Burkina Faso marked the 76th World Meteorological Day with a series of high-level events highlighting the country's growing capacity to anticipate and respond to climate-related risks, and the increasing integration of meteorological services into national development and resilience planning.
The official ceremony, held on 23 March and chaired by the Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Mobility, Mr Emile Zerbo, brought together government authorities, technical and financial partners, and members of the scientific community. Celebrated annually, World Meteorological Day commemorates the entry into force of the Convention of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and serves as a platform to highlight the essential role of meteorology in protecting lives and supporting sustainable development.
Under the 2026 theme, "Observing today, protecting tomorrow," the event underscored the importance of strengthening observation systems as the foundation for effective early warning and climate services.
In his address, the Minister emphasized the increasing exposure of Burkina Faso to climate variability and extreme events, stressing that the quality of decision-making depends on the country's ability to observe, understand, and anticipate risks. He highlighted the progress made in recent years to modernize national observation networks, noting that Burkina Faso now operates an extensive system of automatic and conventional stations, as well as lightning detection infrastructure across the country.
The Director-General of the Agence Nationale de la Météorologie (ANAM), Dr Mariam Tidiga, reaffirmed the importance of partnerships in sustaining these achievements. She emphasized the need to further strengthen collaboration, including with the private sector, to ensure that meteorological information effectively supports decision-making for the protection of populations, infrastructure, and natural resources.
Meteorology at the core of resilient infrastructure
As part of the commemoration, ANAM organized a high-level panel on the role of meteorology in infrastructure planning and resilience. The session brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including engineers, urban planners, architects, academic institutions, students, and representatives from the construction sector.
The panel provided a platform for dialogue between scientific, technical, and operational communities, highlighting the need to bridge gaps between data producers and end-users. Discussions emphasized that infrastructure resilience depends not only on engineering standards but also on the systematic integration of climate and meteorological information throughout the planning, design, and implementation phases.
Participants identified several priority areas for action, including:
- Strengthening the integration of meteorological data into public policies and infrastructure projects
- Improving urban planning and architectural design by incorporating climate risks
- Enhancing collaboration between meteorological services, professional bodies, and training institutions
- Promoting awareness and capacity development among stakeholders in the infrastructure sector
These recommendations reflect a growing recognition that meteorology is not only a scientific discipline but also a strategic tool for governance and sustainable development.
From investment to impact: strengthening early warning systems
Building on this momentum, a high-level national workshop was held on 24 March 2026 by WMO and ANAM, with support from the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative , to showcase the results of technical assistance provided under the HYDROMET project .
Implemented between 2020 and 2025 with financing from the World Bank and the Green Climate Fund , the HYDROMET project has significantly strengthened Burkina Faso's hydrometeorological services. WMO's technical assistance , valued at over US$ 5 million, focused on enhancing observation infrastructure, modernizing forecasting systems, and strengthening institutional and human capacities.
The workshop marked a critical transition from project implementation to operational use and national ownership of the systems developed.
Key achievements presented during the workshop included:
- A national flood early warning system (SAPCI): Integrating real-time data, forecasting models, and alert procedures into a unified platform covering both riverine flooding at national level and pluvial flooding in urban areas such as Ouagadougou
- Modernized observation networks: Enabling real-time monitoring of hydrological and meteorological conditions through expanded and upgraded station networks
- Enhanced forecasting capacity: Through the deployment of high-performance computing systems, modern forecasting workstations, and the CLIDATA platform for data management
- Improved observation and communication tools: Including the installation of a radiosonde station and the establishment of a modern media studio to support the production and dissemination of weather information
- Operational crisis management systems: Including a real-time monitoring room within the Directorate General of Water Resources (DGRE) (Direction Générale des Ressources en Eau)
- Strengthened institutional coordination: Involving the Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGPC) (Direction Générale de la Protection Civile) and the National Council for Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation (CONASUR) (Conseil National de Secours d'Urgence et de Réhabilitation)
- Capacity development: Through targeted training programmes, regional exchanges, and study visits aimed at building a critical mass of skilled professionals
Together, these achievements demonstrate how targeted investments can translate into operational improvements that directly support early warning and risk management.
Ensuring sustainability and scaling impact
Across the different events, participants emphasized that sustaining these gains will require continued investment, strong institutional coordination, and national ownership.
Key priorities identified include strengthening maintenance systems, allocating dedicated budgets, formalizing standard operating procedures, and expanding early warning systems to additional regions and hazards.
These efforts are aligned with global initiatives such as Early Warnings for All (EW4All), which aims to ensure that all populations are protected by effective early warning systems.
A national shift toward integrated resilience
The series of events highlighted a significant shift in Burkina Faso's approach to climate risk management from fragmented and sectoral systems toward an integrated, impact-based early warning framework that connects observation, forecasting, communication, and response.
By linking political commitment, cross-sector dialogue, and operational system development, Burkina Faso is strengthening its capacity to anticipate and respond to climate hazards while laying the foundation for more resilient infrastructure and communities.
Looking ahead
Burkina Faso's experience illustrates how coordinated investments in infrastructure, systems, and capacity development can generate tangible improvements in early warning services and disaster risk reduction.
It also provides a practical example for other countries seeking to strengthen resilience in the face of increasing climate variability and extreme events, demonstrating the value of combining technical innovation, institutional collaboration, and sustained political commitment.
