PPEW is currently supported by a grant from the Government of Germany and commenced operations in early 2004. It has quickly taken a lead in coordinating international efforts to advance early warning processes and systems over the last two years, in particular through: organising events at the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR), Kobe, Japan, 18-22 January 2005; coordinating a US$10M multi-partner project to support the development of the Indian Ocean tsunami warning system; coordinating the Global Survey of Early Warning Systems; and supporting the organisation of the 3rd International Conference on Early Warning, Bonn, Germany, 27-29 March 2006.

At the same time, the main outcome of the WCDR, the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, has become the roadmap for the reduction of disaster risk, for countries and the international community. Its systematic implementation is now the primary goal of the ISDR system.

The challenge now for PPEW is to capitalise on these major initiatives, and on the high level of public interest in early warning, and to develop the IEWP as the vehicle for ISDR partners to undertake collaborative and coordinated follow-up activities to systematically strengthen the role and effectiveness of early warning processes and systems. This will require the engagement of a wide range of relevant stakeholders, leadership to establish shared priorities, and a focus on reducing disaster risk. The new coordinator will be expected to not only manage the PPEW, but also build and respond to the interests of the IEWP stakeholders.

For the official advertisement and the application process see: http://www.unisdr.org/vacancy/2006/ISDR-G-08-2006.doc