A three-day workshop co-hosted by the African Development Bank and the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) concluded on September 13, focusing on infrastructure gaps in Basic Weather Observation Networks and enhancing climate resilience across Africa.
Held at the Azalai Hotel in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, the event attracted over 100 participants from climate funds, UN entities, and government institutions. Discussions centered on partnerships between the African Development Bank's Climate Action Window and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to advance climate adaptation and universal implementation of the "Early Warning Initiative," by 2027.
The workshop included sessions on the Climate Action Window (CAW), particularly the Adaptation Sub-Window, which comprises 75% ($321.75 million) of the $429.75 million CAW portfolio. This aligns closely with SOFF's mandate to promote climate change adaptation. Presentations detailed various CAW-supported projects and their integration with SOFF initiatives.
As Africa faces severe climate impacts like rising temperatures and prolonged droughts, the need for reliable climate data has become critical. Many regions struggle with limited data availability, hampering effective climate action.
The Coordinator of the ClimDev Special Fund and Climate Action Window James Kinyangi, representing Dr. Anthony Nyong, African Development Bank's Director of Climate and Green Growth at the African Development Bank, emphasised the urgent need for data-driven adaptation strategies. "Africa is facing a pressing climate crisis. We must urgently invest in climate information systems and accelerate the Early Warnings for All initiative," Kinyangi said, reaffirming the Bank's commitment to double climate finance to $25 billion by 2025.
Markus Repnik, Director of the SOFF Secretariat, remarked, "Weather and climate data are foundational for climate action. Better data leads to better decisions, and we are pleased to partner with the African Development Bank for scaled-up action."
Carol Flore-Smereczniak, UNDP's resident representative in Côte d'Ivoire, noted, "This workshop offers a unique opportunity to discuss early warning systems for climate-related disasters and response mechanisms amid increasing extreme weather events."
Daouda Konate, the First Vice-President of the WMO, stated, "Investing in data is essential for driving action against climate change." Participants discussed progress in closing weather data gaps and co-financing additional investments to enhance weather and early warning services.
Participants engaged in technical sessions and discussions to foster coordination, identify challenges, and explore opportunities for enhancing weather and climate data collection and Early Warning Systems (EWS), especially in countries with the most severe shortfalls.
"Data is a public good; linking it to climate projects is crucial for building resilient communities," said Andreia Fausto of WFP Somalia.
"This meeting offered a broader perspective on collaboration and understanding the regional context," said Giora Gershtein of Austria's Meteorological Service. "These three days have provided us with a vision for the future."
The workshop concluded with actionable insights to scale up EWS and strengthen Africa's climate resilience capacity, aiming for enhanced EWS across the continent by 2027.
