Drawing a regional picture of hydromet and early warning services in Africa
Organizer: World Bank, ECCAS, ECOWAS, IGAD, SADC
| With more extreme and more frequently occurring weather and climate events in Africa, the Regional Economic Communities in Africa – Economic Com-munity of Central African States (ECCAS), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Southern African Development Com-munity (SADC) – have called for modernizing weather, water and climate services to build resilience in communities and economies and provide effective early warning in their regions. The session will draw a picture on the status of weather, water, climate and early warning services in Africa and highlight different initiatives, policies and programs of ECCAS, ECOWAS, IGAD and SADC for strengthening them as critical enablers for effective early warning and early action. The activities presented in this session were supported among others by the Building Disaster Resilience to Natural Hazards in Sub-Saharan African Regions, Countries, and Communities Program and include the following: – Taking stock of weather, water, climate and early warning services in Western, Central and Southern Africa- Draw a picture of the regional issues and collaboration, notably with regard to data exchange- Present regional initiatives, notably on severe weather forecasting in Southern Africa, regional drought forecasting in Eastern Africa as well as water resources management in the Central Africa’s Congo River Basin- Share policy guidance and share experience from the formulation of ECOWAS’ regional flood management policy frameworks and the ECOWAS Hydromet Initiative- Demonstrate relevant early actions taken linking drought forecasting to climate smart agriculture and local action in the Horn of Africa. |
Speakers:
Johnson Boanuh, Director Environment and Natural Resources (ECOWAS)
Desire Ndemazagoa, Director Water Resources (ECCAS)
Keflemariam Sebhatu, DRM Program Coordinator
Prithiviraj (Raj) Booneeady, Coordinator – SADC Climate Services Centre
Marieke De Groen, Director AquaLinks