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- contact@represa-madagascar.com
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REPRESA Madagascar :
REPRESA focuses on the impacts of landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) in Madagascar, Malawi, and Mozambique. These countries are highly vulnerable to the impacts of landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs).
In March 2019, more than 1,000 people died following landfall of TC Idai, the worst flood disaster in the region’s history. Successive TCs in 2022 brought loss of life and destruction to Madagascar, Malawi, and Mozambique, resulting in the displacement and economic hardship of hundreds of thousands of people, many of whom are already vulnerable due to socio-economic constraints, conflict, and living in precarious settlements.
More recently, in February-March 2023, Cyclone Freddy hit the region. Unprecedented in terms of its persistence, it led to hundreds of deaths, once again highlighting the vulnerability of the region.
Existing early warning systems (EWSs) and their uptake are currently inadequate to prevent loss of life and serious economic hardship. Impacts are multi-hazard in nature, whereas current EWSs are primarily focused on rainfall and winds.
In coastal cities such as Beira, compound flooding (pluvial, fluvial, and storm surges) results in extensive damage, but no comprehensive quantitative modeling or risk mapping has been undertaken of compound flood risks in Southern Africa and Mozambique (SA&M).
The impacts of successive cyclones impede and set back multiple development objectives, increasing vulnerability and exposure and potentially exacerbating conflicts. However, despite their devastating impacts, little is known of the changing attributes of TCs affecting SA&M in a warmer world.
Through novel km-scale climate and hydrodynamic modeling, REPRESA will provide a step change in understanding compound tropical cyclone risks and the likelihood of unprecedented TC impacts.
With in-country leadership, training, and community engagement, REPRESA will pull through scientific advances, improve early warnings, address barriers to EWS uptake, and inform adaptation options in the context of intersecting vulnerabilities.
REPRESA will leave a long-term legacy of improved in-country capability in multi-hazard impact-based forecasting and enhanced community-level early warning communication.
REPRESA Madagascar’s Objectives:
Assess and Model Multi-Hazard Risks Related to Cyclones and Flooding
Develop and apply advanced climate and hydrodynamic models to assess tropical cyclone and flood risks, focusing on compound hazards and cascading effects in Madagascar. Analyze meteorological and environmental data to understand cyclone behavior and its multi-dimensional impacts on vulnerable systems.
Evaluate Community Vulnerabilities and Adaptive Capacities Across Sectors
Conduct comprehensive analysis of social vulnerabilities, risk perceptions, and resilience within local communities, with special attention to adaptation options in agriculture, fisheries, education, infrastructure, and migration. Identify key drivers of risk and socio-economic factors influencing vulnerability to inform tailored interventions.
Develop and Strengthen Multi-Hazard and Community-Based Early Warning Systems (EWS)
Co-design and test innovative, context-specific multi-hazard and community-based early warning systems that effectively integrate scientific data and local knowledge. Ensure these EWS enhance preparedness, timely response, and adaptive capacity at community and regional levels.
Innovate Methodologies for Compound Risk and Adaptation Assessment
Create novel analytical frameworks that capture compound risks from cyclones and floods, incorporating physical hazards, socio-economic vulnerabilities, institutional capacities and more. Evaluate the effectiveness of sector-specific adaptation strategies to inform scalable resilience-building measures.
Inform Evidence-Based Policy and Resilience Strategies
Synthesize scientific research and community insights to generate actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners. Focus on supporting cross-sectoral adaptation strategies spanning agriculture, fisheries, education, infrastructure, and migration and embedding these into disaster risk reduction plans and development policies.
Assess and Model Multi-Hazard Risks Related to Cyclones and Flooding
Apply advanced climate and hydrodynamic models to assess tropical cyclone and flood risks, focusing on compound hazards and cascading effects in Madagascar. Analyze meteorological and environmental data to better understand cyclone behavior and its multi-dimensional impacts on vulnerable systems.
Evaluate Community Vulnerabilities and Adaptive Capacities Across Sectors
Conduct comprehensive analysis of social vulnerabilities, risk perceptions, and resilience within local communities, with special attention to adaptation options in agriculture, fisheries, education, infrastructure, displacement, and migration.
Identify key drivers of risk and socio-economic factors influencing vulnerability in order to inform tailored and context-specific interventions.
Develop and Strengthen Multi-Hazard and Community-Based Early Warning Systems (EWS)
Co-design and test innovative, context-specific multi-hazard and community-based early warning systems that effectively integrate scientific data and local knowledge.
Ensure these systems enhance preparedness, enable timely responses, and strengthen adaptive capacity at both community and regional levels.
Innovate Methodologies for Compound Risk and Adaptation Assessment
Create novel analytical frameworks that capture compound risks from cyclones and floods, incorporating physical hazards, socio-economic vulnerabilities, institutional capacities, and other relevant factors.
Evaluate the effectiveness of sector-specific adaptation strategies to inform scalable and replicable resilience-building measures.
Inform Evidence-Based Policy and Resilience Strategies
Synthesize scientific research and community insights to generate actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners.
Focus on supporting cross-sectoral adaptation strategies spanning agriculture, fisheries, education, infrastructure, displacement and migration and embedding these approaches into disaster risk reduction plans and development policies.
Strengthening Community Early Warning Systems
At REPRESA Madagascar, we are dedicated to researching, implementing, and improving community early warning systems to enhance the resilience of populations against natural disasters. These systems are vital for delivering timely and accurate warnings about cyclones, floods, and other climate hazards. By working closely with local communities, we design protocols tailored to their specific needs, helping to minimize both human and material losses. This empowers communities to prepare for and respond rapidly to imminent threats.
We engage in community-level workshops and consultations to strengthen Community Early Warning Systems in REPRESA sites across Madagascar. We develop policies on existing EWS gaps and community-based solutions, and integrate community insights into national EWS frameworks to improve overall effectiveness.
Climate-Induced displacement and Migration
Climate-induced displacement and migration are increasingly urgent challenges that demand coordinated and inclusive solutions. REPRESA Madagascar supports displaced and migrant communities by providing essential resources and creating economic opportunities in their new locations. We collaborate with local communities and key stakeholders to facilitate smooth integration, reduce resource-related conflicts, and assist affected populations in rebuilding their lives while contributing to the sustainable development of host regions.
Adaptation in the Context of Multiple Risks
In a world facing multiple, overlapping hazards, defining effective adaptation strategies is crucial. REPRESA Madagascar partners with local communities, authorities, and scientists to identify and implement adaptation options that account for diverse climate and environmental risks. Through an integrated approach, we help communities build their capacity to adapt to varying climate scenarios, ensuring long-term safety, security, and well-being.
Intersectional Approaches
REPRESA Madagascar develops context-specific climate adaptation plans in collaboration with stakeholders, advancing climate- and conflict-sensitive analysis and planning to promote resilience in vulnerable communities.
We recognize that the impacts of climate change and disaster responses affect different groups in different ways. At REPRESA Madagascar, we incorporate intersectional approaches that consider the needs and experiences of women, children, the elderly, and marginalized groups. By promoting inclusion and equity, we ensure that every voice is heard and that solutions are fair and just. Our training and awareness programs are designed to be accessible to all, ensuring that essential knowledge and skills to respond to climate risks are shared equitably throughout the community.
The funders
