The Story Behind This Project
The MultiHEWS (Multi-Hazard Early Warning System) project builds on existing efforts in water security and integrated water resources management (IWRM) under a changing climate in the Incomati River Basin, which spans South Africa, Mozambique, and eSwatini. The region is highly vulnerable to recurring floods, droughts, and increasing water pollution risks, exacerbated by climate change. These challenges disproportionately impact ecosystems and marginalized communities reliant on river-based livelihoods. Currently, barriers to disaster preparedness place significant burdens on at-risk populations, increasing displacement and economic instability. To address this, AWARD has developed the Integrated Water Resources Management and Decision Support System (INWARDS), already in use by the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency. INWARDS integrates biophysical and socio-economic data and includes a Water Quality-Health Risk module with the capacity to issue early warnings for flood and drought conditions. The MultiHEWS project aims to enhance this system by expanding its coverage to at-risk communities across the basin, incorporating community inputs, and institutionalizing it through a multi-stakeholder disaster management platform. This will facilitate collaborative disaster response and improved risk mitigation, ultimately strengthening climate resilience and public health in the region.
Our Journey So Far
Start
2023-12-01
Progress
In Progress
End
2025-12-31
What We’re Aiming For
1. Assess the potential impacts of climate change on the water resources of the Inkomati River Basin (IRB). 2. Co-develop and test a community-risk-profile-based framework using census data and field-based engagement at key sites. 3. Engage key communities to identify potential risks and develop appropriate Early Warning Mechanisms. 4. Embed the Communities-At-Risk Early Warning Dashboard within the INWARDS Decision Support System. 5. Build the capacity of key partners to use the dashboard for disaster preparedness and climate resilience at key sites in the IRB.
What We’re Doing
1. Conduct climate impact assessments on water resources in the Inkomati River Basin. 2. Develop and implement a methodology for community-based risk profiling using field data and census records. 3. Facilitate stakeholder engagements to co-design Early Warning Mechanisms. 4. Integrate the Early Warning Dashboard into the existing INWARDS Decision Support System. 5. Train government agencies, disaster response teams, and local communities in using the dashboard for emergency preparedness.
What We Hope to Achieve
1. Strengthened disaster preparedness and response capacity among at-risk communities in the Inkomati River Basin. 2. Enhanced integration of climate and water quality risks into decision-making through the INWARDS platform. 3. Improved institutional collaboration on disaster management and climate resilience planning. 4. Expanded use of INWARDS DSS for monitoring, regulating, and mitigating water-related health risks under changing climatic conditions. 5. Development of policy recommendations for broader application of the Early Warning System in water resource and disaster management.
Where We’re Working
The project is based in the transboundary Inkomati River Basin, spanning South Africa, Mozambique, and eSwatini, with a focus on communities in high-risk flood and drought-prone areas.
Meet the Team
Dr Jai Clifford-Holmes Hugo Retief Basani Mongwe Tebogo Mathebula Thembhani Mabunda
Funders
Munich Re Foundation
Our Collaborators
Inkomati Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (IUCMA)
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