Contribution to the Climate Risks and Early Warning Systems Initiative (CREWS)
CREWS provides catalytic financing to Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States to build multi-hazard early warning systems, ultimately saving lives and protecting the livelihoods of the most vulnerable from climate-related disasters. As the primary delivery mechanism of the Early Warnings for All Initiative, with its Secretariat in Geneva, CREWS is a strategic Swiss priority. The combined expertise of SDC and MeteoSwiss maximises the impact of Swiss support.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Global |
Disaster Risk Reduction Climate change and environment
Meteorological services
|
01.07.2026
- 31.12.2030 |
CHF 9’000’000
|
- National and local multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) prioritized and funded.
- Improved early warning service delivery and accessibility by national and regional institutions.
- Early warning programmes are driven by people-centered and gender-responsive principles and promote private sector engagement.
- Country and regional MHEWS programmes funded across LDCs and SIDS (pipeline: 29 projects, 51 countries);
- Accelerated Support Window (ASW) rapid interventions;
- GCF Scale-Up Framework support to LDCs and SIDS;
- EW4All Accelerator programme;
- New workstream on emerging technologies and innovations in EWS;
- MEAL framework aligned with Global Goal on Adaptation indicators (by Q3 2026).
- World Bank - International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- World Bank Group (Trustee of the CREWS Financial Intermediary Fund)
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation DISASTER PREVENTION AND PREPAREDNESS
GOVERNMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Disaster prevention and preparedness
Meteorological services
Aid Type Basketpooled multi-donor fund
Project number 7F11038
| Background | Extreme weather events disproportionately affect Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where disaster mortality is 2.5 times higher than the global average. Despite early warning systems being among the most cost-effective adaptation measures, significant gaps persist. CREWS fills a critical financing gap by providing flexible pooled funding through five multilateral Implementing Partners, targeting the four pillars of multi-hazard early warning: risk knowledge; observations and forecasting; warning dissemination; and preparedness and response. |
| Objectives | To support Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States in significantly increasing their capacity to generate and communicate effective, impact-based, multi-hazard early warnings and climate risk information, thereby protecting lives, livelihoods and assets. |
| Target groups |
Direct beneficiaries: National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and National Disaster Management Agencies in LDCs and SIDS. Indirect beneficiaries: populations in 51 countries, with a focus on women, girls and vulnerable groups in fragile, conflict and violence-affected settings. 14 of 29 pipeline countries are in FCV settings. |
| Medium-term outcomes |
|
| Results |
Expected results: Key targets by 2030: additional 200 million people with access to improved EWS; 32 LDCs/SIDS with national MHEWS investment plans; USD 1 billion in additional resources mobilised; 20 LDCs/SIDS accessing GCF through the Scale-Up Framework. Results from previous phases: Since 2018, Switzerland has invested CHF 13 million in CREWS across two contribution periods. Over this time, CREWS grew from 15 to 24 active projects, expanded coverage from 271 to 397.6 million people with improved early warning systems (EWS), supported 74 LDCs and SIDS, and leveraged USD 929 million. 27 fragile, conflict and violence-affected (FCV) countries were reached, and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) - CREWS Scale-Up Framework was launched to unlock larger climate finance flows. An independent external evaluation (2021–2024) confirmed high relevance and effectiveness. Swiss advocacy contributed to key strategic improvements: IFRC's integration as Implementing Partner, stronger last-mile delivery and the adoption of a robust monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) framework. |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner International Financial Institution (IFI) |
| Coordination with other projects and actors | CREWS is the primary delivery mechanism for the UN Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative. Key synergies with: SOFF (observational data), REAP (anticipatory action), GCF (climate finance) and the FRLD (loss-and-damage financing), Global Shield (climate risk insurance), UNDRR (Sendai Framework), and the Santiago Network (technical assistance for loss-and-damage). The Operational Plan 2026–2030 prioritises expanded partnerships with international financial institutions and multilateral development banks to leverage larger financing flows. SDC bilateral complementarity through ENANDES+ and the upcoming Climate Services for Africa initiative. Collaboration with MeteoSwiss to strengthen the quality and sustainability of CREWS investments. |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 9’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 0 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 99’400’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 13’000’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 22’000’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 2 01.07.2026 - 31.12.2030 (Current phase) Phase 1 01.08.2022 - 31.12.2025 (Completed) |
