Central Africa's vulnerability to extreme weather and climate change impacts is so great that the only way to meet the challenge is through greater coordination, better forecasts and early warnings, and political engagement.
This was one of the key messages from the Central Africa workshop on strengthening coordination between NMHS, National Disaster Risk Management Authorities, and regional entities supporting the production and dissemination of early warnings.
The workshop, co-organized by WMO, UNDRR and ECCAS, took place in Ndjamena, Chad, on 10-12 February, and sought to strengthen collaboration and operational procedures between early warning stakeholders in all Central African nations.
"We cannot afford not to work together," " WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo told the workshop, stressing the need to avoid overlapping and competing efforts and to seize the "opportunities of science."
At global level, 40 percent of countries do not have multi-hazard early warning systems - many of them are least developed countries and in Africa. The international Early Warnings for All initiative seeks to extend universal coverage by the end of 2027.
"I call on all of us to make sure we advocate at the national and political level to advocate for Early Warnings For All. This is a unique opportunity we have ahead. Early warnings save lives. This is a reality. It's not an abstract concept. It's our collective responsibility," she said.
A number of countries in the region - including recently Chad and the Democratic Republic of Congo - have agreed on Early Warnings for All national roadmaps to strengthen coordination, synergize investments, and ensure that warnings reach the last mile.
"We can provide the best forecast possible but if you don't take action on that forecast, it is useless," said Celeste Saulo.
Patallet Bianpambé, head of Chad's national meteorological service, highlighted the challenges that central African nations face.
An increase in hydro-meteorological hazards such as floods and droughts in recent years have hit Chad's agricultural production, a key sector that employs more than 80% of the workforce and accounts for 21% of the Gross Domestic Product.
This has cascading impacts on health, on food and water security, on transport and energy, on economic development and national well-being.
Alongside the challenges, there are opportunities. There are African-led solutions which combine modern technology and rich indigenous knowledge. Africa is making progress in strengthening climate services and adaptation strategies, the workshop heard.
WMO has made great progress in strengthening of regional collaboration mechanisms, including for
- seasonal and sub-seasonal climate predictions,
- severe weather forecasting (including nowcasting),
- sand and dust storm forecasting,
- riverine flood forecasting and flash flood forecasting.
These regional centers provide advisories which are then used by NMHSs to issue warnings and protect lives and livelihoods.
WMO has supported African NMHSs to access and optimize use of multilateral funding. One recent example in West Africa is Burkina Faso, where WMO implemented a US $ 5.2 million component of a US $ 33 million Green Climate Fund (GCF) early warning modernization project.
Another example is Chad, where WMO and the World Bank co-implemented a project funded by the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems Initiative (CREWS) to strengthen capacity to deliver climate, hydrometeorological and early warning services .
The WMO co-sponsored Systematic Observations Financing Facility is actively working to close the gaps in observation and data exchange in a number of African countries.
There is rapidly increasing demand for fit-for-purpose weather, climate and hydrological services for all climate-sensitive sectors. However, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, face major constraints and need greater investment and empowerment.
