The Alliance for Hydromet Development has concluded its 2026 Annual Meeting in Lagos, Nigeria, with a renewed commitment to coordinated investments, stronger national institutions and sustainable services that support economic development and climate resilience.
Held under the theme "Partnerships, Innovation and Sustainable Investment in Weather, Water and Climate Services", t he meeting brought together governments, development and climate-finance institutions, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), international and regional organizations, the private sector and other partners.
Discussions focused on strengthening the Alliance's role in coordinating investments, advancing public-private engagement and helping countries build the institutional and financial foundations needed to deliver reliable weather, water and climate services over the long term.
Nigeria showcases national leadership and public-private partnerships
Hosted by the Government of Nigeria through the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), under the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, the meeting took place from 13 to 15 October, marking the first time the Alliance's Annual Meeting was hosted in Africa.
"Sustained investment in weather, water and climate services is necessary to protect lives, safeguard investments and support informed decision-making," Nigeria's Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Olorogun Festus Keyamo, told the opening session.
He highlighted their contribution to aviation safety, agriculture, disaster risk reduction and economic development, and reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening NiMet through institutional reforms, digital transformation and its Strategic Plan 2026-2030.
The Minister also called for stronger partnerships with development institutions, financial organizations and the private sector to mobilize the investment, technology and expertise needed to meet growing demand for weather and climate services.
Professor Charles Anosike, NiMet Director-General and Chief Executive Officer and Nigeria's Permanent Representative with WMO, reinforced the importance of combining public investment with private-sector financing, innovation and expertise.
NiMet's experience provided a practical demonstration of how an NMHS can strengthen its institutional position and develop partnerships across aviation, agriculture, insurance, maritime activities and other economic sectors. Through specialized services and user-focused products, NiMet is translating authoritative weather and climate information into operational decisions that reduce risks and improve productivity.
Professor Anosike also highlighted Africa's persistent observation gaps, noting that the continent accounts for approximately 30% of the global deficit in basic weather and climate observations.
"Modernizing weather and climate observation infrastructure requires significant capital investment because public budgets alone cannot cover the high costs of building, upgrading, and maintaining global and regional monitoring networks," he said.
The meeting underscored that public-private engagement extends beyond mobilizing capital. Partnerships can also provide access to technology, specialist expertise, digital platforms and new approaches to service delivery, while safeguarding the authoritative role and public responsibilities of NMHSs.
Building on Alliance achievements
WMO President Dr Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous highlighted the Alliance's achievements since its launch in 2019.
He pointed to the development of Country Hydromet Diagnostics and Hydromet Gap Reports, which have strengthened the evidence base for identifying national capacity gaps and guiding coordinated investment decisions.
Nigeria's contribution illustrates the value of this approach. Having helped pilot the Country Hydromet Diagnostic methodology, the country has progressed from receiving technical support to sharing its expertise with other countries, including serving as a peer reviewer for Burkina Faso, Liberia and Somalia.
The Alliance has also helped translate identified needs into financing solutions, notably through the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF). Established in 2021 through Alliance collaboration and co-founded by WMO, UNDP and UNEP, SOFF provides long-term financial and technical support to strengthen basic weather and climate observations.
Looking towards 2030, the WMO President called for greater investment in NMHSs, stronger legislation and institutional governance, expanded partnerships with critical economic sectors and deeper regional cooperation.
He emphasized the need to turn assessments into investments, investments into lasting capacity, and early warnings into early action that saves lives and livelihoods.
From Lagos to implementation
The Lagos meeting set the direction for a more action-oriented phase of the Alliance, focused on translating partnerships and shared priorities into concrete investments and stronger national services.
Discussions identified three interconnected priorities for 2027-2028:
- Mobilize and coordinate investment: Turn Country Hydromet Diagnostics into investment-ready project pipelines, align development partners and financing institutions around country priorities through the WMO-led Partner Coordination Mechanism, and improve NMHSs access to climate and development finance.
- Strengthen national institutions and sustainability: Support stronger NMHS governance, predictable domestic financing and sustainable business models that ensure long-term operational capacity.
- Advance public-private engagement and innovation: Build on country experiences, including NiMet's partnerships, to harness private-sector expertise, technology and new approaches to delivering services that meet user needs.
Beyond coordinating development support, the Alliance aims to become a stronger collective advocate for NMHSs, raising their visibility with governments, Ministries of Finance and Planning, development banks, climate funds and the private sector, and making the case for their recognition as critical national infrastructure deserving sustained investment.
