Hassan Magulumali
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is strengthening regional disaster preparedness as southern Africa faces the prospect of challenging weather conditions during the 2026/27 rainfall season, with forecasts indicating the influence of strong El Niño conditions.
Senior officials responsible for disaster risk management from SADC member states met virtually on November 11, 2026, to assess regional preparedness priorities and review key documents ahead of a meeting of SADC ministers responsible for disaster risk management scheduled for November 12.
The meeting focused on strengthening early warning systems, improving risk-informed planning, expanding anticipatory action and coordinating humanitarian relief supplies to ensure member states can respond more effectively to emergencies.
It was chaired by Dr Elias Sithole, Head of South Africa’s National Disaster Management Centre and Chairperson of the SADC Committee of Senior Officials Responsible for Disaster Risk Management.
In his opening remarks, Sithole emphasised the importance of stronger regional preparedness, particularly through improved early warning systems and closer coordination among governments and disaster management institutions.
He said regional cooperation was essential in ensuring that communities receive timely information about potential hazards and that governments have the capacity to act before disasters escalate.
Dr Manuel Lutango, Head of Disaster Risk Reduction at the SADC Secretariat, also called for coordinated regional efforts to address the growing risks and impacts of disasters across member states.
El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon involving the periodic warming of surface waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. It can influence rainfall patterns in different parts of the world, with southern Africa frequently experiencing increased drought risks during El Niño-influenced seasons.
Below-average rainfall can have serious consequences for countries that depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture. Reduced water availability can affect crop production, livestock, food supplies, electricity generation and household livelihoods.
However, the effects of El Niño are not uniform across the region, meaning individual countries may experience different rainfall patterns and levels of risk.
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Southern Africa also faces other hazards, including floods, tropical storms and extreme weather events, which can damage infrastructure, displace communities and place additional pressure on public services.
SADC’s regional preparedness efforts therefore extend beyond monitoring weather forecasts to include strengthening emergency response systems, mobilising financial resources and ensuring that humanitarian supplies can reach affected populations when required.
Among the priorities under consideration are regional mechanisms for anticipatory action, which allow governments and humanitarian organisations to take preventive measures before a predicted disaster occurs.
Such measures may include pre-positioning emergency supplies, supporting vulnerable communities, protecting livestock and strengthening water management systems.
The officials’ meeting also provided an opportunity to review regional disaster management documents and recommendations for consideration by ministers.
The ministerial meeting scheduled for November 12 is expected to advance discussions on strengthening cooperation and improving the region’s institutional, financial and operational capacity to manage disasters.
For SADC member states, the challenge will be translating regional commitments into practical national measures, including adequate funding, reliable climate information, trained emergency personnel and effective coordination between government agencies.
The discussions reaffirm SADC’s commitment to regional solidarity and collective preparedness as countries seek to protect lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and development gains from the growing risks associated with climate-related disasters.
