Session on WMO technical support and assistance with resource mobilization
Over the summer, the WMO Regional Office for Africa organized two online information sessions , the first aimed to inform Members of WMO support mechanisms and how these can be accessed, the second to promote best practices for resource mobilization. The sessions, held on 15 July and 20 August, brought together the Heads of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in Africa, their international advisers, and officials from other related national institutions.
Many NMHSs must overcome capacity and resource challenge that hinder their ability to provide timely, accurate and fit-for-purpose services. To this end, WMO provides its Members with both technical support and assistance with resource mobilization. This includes the Voluntary Cooperation Programme (VCP), WMO-implemented projects , technical assistance and strategic partnerships. But many NMHSs are unaware of these opportunities or the procedures to access these.
In the first session, insightful presentations helped NMHSs to understand how to access and utilize available support mechanisms through examples of ongoing Member-to-Member support by the United Kingdom's Met office, German Weather Service (DWD), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Morocco Meteorological Agency (MeteoMaroc). The second session focused on best practices for mobilizing local resources with case studies from Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and The Gambia. These countries shared their experiences in harnessing compensation from beneficiaries, accessing alternative funding streams and increasing national budget allocations. The session demonstrated the importance of enabling legislation, cost-recovery mechanisms tand commercial activities in sustaining NMHSs.
NMHSs need to access support, strengthen collaboration and improve resource mobilization for their long-term sustainability. The best practices and experiences of other Members help NMHSs to enhance their capacity to provide accurate, timely, impact-based weather, climate and hydrological services for socioeconomic development.
The efforts of WMO to support NMHSs in Africa are crucial for enhancing disaster risk reduction, climate resilience and sustainable development. These sessions for knowledge sharing, capacity building and collaboration help NMHSs to overcome challenges and achieve long-term sustainability for a safer, more secure and prosperous world.
