The impact of early warning system of food security programme on decision making process at the Red Sea State, Sudan

Abstract EN

This study assessed the impact of the Early Warning System (EWS) on food security at the Red Sea state (RSS) with emphasis on the welfare of the vulnerable groups .

Primary data collection involved both quantitative and qualitative data generated from different localities of RSS which represented its agro ecological zones.

The questionnaire was designed to include specific details on EWS and specific details on early warning indicators, functions, challenges and gaps facing the EWS from the perspective of EWS team .Questions also include local perception and coping mechanisms with disasters.

Data was analyzed using SPSS.

The main results of this study showed that the EWS team perspective on food security alleviation was low as the whole system use to depend on central government reserves and mobilization of food aid during the crisis.

Lack of funding constituted the most significant gap facing the EWS in RSS.

This could be attributed to lack of commitment by state government to allocate funds in its financial and development plans for EWS in addition to lack of long term donors funding commitment.

Remoteness of vulnerable communities and the wider geographical coverage widened the gaps.

As well as large numbers of factors associated with climate which led to deterioration of natural resources linked to low productivity and poor governance.