 210 billion in economic damages
- Cascading risks from floods, droughts, cyclones, and climate change
Project Components
Component 1: Strengthen Regional Collaboration
- Strengthening SAHF as regional collaboration mechanism: Deepening high-level dialogue through SAHF Executive Council meetings and conferences
- Facilitating pooling of expertise: Continuing and expanding the weekly SAHF Forecasters’ Forum to include hydrologists and utilize SWFP and FFGS products
- Improving hydrometeorological and early warning services through regional collaboration and strategic planning: Strengthening SAHF Working Groups on Observation Networks, NWP, Impact-based Forecasting, Climate Services, and Hydrology
Component 2: Improve Forecasting and Early Warning Quality
- Expanding co-development of the observation network and data exchange: Expanding co-development of Regional Basic Observation Networks (RBON) and strengthening data exchange through enhanced DataEx platform
- Improve forecasting capacities: Enhancing NWP capabilities, marine forecasting, and model interpretation through peer-to-peer exchange
- Enhancing early warning services in the region through prototyping of new forecasting techniques and EWS pilots: Developing urban flood early warning systems and weather forecasting for complex mountain terrain using AI techniques
- Mainstream last-mile connectivity to reach end users: Implementing Common Alerting Protocols (CAP) and Standard Operating Procedures
Component 3: People-Centered and Private Sector Engagement
- Ensure EWS are people-centered: Establishing a virtual platform for hydrometeorological informed Decision Support Systems connecting regional stakeholders
- Engagement of the private sector to foster innovation and sustainability in the delivery of hydrometeorological and early warning services: Launching innovation calls for cost-effective technical solutions to specific hydrometeorological challenges