What: Workshop on Closing the Basic Weather and Climate Data Gaps in Africa for Effective Adaptation and Climate Resilient Development
Who: Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) and the African Development Bank
When: 11-13 September 2024
Where: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Please contact [email protected] or Ms. Winnie Mutai ([email protected]) for more information.
The Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) and the African Development Bank, through its Climate Action Window (CAW), will jointly host a workshop from 11-13 September exploring ways to close the climate data gaps in Africa and ensure it is equipped to build a resilient and sustainable future in the face of climate change.
The event, titled Closing the Basic Weather and Climate Data Gaps in Africa for Effective Adaptation and Climate Resilient Development, will advance implementation of the Global Basic Observing Network (GBON), comprising essential weather and climate observing stations, and the mobilisation of resources to enhance Africa's weather and climate data infrastructure.
The workshop will bring together key stakeholders, including representatives from African governments, regional organisations, and international partners.
The African Development Bank's Director of Climate Change and Green Growth OIC Dr.Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, and the Coordinator of the Climate Action Window (CAW) Dr. James Kinyangi will attend. Representatives of SOFF, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) as well as representatives of WMO permanent representatives to South Sudan, Madagascar, Burkina Faso, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mauritius, Niger, and Seychelles, where the African Development Bank is expected to implement SOFF projects.
The workshop will also feature the signing of the Framework Agreement for Participation of Non-United Nations Organizations with the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund (UNMTPF). This agreement will allow the Bank to receive funds from UNMTPF and implement the SOFF projects in South Sudan and Madagascar
Africa's access to high-quality climate data remains severely limited despite the growing threats it faces from rising temperatures, sea level rise, and other extreme weather events. Inadequate and poorly distributed weather stations across the continent, combined with data quality issues, leave many regions vulnerable and underprepared.
A significant contribution of this partnership is to the UN's "Early Warnings for All" initiative, which aims to provide early warning systems to all by 2027. This initiative's improved weather forecasts and early warnings enable better planning and response to climate-related disasters, building stronger climate resilience across the continent.
The Bank's Climate Action Window (CAW), specifically the Adaptation Sub-Window, which comprises 75% (US$321.75 million) of the US$429.75 million portfolio, aligns with SOFF's core mandate. It allocates resources to promote climate change adaptation and build resilience against climate impacts.
