Africa is taking a major leap forward in its climate resilience efforts with the launch of SEWA (Space for Early Warning in Africa), a pioneering satellite-based early warning system designed to boost the continent’s ability to anticipate and respond to climate-related risks.
The launch was announced at the Joint Forum on the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Applications Programme (ClimSA) and SEWA, held from June 23 to 27 in Windhoek, Namibia. The high-level event brought together key stakeholders under the theme: “Accelerating access to climate and weather services for resilient African economies and communities.”
Bringing together representatives from the African Union Commission (AUC), SADC, the European Union, national governments, meteorological agencies, researchers, and technical partners, the forum marked a significant moment in Africa’s commitment to using innovation and space technology to build a safer, more resilient future. 
A New Era in Climate Preparedness
SEWA aims to close Africa’s climate information gap by harnessing space-based technologies and delivering timely, reliable, and accessible weather and climate services across the continent. The programme is designed to support multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS), giving governments, institutions, and communities the tools to plan, prepare, and respond to climate-related events more effectively.
Alongside SEWA, the forum also highlighted the continued success of ClimSA, an initiative that strengthens the capacity of African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries to provide tailored climate services in sectors such as agriculture, health, water, energy, and disaster risk reduction.
Innovation Meets Resilience
While Africa accounts for only a small fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, the continent is increasingly adopting innovative solutions to deal with climate variability. SEWA reflects a future-forward approach that uses satellite data, cross-border collaboration, and real-time analysis to support economic growth, food security, biodiversity protection, and community safety.
“SEWA is more than just a program, it’s a symbol of Africa’s readiness to lead with solutions,” said one forum participant.
Advancing Africa’s Vision
The joint ClimSA-SEWA forum represents Africa’s growing momentum in climate action and digital transformation. The discussions, partnerships, and commitments made in Windhoek underscored the importance of investing in homegrown capacity, data-sharing infrastructure, and policy alignment to ensure no region is left behind.
With SEWA officially launched, African nations are now better equipped to face the future, smarter, stronger, and more connected.
