The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in more than 40 years. The most hit countries are Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya & Djibouti, affecting over 18million households as well as smallholder farmers and pastoralists. Global Water Partnership Eastern Africa convened stakeholders of the DRESSE-EA project in Nairobi Kenya, to validate Drought Early Warning Systems. One of the feedback mechanisms for Early warning information is to disseminate information through a common platform called HUSIKA MIMS.
The HUSIKA is a common platform where users can share information and receive feedback. The specific challenges that the system addresses are Early Warning system and knowledge and awareness
The system was developed by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Center (ICPAC), in collaboration with the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and funded by the Adaptation Fund to provide feedback and survey modules, featuring a web application, mobile application & SMS, bringing innovative & sustainable ICT solution towards disaster resilience in the greater horn of Africa.
How does the App work? Click here to find out
The end users will be availed with well curated information and alerts through a Short Messaging Service (SMS). The information could be early warning messages e.g, weather forecast, drought updates or any other information which keep users in the know about what is happening around them and how to avert risks if any of the events happening around them pose any kind of danger. A user can also reply the messages they receive. The messages sent can be used to further asses the situation on the ground or fetch more information regarding the issue at hand. This forms a basis of crowd sourcing of data and also enhances collaboration. The end users are added by the various organizations which subscribe to Husika MIMS.