Call for Proposals: Private Sector Engagement on Early Warnings and Resilient Infrastructure in Africa

The focus areas of this call are: Early warning and early action system, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, multi-hazard early warning systems, disaster risk and emergency communications mechanisms, social technologies, hazard-monitoring telecommunications systems, promotion of local, national and regional multi-hazard early warning mechanisms, Early Warnings for All Initiative, inclusive, people-centered and end-to-end Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems, private sector resilience, climate and disaster shocks, competitiveness and resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction Capacity Building in Africa programme, resilience of telecommunications infrastructure investments, cross-sectoral collaboration, engagement between the private sector and academic and research institutions, integration of key African private sector entities in Tanzania and Cote d’Ivoire in the Early Warnings for All initiative efforts, strengthen small-to-medium enterprise capacity, guidelines or handbooks on early warnings for small to medium enterprises, self-paced e-learning module, public awareness materials, workshops for stakeholders, resilience and business continuity, Africa Network of Centers of Excellence for Disaster Risk Reduction, Principles for Resilient Infrastructure, institutional and operational Framework for Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System, Handbook on the use of risk knowledge for multi-hazard early warning systems.

This grant seeks to strengthen the role of the private sector in enhancing early warning systems and contributing to resilience in Tanzania and Côte d’Ivoire. The programme will focus on bringing private sector entities into national disaster risk reduction platforms and consultations while also developing tools and training targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises. Private sector involvement is critical to ensure both dissemination and action on early warnings, as businesses play a dual role of enabling system effectiveness and safeguarding their own workforce and infrastructure.

Applicants must be non-profit-making organizations with documented experience in disaster risk reduction, early warning, and risk knowledge work in Africa. Specific requirements include experience in Côte d’Ivoire and Tanzania, as well as a minimum of five years in Early Warning and Early Action demonstrated by recent projects of similar scope. In addition, organizations should highlight their established connections with local private sector stakeholders, community consultation practices, and expected reach among targeted enterprises.

The project duration must not exceed nine months, with a funding ceiling of USD 100,000. Key activities include mapping private sector entities, holding national consultations, updating roadmaps with private sector input, preparing guidelines and handbooks for small businesses, developing and disseminating training materials, and conducting workshops in both countries. The expected impact of this project is to reduce dependency on international support by strengthening local capabilities, enhancing SME resilience, and ensuring private sector contributions to disaster risk reduction and business continuity.

For more information, visit UNDRR.