Listening to the Earth, Saving People The Story of SAP-MR Implementation in the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (AdaptWAP)

Listening to the Earth, Saving People

The Story of SAP-MR Implementation in the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex (AdaptWAP)

In response to the growing impacts of climate change, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS), in collaboration with national authorities from Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has implemented a Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (SAP-MR) in the transboundary W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) complex. This initiative is part of the AdaptWAP project, which aims to integrate climate change adaptation measures into the joint management of this exceptional natural area.

The WAP SAP-MR is a community-based, participatory, and innovative system designed to monitor and manage key climate-related risks such as floods, droughts, wildfires, and human-wildlife conflicts. It is built on advanced technological architecture, combining real-time data, hydrological modeling, decision-support tools, and rapid alert communication.

This system:

• Strengthens the resilience of vulnerable communities to natural disasters;

• Protects sensitive ecosystems within the WAP complex;

• Improves regional coordination in risk management;

• And contributes to international commitments, including the Sendai Framework and the "Early Warnings for All" initiative.

Thanks to this project, the WAP complex stands as a concrete example of inclusive and sustainable climate governance in West Africa.