MHEWC intends to support the SINAPROC -Panama
To,
The Director, SINAPROC, Panama
Subject: Proposal for Technical Cooperation and Partnership to Strengthen Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems, Disaster Risk Governance, and Emergency Management Capacities in Panama
Dear Sir,
Greetings from the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System Development and Implementation Center (MHEWC).
MHEWC is a specialized technical knowledge and solutions platform dedicated to strengthening climate and multi-hazard risk governance, disaster risk management, and the design and operationalization of integrated, end-to-end, people-centered early warning systems. Our technical expertise encompasses institutional capacity assessments, hydro-meteorological observation and monitoring networks, geospatial risk intelligence, ICT- and AI-enabled Decision Support Systems (DSS), impact-based forecasting, anticipatory action, and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery management.
Recognizing the critical importance of strengthening the national disaster risk management capabilities, MHEWC would welcome the opportunity to establish technical cooperation and a strategic working partnership with the SINAPROC.
In collaboration with SINAPROC’s relevant national hydro-meteorological institutions, sectoral ministries, local authorities, and other stakeholders, MHEWC is prepared to provide specialized technical assistance in the following priority areas:
1) Assessment and Modernization of Hydro-Meteorological Observation and Monitoring Networks
Conduct comprehensive technical diagnostics of existing hydro-meteorological observation stations and monitoring infrastructure, identify institutional and technological gaps, and develop a phased modernization and investment plan. This may include the technical design, installation, calibration, and integration of Automated Weather Stations (AWS), Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and real-time environmental and hazard-monitoring technologies to strengthen the detection, tracking, and forecasting of potentially hazardous conditions.
2) Strengthening Integrated Multi-Hazard Monitoring and Early Warning Capacities
Assess existing monitoring, observation, forecasting, and early warning capabilities and support SINAPROC and relevant national meteorological and hydrological services in upgrading and integrating observation networks. This includes hybrid weather and hazard-monitoring systems, interoperable sensor networks, real-time data acquisition and transmission, and automated data ingestion into operational Decision Support Systems for multi-hazard monitoring, forecasting, and warning dissemination.
3) Modernization and Operationalization of the National Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Undertake a comprehensive technical and institutional assessment of existing Emergency Operations Center facilities, operational procedures, communication systems, and information management infrastructure. Based on the findings, develop an EOC modernization roadmap and support the technical design, upgrading, and operationalization of an integrated National Emergency Operations Center and Situation Room.
The proposed EOC architecture would incorporate real-time hydro-meteorological observations, IoT-enabled monitoring networks, geospatial risk information, automated hazard tracking, impact-based forecasting, early warning dissemination, anticipatory action advisories, and coordinated emergency response management.
4) Development of ICT- and AI-Enabled Emergency Management and Decision Support Applications
Design and develop customized ICT- and AI-enabled applications to support automated hazard identification, real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, impact forecasting, emergency information management, and operational decision-making.
These solutions may include automated data processing, geospatial visualization, scenario-based impact analysis, threshold-based alert generation, emergency resource tracking, incident management, and decision-support workflows. AI-assisted outputs would be subject to appropriate technical validation and oversight by authorized national institutions.
5) Transformation of SINAPROC’s Web Portal into an Integrated Geospatial Decision Support Platform
Provide technical assistance to assess and upgrade SINAPROC’s existing web-based information systems into an integrated, geospatial, database-driven, and application-enabled Disaster Risk Information and Decision Support System (DRI-DSS).
The platform would support real-time hazard monitoring, climate and multi-hazard risk information management, institutional coordination, preparedness planning, anticipatory action, emergency response, recovery management, and evidence-based decision-making across national and subnational administrative levels.
6) Development of National Climate and Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment Frameworks and Risk Information Repositories
Develop standardized methodologies, analytical frameworks, technical tools, and operational guidelines for conducting climate and multi-hazard risk and vulnerability assessments.
Technical assistance would include the preparation of GIS-based hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and risk maps; multi-sectoral risk profiles; climate and disaster risk scenarios; and the establishment of a centralized, interoperable national risk information repository and geospatial database management system.
7) Design and Operationalization of End-to-End, People-Centered Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems
Support SINAPROC and relevant technical institutions in designing and implementing integrated, end-to-end Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), aligned with the four pillars of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative.
Priority interventions may include:
- Hazard detection, monitoring, weather nowcasting, and forecasting services.
- Impact-Based Forecasting (IBF) and Impact-Based Warning (IBW) systems.
- Forecast-Based Financing (FbF) and anticipatory action mechanisms.
- Development of hazard-specific triggers, Early Action Protocols (EAPs), and anticipatory response plans.
- Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-enabled warning generation and dissemination.
- DSS-supported emergency preparedness, contingency planning, and response management.
- Development of operational guidelines, Standing Orders on Disaster, and institutional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Strengthening last-mile warning communication, community preparedness, and coordinated early action.\
8) Integration of Climate and Disaster Risk Intelligence into Sectoral and Local Development Planning
Develop GIS-enabled databases, digital planning tools, and sector-specific risk information systems to support national ministries, government departments, municipalities, and local authorities in integrating climate and disaster risk considerations into development planning, public investment, and budgeting processes.
Technical assistance would focus on strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), Locally Led Adaptation (LLA), resilient infrastructure planning, and climate-informed sectoral investment strategies.
9) Review and Strengthening of Multi-Hazard Preparedness, Emergency Response, and Recovery Plans
Review existing disaster preparedness, emergency response, contingency, and recovery plans at national, regional, municipal, and sectoral levels.
Support the development and upgrading of hazard-specific and multi-hazard operational plans, institutional coordination mechanisms, emergency communication protocols, resource mobilization procedures, and risk-informed recovery strategies consistent with SINAPROC’s mandate and national disaster management priorities.
10) Strengthening National-to-Local Disaster Risk Governance and Institutional Capacities
Provide specialized technical assistance to strengthen the institutional, regulatory, organizational, and operational foundations of disaster risk governance.
This may include institutional assessments, capacity development, stakeholder coordination frameworks, interagency information-sharing protocols, technical training, knowledge transfer, and the preparation of phased, costed implementation roadmaps to improve national and local emergency management capabilities.
11) Technical Support to Climate Change, Meteorological, Hydrological, and Disaster Management Institutions
Provide targeted technical support to SINAPROC, relevant climate change institutions, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS), and other designated government agencies to strengthen climate information services, weather and climate monitoring, multi-hazard risk assessments, forecasting, early warning operations, climate resilience planning, and institutional technical capacities.
Such cooperation would be tailored to institutional requirements, existing technical infrastructure, priority hazards, and national development objectives.
Proposed Way Forward
MHEWC proposes initiating the cooperation through a joint technical consultation with SINAPROC to identify priority institutional and technological needs, review existing capacities, and determine potential areas for collaboration.
Based on SINAPROC’s priorities, we would welcome the opportunity to conduct an initial technical scoping and institutional capacity assessment, followed by preparing a practical, phased, costed technical cooperation and implementation roadmap.
Our approach emphasizes national ownership, technology transfer, institutional sustainability, interoperability, and the development of operational systems that connect hazard observation and risk intelligence with timely warnings, informed decisions, and effective anticipatory action.
We would be pleased to arrange a virtual meeting with your technical and management teams at a mutually convenient time to discuss potential collaboration and identify immediate opportunities for technical support.
We look forward to your favorable consideration and the opportunity to contribute to strengthening national disaster risk governance, multi-hazard early warning, and emergency management systems.
Yours sincerely,
Z M Sajjadul Islam
Director & Advisor
Multi-Hazard Early Warning System Development and Implementation Center (MHEWC)
Website: https://www.mhewc.org/brunei http://www.glocs.org
Email: zmsajjad@gmail.com | sajjad@mhewc.org
Phone & WhatsApp: +88 01711 979179
—————————————–
Climate risk and vulnerabilities of Panama
Riesgos climáticos y vulnerabilidades de Panamá
Climate risk and vulnerabilities of Panama
Panama is exposed to a complex climate and multi-hazard risk environment shaped by its tropical rainfall regime, Pacific and Caribbean coastlines, mountainous terrain, dense river networks, the Panama Canal watershed, rapidly urbanizing settlements, and dependence on climate-sensitive sectors such as water, agriculture, tourism, transport, energy, forests, and coastal ecosystems.
Panama is highly vulnerable to climate change and multi-hazard risks, including floods, landslides, droughts, tropical storms, hurricanes, windstorms, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal erosion, and sea-level rise. Floods and landslides are among the most destructive recurrent hazards during the rainy season, while climate change is expected to increase temperatures, extreme rainfall, dry-season stress, drought frequency, coastal inundation, and risks to water security. These hazards threaten communities, housing, roads, agriculture, tourism, public health, biodiversity, coastal settlements, and critical economic systems, including the Panama Canal watershed. Strengthening multi-hazard early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, integrated water-resource management, coastal adaptation, watershed protection, risk-informed urban planning, and disaster risk financing is essential for reducing Panama’s future climate and disaster losses.
1. Multi-hazard exposure
Panama faces both hydrometeorological and geophysical hazards. Key hazards include floods, landslides, droughts, hurricanes, tropical storms, windstorms, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, and ENSO-related climate variability. The Adaptation Fund describes Panama as highly vulnerable to climate impacts and notes its exposure to intense and prolonged rainfall, floods, droughts, wildfires, earthquakes, landslides, tropical cyclones, tsunamis, and El Niño/La Niña events. (Adaptation Fund)
Floods and landslides are particularly recurrent. GFDRR notes that during Panama’s rainy season, generally from May to November, floods and landslides are the most destructive natural disasters, affecting communities, agriculture, roads, and housing.
2. Climate change as a risk multiplier
Climate change is expected to intensify Panama’s climate-risk profile. The World Bank’s 2024 climate risk profile states that Panama is likely to experience higher minimum and maximum temperatures by midcentury, with more frequent extreme precipitation events. It also identifies risks to food security, flood safety, disease ranges, biodiversity, and living conditions. (PreventionWeb)
Future risks are spatially differentiated. Sea-level rise and coastal inundation are expected to increasingly threaten Panama’s Caribbean coast and parts of the Pacific coast, while intense floods and droughts associated with ENSO are expected to become more common. These are especially important for the Panama Canal watershed and the Arco Seco, respectively. (PreventionWeb)
3. Water security and Panama Canal vulnerability
Water security is one of Panama’s most strategic climate vulnerabilities. Drought, longer dry seasons, rainfall variability, and watershed degradation affect drinking water, agriculture, hydropower, ecosystems, and canal operations. The World Bank notes that Panama is particularly vulnerable to hydroclimatic threats such as floods, longer dry seasons, and sea-level rise, and highlights water-dependent sectors, including the Panama Canal, as exposed to climate risk. (World Bank)
The Panama Canal watershed is especially important because disruption to rainfall, reservoir storage, and water availability can have national and international economic implications. Climate-related drought can reduce operational reliability, while extreme rainfall can increase flood, landslide, sedimentation, and infrastructure risks in the wider watershed.
4. Flood, landslide, and urban vulnerability
Flooding and landslides are among Panama’s most visible and recurring climate-related hazards. Heavy rainfall, steep slopes, river overflow, poor drainage, land-use change, and settlement expansion in hazard-prone locations increase exposure. A 2024 study of Panama’s urban climate risk found that floods, landslides, and extreme winds were the main recorded impacts; from 1933 to 2019, Panama recorded 1,903 flood reports and 625 landslide reports, affecting 527,394 people and 101,738 homes, with Panama, Panama Oeste, and Chiriquí among the most affected provinces. (MDPI)
Urban areas are vulnerable where intense rainfall overlaps with informal settlements, inadequate drainage, exposed transport corridors, unstable slopes, riverbanks, and aging infrastructure. This creates cascading risks for housing, roads, bridges, schools, health facilities, markets, water systems, and emergency response access.
5. Coastal and island vulnerability
Panama’s long coastlines and many islands create high exposure to sea-level rise, storm surge, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, coastal flooding, mangrove degradation, and displacement risks. UNEP notes that Panama has almost 3,000 km of coastline and around 1,500 islands, making sea-level rise a significant threat. (UNEP – UN Environment Programme)
Coastal and island communities, including Indigenous communities in Guna Yala, face increasing risks from recurrent flooding, erosion, storms, saltwater intrusion, and eventual relocation pressures. A 2024 report cited by Newsweek, developed by Panama’s Ministry of Environment using IPCC data, estimated that 2.01% of Panama’s total land area could be at risk of coastal flooding by 2050. (Newsweek)
6. Sector-specific vulnerabilities
| Sector | Main climate and hazard risks |
|---|---|
| Water resources and Panama Canal watershed | Drought, longer dry seasons, rainfall variability, reservoir stress, flood and sedimentation risk |
| Agriculture and food security | Drought, intense rainfall, crop damage, soil erosion, pests, reduced productivity |
| Urban settlements | Flooding, poor drainage, landslides, extreme winds, heat stress, informal settlement exposure |
| Transport infrastructure | Road washouts, bridge damage, landslides, slope instability, flood disruption |
| Coastal zones and islands | Sea-level rise, storm surge, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, displacement pressure |
| Tourism | Coastal damage, beach erosion, water stress, extreme weather disruption, ecosystem degradation |
| Health | Heat stress, waterborne disease, vector-borne disease expansion, disaster-related service disruption |
| Ecosystems and biodiversity | Mangrove loss, forest degradation, wildfire, biodiversity loss, watershed degradation |
7. Social vulnerability
The most vulnerable groups include low-income urban households, informal settlers, rural communities, smallholder farmers, Indigenous peoples, coastal and island communities, women-headed households, older persons, children, people with disabilities, and communities dependent on climate-sensitive livelihoods. Vulnerability is highest where exposure to floods, landslides, drought, or coastal hazards overlaps with poor housing, limited savings, weak access to services, insecure land tenure, and limited disaster-risk insurance.
8. Priority resilience needs
Panama’s resilience agenda should prioritize multi-hazard early warning systems, flood and landslide forecasting, drought monitoring, climate-resilient water management, Panama Canal watershed protection, resilient urban drainage, slope stabilization, coastal-zone management, mangrove and watershed restoration, climate-smart agriculture, risk-informed land-use planning, resilient transport infrastructure, and disaster risk financing.
The Government of Panama launched a National Adaptation Plan project in 2023 with support from the Green Climate Fund and UNEP to strengthen adaptation governance, climate-risk knowledge, and thematic adaptation planning in water resources, agriculture and food security, infrastructure, and health. (UNEP – UN Environment Programme)
Aprobado, según Nota: DIPRENA/DOE/No.2509 del 13 de diciembre de 2013, Departamento de Organización del Estado de la Dirección de Presupuesto de la Nación, del Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas.
Misión
- Somos un organismo humanitario, encargado de ejecutar disposiciones y órdenes, tendientes a prevenir, mitigar, preparar y proteger a la población panameña sobre los efectos que la acción de la naturaleza o la antropogénica pueda provocar sobre la vida y bienes del conglomerado social.
- Le corresponde al Sinaproc la planificación, investigación, dirección, supervisión y organización de las políticas y acciones hacia la prevención de riesgos materiales y psicosociales, lo cual ejercerá las siguientes funciones:
- Recopilar y mantener un sistema de información, a través de un centro de datos moderno, cuya finalidad es obtener y ofrecer informaciones necesarias para la planificación de estrategias y medidas sobre gestión integral de riesgo y protección civil.
Visión
Promover un Plan de Modernización y Capacitación para la Prevención y Mitigación ante Emergencias, incorporando como eje un esquema trasversal en los procesos y planes de manejo integral de riesgo; con el objetivo de reducir las vulnerabilidades existentes y el impacto de los desastres en todo el territorio nacional.
Algunos documentos útiles sobre Panamá
MHEWC intends to support the SINAPROC -Panama
To,
The Director, SINAPROC, Panama
Subject: Proposal for Technical Cooperation and Partnership to Strengthen Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems, Disaster Risk Governance, and Emergency Management Capacities in Panama
Dear Sir,
Greetings from the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System Development and Implementation Center (MHEWC).
MHEWC is a specialized technical knowledge and solutions platform dedicated to strengthening climate and multi-hazard risk governance, disaster risk management, and the design and operationalization of integrated, end-to-end, people-centered early warning systems. Our technical expertise encompasses institutional capacity assessments, hydro-meteorological observation and monitoring networks, geospatial risk intelligence, ICT- and AI-enabled Decision Support Systems (DSS), impact-based forecasting, anticipatory action, and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery management.
Recognizing the critical importance of strengthening the national disaster risk management capabilities, MHEWC would welcome the opportunity to establish technical cooperation and a strategic working partnership with the SINAPROC.
In collaboration with SINAPROC’s relevant national hydro-meteorological institutions, sectoral ministries, local authorities, and other stakeholders, MHEWC is prepared to provide specialized technical assistance in the following priority areas:
1) Assessment and Modernization of Hydro-Meteorological Observation and Monitoring Networks
Conduct comprehensive technical diagnostics of existing hydro-meteorological observation stations and monitoring infrastructure, identify institutional and technological gaps, and develop a phased modernization and investment plan. This may include the technical design, installation, calibration, and integration of Automated Weather Stations (AWS), Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and real-time environmental and hazard-monitoring technologies to strengthen the detection, tracking, and forecasting of potentially hazardous conditions.
2) Strengthening Integrated Multi-Hazard Monitoring and Early Warning Capacities
Assess existing monitoring, observation, forecasting, and early warning capabilities and support SINAPROC and relevant national meteorological and hydrological services in upgrading and integrating observation networks. This includes hybrid weather and hazard-monitoring systems, interoperable sensor networks, real-time data acquisition and transmission, and automated data ingestion into operational Decision Support Systems for multi-hazard monitoring, forecasting, and warning dissemination.
3) Modernization and Operationalization of the National Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Undertake a comprehensive technical and institutional assessment of existing Emergency Operations Center facilities, operational procedures, communication systems, and information management infrastructure. Based on the findings, develop an EOC modernization roadmap and support the technical design, upgrading, and operationalization of an integrated National Emergency Operations Center and Situation Room.
The proposed EOC architecture would incorporate real-time hydro-meteorological observations, IoT-enabled monitoring networks, geospatial risk information, automated hazard tracking, impact-based forecasting, early warning dissemination, anticipatory action advisories, and coordinated emergency response management.
4) Development of ICT- and AI-Enabled Emergency Management and Decision Support Applications
Design and develop customized ICT- and AI-enabled applications to support automated hazard identification, real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, impact forecasting, emergency information management, and operational decision-making.
These solutions may include automated data processing, geospatial visualization, scenario-based impact analysis, threshold-based alert generation, emergency resource tracking, incident management, and decision-support workflows. AI-assisted outputs would be subject to appropriate technical validation and oversight by authorized national institutions.
5) Transformation of SINAPROC’s Web Portal into an Integrated Geospatial Decision Support Platform
Provide technical assistance to assess and upgrade SINAPROC’s existing web-based information systems into an integrated, geospatial, database-driven, and application-enabled Disaster Risk Information and Decision Support System (DRI-DSS).
The platform would support real-time hazard monitoring, climate and multi-hazard risk information management, institutional coordination, preparedness planning, anticipatory action, emergency response, recovery management, and evidence-based decision-making across national and subnational administrative levels.
6) Development of National Climate and Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment Frameworks and Risk Information Repositories
Develop standardized methodologies, analytical frameworks, technical tools, and operational guidelines for conducting climate and multi-hazard risk and vulnerability assessments.
Technical assistance would include the preparation of GIS-based hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and risk maps; multi-sectoral risk profiles; climate and disaster risk scenarios; and the establishment of a centralized, interoperable national risk information repository and geospatial database management system.
7) Design and Operationalization of End-to-End, People-Centered Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems
Support SINAPROC and relevant technical institutions in designing and implementing integrated, end-to-end Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), aligned with the four pillars of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative.
Priority interventions may include:
- Hazard detection, monitoring, weather nowcasting, and forecasting services.
- Impact-Based Forecasting (IBF) and Impact-Based Warning (IBW) systems.
- Forecast-Based Financing (FbF) and anticipatory action mechanisms.
- Development of hazard-specific triggers, Early Action Protocols (EAPs), and anticipatory response plans.
- Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-enabled warning generation and dissemination.
- DSS-supported emergency preparedness, contingency planning, and response management.
- Development of operational guidelines, Standing Orders on Disaster, and institutional Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Strengthening last-mile warning communication, community preparedness, and coordinated early action.\
8) Integration of Climate and Disaster Risk Intelligence into Sectoral and Local Development Planning
Develop GIS-enabled databases, digital planning tools, and sector-specific risk information systems to support national ministries, government departments, municipalities, and local authorities in integrating climate and disaster risk considerations into development planning, public investment, and budgeting processes.
Technical assistance would focus on strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), Locally Led Adaptation (LLA), resilient infrastructure planning, and climate-informed sectoral investment strategies.
9) Review and Strengthening of Multi-Hazard Preparedness, Emergency Response, and Recovery Plans
Review existing disaster preparedness, emergency response, contingency, and recovery plans at national, regional, municipal, and sectoral levels.
Support the development and upgrading of hazard-specific and multi-hazard operational plans, institutional coordination mechanisms, emergency communication protocols, resource mobilization procedures, and risk-informed recovery strategies consistent with SINAPROC’s mandate and national disaster management priorities.
10) Strengthening National-to-Local Disaster Risk Governance and Institutional Capacities
Provide specialized technical assistance to strengthen the institutional, regulatory, organizational, and operational foundations of disaster risk governance.
This may include institutional assessments, capacity development, stakeholder coordination frameworks, interagency information-sharing protocols, technical training, knowledge transfer, and the preparation of phased, costed implementation roadmaps to improve national and local emergency management capabilities.
11) Technical Support to Climate Change, Meteorological, Hydrological, and Disaster Management Institutions
Provide targeted technical support to SINAPROC, relevant climate change institutions, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS), and other designated government agencies to strengthen climate information services, weather and climate monitoring, multi-hazard risk assessments, forecasting, early warning operations, climate resilience planning, and institutional technical capacities.
Such cooperation would be tailored to institutional requirements, existing technical infrastructure, priority hazards, and national development objectives.
Proposed Way Forward
MHEWC proposes initiating the cooperation through a joint technical consultation with SINAPROC to identify priority institutional and technological needs, review existing capacities, and determine potential areas for collaboration.
Based on SINAPROC’s priorities, we would welcome the opportunity to conduct an initial technical scoping and institutional capacity assessment, followed by preparing a practical, phased, costed technical cooperation and implementation roadmap.
Our approach emphasizes national ownership, technology transfer, institutional sustainability, interoperability, and the development of operational systems that connect hazard observation and risk intelligence with timely warnings, informed decisions, and effective anticipatory action.
We would be pleased to arrange a virtual meeting with your technical and management teams at a mutually convenient time to discuss potential collaboration and identify immediate opportunities for technical support.
We look forward to your favorable consideration and the opportunity to contribute to strengthening national disaster risk governance, multi-hazard early warning, and emergency management systems.
Yours sincerely,
Z M Sajjadul Islam
Director & Advisor
Multi-Hazard Early Warning System Development and Implementation Center (MHEWC)
Website: https://www.mhewc.org/brunei http://www.glocs.org
Email: zmsajjad@gmail.com | sajjad@mhewc.org
Phone & WhatsApp: +88 01711 979179