The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International Water Management Institute ( IWMI ) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration on climate-resilient water management, disaster risk reduction, and early warning systems.
The MoU establishes a framework for long-term cooperation, combining WMO's global leadership in weather, climate and hydrological services with IWMI's applied water management research and field expertise.
Key areas of collaboration include:
- integrating climate and water data for early warning and anticipatory action,
- advancing the use of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence,
- embedding socio-economic research into weather and climate services.
"With increasing extreme weather, water and climate-related events worldwide, the collaboration with IWMI is important to help countries be more prepared, especially through advancing the Early Warnings for All initiative. This MoU will promote strategic partnership and collaboration on emerging technologies and tools and services," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.
"Through this MoU, IWMI will work closely with WMO to strengthen preparedness for floods, droughts and water scarcity by leveraging early warning systems, innovative technologies, tools and applied research," stated Mark Smith, Director General of IWMI.
Through joint activities, WMO and IWMI aim to support National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), water resources agencies, agriculture and irrigation authorities to improve drought and flood preparedness, and promote climate-resilient water governance, particularly in Asia and Africa.
The partnership will also foster capacity building, knowledge exchange, and the development of joint projects aligned with global initiatives and frameworks such as the Early Warning for All, the Associated Programme on Flood Management, the Integrated Drought Management Programme and HydroSOS.
Going forward, WMO and IWMI will develop an implementation plan at the national, regional and local levels ensuring concrete, tailored and sustainable tools and systems to optmize decision-making.
