Event Summary
Speakers
- Makoto Suwa, Senior DRM Specialist, World Bank
- Modeste Kacou, Chercheur, Laboratoire de Physique de l’Atmosphère et de Mécanique des Fluides à l’Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny
- Andreas Valgreen, Ignitia
- Alix Roumagnac, General Director, Predict
- Kouakou Bernard Dje, Chief of Climatology Apply Meteorology Department, SODEXAM
- Vojislav Mitrovic, PhD, Princeton Climate Analytics
- Moderator: Alexander Mirescu, Urban resilience and disaster risk reduction specialist, RESILIENT/CITY
Description
Thursday November 21, 14:00 – 15:30, Room 3
Investments in hydromet and early warning services in Africa have significantly increased in the last ten years. However, many countries are still struggling to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for more sophisticated services to protect lives and assets as well as to support economic activities in weather-sensitive sectors. For the same decade, advances in technology and innovation have widened the scope of products and services that can be used to improve weather data, warning systems, and hydromet information. Private-sector actors are playing a growingly important role and along with the academic community are helping to push the frontiers of knowledge, investing in innovative solutions that deliver more reliable forecasting and more efficient and diverse services.
In this session we will (i) discuss emerging new thinking, technologies, innovation, business models as well as opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and delivery of services embracing new types of partnerships, and (ii) address key bottlenecks in strengthening public, private and academic partnerships
Speaker bios
Makoto Suwa is a Senior DRM Specialist at the World Bank. Specializing in hydromet, he leads and supports a wide range of World Bank activities and projects that aim to strengthen weather, climate, and hydrological services as well as early warning systems. Prior to joining the World bank, Makoto worked for the World Meteorological Organization, at both its headquarters in Geneva and its Regional Office for Eastern and Southern Africa in Nairobi. He also taught at Kigali Institute of Science and Technology and Lycée de Kigali in Rwanda. Makoto holds a PhD in climate science from Princeton University
Modeste Kacou est chercheur au Laboratoire de Physique de l’Atmosphère et de Mécanique des Fluides à l’Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, il est le coordonnateur Afrique du projet Rain Cell / Smart. Modeste est spécialiste de la mesure de la pluie par télédétection (radar, satellite) et aussi à partir du réseau de téléphonie mobile. Il est détenteur d’un Doctorat en Analyse des précipitations en zone sahélienne à partir d’un radar bande X polarimétrique des Universités de Toulouse et Félix Houphouêt-Boigny.
Alix Roumagnac president of Predict Services since 2006, he was initialy engineer Hydrologist. He has been at the initiative of Predict since 2003. Previously he was Director of Hydraulic Installations at BRL Ingénierie with a strong international experience. He intervenes as an expert on Flood and early warning system with major national and international organizations (World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, UN, European Commission …)
Andreas Vallgren is a co-founder of Ignitia who helped develop Ignitia’s regional forecasting system. As Chief Science Officer, he directs and oversees the company’s R&D efforts as well as the operational meteorology. Andreas holds a PhD in large-scale atmospheric turbulence from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and 2 MSc degrees; one in Space Engineering and one in Meteorology, as well as a graduate degree in Space Studies from the International Space University.
Kouakou Bernard Dje holds a PhD degree in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science from the State University of New York, Albany, NY. An MSc degree in Applied Meteorology from the University of Reading, Reading, UK. Currently the Director-General of the Ghana Meteorological Agency and PR of Ghana with WMO
Vojislav Mitrovic is a senior executive of Princeton Climate Analytics who tailored its innovative solutions to the local needs across the globe. As Global Business Director, he directs and oversees the company’s project portfolio as well as its business development effort. After captaining many teams in the water polo world and a decade on the Serbian National team, Vojislav is utilizing his degree in Political Economy and Diplomacy from Princeton University to engage water stakeholders globally.
Alexander Mirescu, Urban resilience and disaster risk reduction specialist, RESILIENT/CITY