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Michael S Nkalubo Commissioner Meteorology Ministry of Water and Environment

CBA 7 Conference Dhaka – Bangladesh

Uganda Meteorology Department simplifies her products to improve early warning messages for better planning and decision making

Translation of the Weather Forecast into local languages initiative in Uganda

Presentation Outline

Role of Department of Meteorology Meteorological products Instruments and observation network Why the new initiative Impact at community level Impact at National level Challenges Way forward

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Roles of the Department of Meteorology

Mandate: Meteorology Department is the government institution mandated to carry out the tasks of establishing and maintaining weather and climate observing stations network, collection, analysis and production of weather and climate information, to support social and economic development of the country

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Meteorology Department PRODUCTS

1.Products on past climate Historical climate data Observed climate change signals Climate variability trends and Any other statistics, etc

2.Monitor or Observe Current State of Climate Real time data Information on evolution of ENSO events State of Sea Surface temperature Surface and upper air anomalies of pressure, winds

and other climate parameters. 4

Meteorology Department PRODUCTS cont’d

3. Prediction products Civil Aviation Specialised Products General Daily Weather Forecasts Seasonal Climate Outlooks & their updates Climate change Projections up to 50 years for

different parts of the country Monthly Climate forecast for Karamoja

(NEW PRODUCT)

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Weather Stations in

Uganda

Synoptic stationsHydromet stationsAgromet stations

Why the new initiative?

Research evidence by ACCRA in collaboration with government found that : The majority rural end users lack access Those who get, it comes late Complicated Meteorology terminologies i.e. above normal/ below normal rainfall Un coordination and misinterpretation of weather forecast Lack of trust of modern information Traditional weather forecast more trusted Development planning at all levels does not take into account of climate changes

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What about the initiative?

The overall long term Goal is to: increase the usage of weather and climate information in decisions making processes by end users.

National expert workshops to downscale and interpret the weather forecast

and develop advisory messages for all sectors

Translation into local languages Dissemination through local FM radios,

meetings, mobile phones and news papers Piloting in three Districts with plans of

scaling

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Funding from ACCRA and her Consortium members

National experts discussing the MAM 2013 weather forecast

Impact at Community level:Feedback from rural

communities

• Understandable language: Rural communities and district staff appreciated the weather forecast in their local language for the first time

• Timely and Useful: Communities mentioned to have received the information timely and that it was useful for the first time

• Better preparedness and informed decisions: i.e. communities testify to have used the information to prepare a head of heavy rains – opening up water drainages, planting short maturing crops

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Meteorology Staff conduct community assessment in otuke and Kitgum Districts

Impact at National and Institutional level:

• Improved coordination among experts at national level: for the first time, Meteorology experts invites other ministries media, research and academia experts to discuss the weather forecast and its implications

• Usable and harmonized formats of the weather forecast: Different experts jointly interpret the weather forecast information and develop advisories per sector which are than translated in local languages and disseminated.

• Reduced misinterpretation of the weather forecast as experience before • Improved image and relations of meteorology services: In the recent past,

people did not trust Meteorology services, However, this initiative has opened windows for meteorology to interact with different stakeholders both at national and local.

Inviting meteorology staff for live radio talks on weather forecast and climate change at their local FM stations

Some Local private FM radio stations have offered free airtime to air the forecast 10

Challenges still exist

• Increasing spacial variability due to climate change requires expansion of stations

• The pilot project does not cover the whole country• Low Staffing level yet the equipment used is still

conventional and the services are not decentralised

• How the lessons can inform long term national level planning and decision making

• Inadequate feedback mechanisms from end users to the department

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Way forward

fundraising to scale up the initiative Working with other development

partners like ACCRA to support forward looking planning utilising weather and climate information

Using radio as a principle method of disseminating in local languages

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Way forward

• Need to promote radio listenship groups to improve dissemination• Train journalists in the districts including at

community radios• Synergise with Key stakeholders including

CSOs and private sector • Strengthen climate modeling for medium

to long term climate scenarios to inform forward looking decision making 13

• Thank You

• For

• Your Kind Attention

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