World Meteorological OrganizationREGIONAL ASSOCIATION I (AFRICA)Seventeenth SessionCairo, 21 to 23 February 2019

RA I-17/INF. 3.2.1(1)Submitted by:

Secretary-General718.II.2019

[All amendments have been made by the Secretariat]

RA I STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND EMERGING ISSUESIN WEATHER, CLIMATE AND WATER

REGIONAL APPROACH FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CLIMATE SERVICES INFORMATION SYSTEM (CSIS)

1. Significant progress has been achieved in the implementation of the Climate Services Information System (CSIS) at global and regional scale under the auspices of the Implementation Coordination Team for CSIS (ICT-CSIS) of the Commission for Climatology (CCl). Two important events were conducted, Developers Meeting on the GFCS-Relevant Climate Data, Products, and Tools (December, 2016, Geneva, Switzerland) and WMO International Workshop on Climate Services Information System Operations and Coordination (March 2017, Nanjing, China), with important outcomes. A tangible action plan was developed for climate service delivery through CSIS operations, with a special focus on CSIS implementation at the national level. And a prototype of the Climate Services Toolkit (CST) – a suite of guidance, data, software tools and training resources – was developed as an enabling component for CSIS implementation at regional and national level.

2. Acknowledging the CSIS progress, the Executive Council requested through Decision 15 (EC-69), inter alia:

the presidents of CCl and CBS, in consultation with presidents of other technical commissions, to provide guidance to the regional associations on how to implement the CSIS within their regions, building on lessons learned from all Regions;

the regional associations to promote the implementation of the CSIS at regional level, and to provide guidance to NMHSs in optimally utilizing global and regional CSIS products to strengthen climate services at the national scale.

3. On the occasion of the completion of two decades of Regional Climate Outlook Forum (RCOF) operations worldwide, WMO organized an International Workshop on Global Review of Regional Climate Outlook Forums (5-7 September 2017, Guayaquil, Ecuador). Its overarching outcomes were the recommendations to work towards the next generation RCOF process, including mainstreaming operationalization of objective seasonal climate forecasting systems underpinning RCOF products based on standardized operational practices identified during the workshop, expanding the product portfolio, integration of seasonal outlooks in decision-making processes at country level, improved partnership, and user engagement in RCOF processes.

4. There have been major achievements during the last several years of the operation of WMO RCCs/RCC-Networks, and their critical role in the implementation of the CSIS on regional scale has been widely recognized. Since the formal RCC criteria and functions, both mandatory and highly recommended, were established nearly a decade ago, it was necessary to review the status of operation, methodologies, products/services, and institutional arrangements of all existing RCCs/RCC-networks. For this purpose, a WMO International Workshop on Global Review of RCC Operations was organized from 12 - 14 November 2018, in

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Pune, India. The review identified major gaps and requirements, and proposed ways for streamlined future operations and sustainable development of RCCs to promote sustained uptake of their services and products by NMHSs.

5. Through Decision 9 (EC-70) on Promoting the Use and Interpretation of Climate Change Projections on Regional and National Scales, the Executive Council has encouraged regional collaboration, including through adapting the RCOF format, as a means of disseminating expert consensus and facilitating discussion among sub-regional groupings of Members sharing common climate characteristics, on consistent approaches in interpreting and using regional climate change projections.

CSIS Regional Approach

6. The first three objectives of the country-focused results-based framework for WMO contributions to the GFCS, approved in Decision 16 (EC-68), focus on country-level implementation, supported with guidance materials and capacity development assistance as well as by an institutional architecture comprising regional and global centres. The combination of these ingredients is intended to be sufficient in principle to enable any WMO Member to complete the full climate services value chain to address high-priority national-level needs and requirements, as exemplified the CSIS Regional Approach depicted in the schematic below:

7. An extraordinary meeting of the presidents of Regional Associations and presidents of Technical Commissions (PRA-PTC) was held on 19 June 2018 at Geneva (http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/wcp/meetings/wmo-gfcs2018.html). This meeting considered the CSIS regional approach with RCCs playing a central role as an integral part and enabling factor of strengthening the global-regional-national operations of the CSIS. A draft summary report is provided as ANNEX to this INF.

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Seventeenth session of the Commission for Climatology

8. The Commission for Climatology (CCl) held its seventeenth session (CCl-17) at Geneva on 10 and 13 April 2018 and re-elected Ms Barbara Tapia of Chile as its Vice-President.

9. A new working structure was adopted by CCl-17, which will address effective implementation of CSIS across the whole value chain at global, regional and national levels. It comprises four Focus Areas, namely (1) Climate Monitoring, Data and Assessment, (2) Climate Services Information System (CSIS) Operations, (3) Climate Services for Societal Benefits and (4) Capacity Development for Climate Services, and an Implementation Coordination Team for Climate Services Information System (ICT-CSIS).

Regional Climate Centre implementation

10. Regional Association I since its Sixteenth Session has been progressing towards the implementation of Regional Climate Centres (RCCs) and RCC Network across the region in compliance with its Resolution 7 (RA I-16) Implementation of Regional Climate Centres and Networks in Region I (Africa).

RCC Africa

11. RCC Africa, hosted by the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD), successfully completed its demonstration phase, and was officially designated as a multifunctional WMO RCC under the recommendation of the Commission for Basic Systems (CBS) during the Seventeenth Session of the World Meteorological Congress, in May 2015. Since then, RCC Africa has provided on a regular basis products and services at the pan-African scale through the website http://acmad.net/rcc/, and has coordinated RCC implementation for sub-regional domains. These include the Climate Outlook Forum for Central Africa (PRESAC), Climate Outlook Forum for the Gulf of Guinea Countries (PRESAGG), Climate Outlook Forum for the Southwest Indian Ocean Countries (SWIOCOF), and Climate Outlook Forum for Sudano-Sahelian Africa (PRESASS).

IGAD RCC

12. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) in Eastern Africa, after completing its demonstration phase, was designated during WMO EC-69 (2017) as a multifunctional RCC, providing a set of mandatory products and services to the countries of the IGAD region (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Eritrea and South Sudan, and Tanzania) through the website http://rcc.icpac.net/. A major contribution of ICPAC is coordination and sustained implementation of the Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOFs) for Greater Horn of Africa (GHACOF). ICPAC also coordinates and implements a number of regional climate projects.

Northern Africa RCC Network

13. Five Northern African countries jointly implement Northern Africa RCC-Network (NA RCC-Network), under overall coordination by Morocco, with the mandatory functions distributed among these NMHSs as follows:

Casablanca Node on Long-Range Forecasting led by Direction de la Météorologie Nationale (DMN), Morocco;

Tunis Node on Climate Monitoring led by Institut National de la Météorologie (INM), Tunisia;

Algiers Node on Data Services led by National Meteorological Office (ONM), Algeria; and

Cairo and Tripoli Node on Training led jointly by Egyptian Meteorological Authority (EMA), Egypt and National Meteorological Centre (NMC), Libya.

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14. The NA RCC-Network, designated at the WMO EC-69 (2017), provides all mandatory functions through the website: http://rccnara1.marocmeteo.ma, according to an Implementation Plan jointly developed by the contributing countries. NA RCC-Network coordinates the implementation of the RCOF for Northern African region (PRESANORD), in cooperation with RCC Africa, as well as closely involved in the cross-regional Mediterranean and Arab Climate Outlook Forums.

Potential additional RCCs

15. Consultations are underway with AGRHYMET to implement RCC Economic Community of West African States (RCC ECOWAS) covering Western Africa. For Southern Africa efforts are ongoing to extend the mandate and product suite of Southern African Development Community Climate Services Centre (SADC CSC) to implement the RCC SADC. A roadmap towards an RCC Economic Community of the Central African States (RCC ECCAS) for Central Africa has been outlined and is under consideration.

ENHANCING DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF CLIMATE SERVICES FOR ADAPTATION AND POLICY SUPPORT (GFCS IMPLEMENTATION)

National Frameworks for Climate Services.

1655. From the initial four countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Senegal), the development of National Frameworks for Climate Services (NFCS) has expanded to additional countries taking advantage of the publication of the Step-by-step Guidelines for Establishing a National Framework for Climate Services, now available in all WMO languages (details at http://gfcs.wmo.int/step-by-step-guidelines-nfcs). The Guidelines provides material including templates countries can use in developing their NFCS. The status of NFCS implementation can be accessible at http://www.wmo.int/gfcs/NFCS_status. In developing their NFCS, countries have developed strategic and action plans for the NFCS that can be found at http://gfcs-climate.org/national-action-plans.

1756. The implementation of the NFCS is gaining impetus and is facilitating the coordination of the identification and implementation of priorities in the climate services value chain with the involvement of key stakeholders. The Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) is partnering with the GFCS to support its member states in establishing their NFCS. Through funding made available by ECOWAS, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Togo have conducted their national consultation and are formulating their strategic and costed action plans for the NFCS. Benin, Cape Verde, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone are being supported to establish their NFCS.

Projects

1857. The European Commission, under European Development Fund (EDF) 11 has approved a EURO 85 million grant for an Intra Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Climate Services and Related Application Programme. The specific objective of the programme is to strengthen the climate services value chain through building the capacities of decision-makers at all levels to make effective use of climate information and services. The programme beneficiaries in Africa are African Union Commission – AUC; Economic Commission of West African Countries – ECOWAS; Economic Commission of Central African States – ECCAS; Southern Africa Development Community – SADC; Indian Ocean Commission – IOC and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development – IGAD) and supporting partner organizations that include the ACP Secretariat; Joint Research Centre – JRC; and WMO. Implementation is scheduled to initiate in the second half of 2019 pending signature of the Grant Agreements between the European Commission with the beneficiary entities and partner organizations. The Programme consists of five outputs that relate to the value chain for the production and application of climate services. These include: Output 1: Establishment of User interface Platforms supported by National and Regional Frameworks for Climate Services; Output 2: Strengthening of the Climate Services Information System at regional and national levels; Output 3: Strengthening observations and monitoring systems, as well as research, modelling

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and prediction; Output 4: Capacity development to generate and apply climate information and products; Output 5: bridging the gap between science and policy to enhance climate-informed decision-making.

1958. The European Commission under Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020, and specifically under the Challenge "Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency & Raw Materials", included a specific action “LC-CLA-05-2019: Human Dynamics of Climate Change (Research and Innovation Action)”, which contains an Action on Climate Services for Africa. The Action includes a budget of a maximum Euro 23 Million for projects to be implemented over a three year period. Applications were open from 14 November 2018 until the deadline of 19 February 2019. The Action should exploit new, relevant climate data made available by Copernicus and other relevant sources (such as GEOSS) and create dedicated climate services for Africa for at least two of the following sectors: water, energy, land use, health and infrastructure. Actions should develop and deliver tools/applications which demonstrate clear end-user engagement, consultation and participation, and which enhance planning and implementation of climate adaptation strategies in Africa. Actions should consider activities addressed by initiatives such as the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), Copernicus, and development cooperation activities, and provide added value. In view of the Action Climate Services for Africa, the GFCS Office has been promoting the information on the call and encouraging relevant stakeholders to submit proposals.

2059. Following the successful implementation of the GFCS Adaptation Programme in Africa Phase 1 (2015-2018) in Malawi and Tanzania (see http://gfcs.wmo.int/Norway_2), the second phase of the project has been launched in Tanzania and Malawi on 17 and 26 September 2018 , respectively. The project which is to be implemented during 2017 – 2019 is aimed at enabling the development of climate services in support of decision-making in agriculture and food security, disaster risk reduction and health priority areas. The second phase, as the first, is being funded by Norway (NOK 36 000 000) and is being implemented by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) in Malawi and Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) in Tanzania with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

2160. The project “Climate Services for Increased Resilience in the Sahel” implemented from June 2016 to August 2018 with a 1 Million US Dollar funding provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been successfully completed. The project covered three countries i.e., Burkina Faso, Niger and Senegal and had a specific stream to support the African Centre for Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) as a Regional Climate Centre (RCC) to enable it to support technically the three beneficiary countries. Main achievements of the project included development of capacities of the NMHSs in data management and rescue; climate diagnostics, monitoring and forecasting; product development, including tailoring of products to specific users. Working groups were developed as user interface platforms which have allowed in Niger the production of climate and health and climate and water bulletins for the first time.

2261. The USAID-funded 2-year project ‘Assessing Sustainability and Effectiveness of Climate Information Services in Africa’ (Sustainable CIS) was completed in September 2018. It was co-implemented by Winrock International, WMO/GFCS, International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG), and AGRHYMET. It sought to answer the question ‘What are sustainable and effective models for CIS?’ and developed models and options for sustainable delivery of CIS in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), using Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Rwanda as examples. The outcomes of the project contribute to achieving the broader objective of ensuring effective global weather enterprise for the users’ increased resilience and sustainable development, bridging the funding and investment gap for NMHSs, and consolidating and extending knowledge on the existing CIS. The project delivered: baseline survey and metrics to assess NMHSs capacity in the participating countries to deliver climate information and services; financial planning tool to support NMHSs in sustainably managing financial aspects of their climate information systems; a number of reports and policy briefs that cover cost-effective technologies and approaches to

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climate information systems, capacity development, and markets and business models. As part of the way forward, efforts are underway to ensure legacy remains embedded in NMHSs’ practices related to CIS, e.g. securing political support for the tools, ensuring streamlining of the tools in the existing global, regional, and national mechanisms, and encouraging capacity-building essential for the successful uptake and effective use of these tools.

2362. With support from the Korean Meteorological Agency (KMA) the GFCS has been implementing the project ‘Climate prediction and adaptation’ (USD 410,000) which promotes scientifically sound weather and climate information and capacities to develop and use such information for decision-making at national level. The projects is supporting Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti and is implemented through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction Applications Center (ICPAC). The main activities consist on the implementation of a Climate Prediction Analysis Systems. The project in Rwanda is being implemented with Rwanda Meteorological Agency (RMA), while in the other countries is being implemented with ICPAC and in collaboration with the National Meteorological Services from both countries (http://www.wmo.int/gfcs/Climate_Prediction_Analysis_System.). This project will cover Tanzania in 2019.

2463. The GFCS is partnering with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) for the production of an e-training module titled “Integrating Climate Risk Information into the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Process”. The module is to be administered as part of the regional workshops organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG). The training is being developed as an effort to enable the linkage of climate services to the NAP process through more active participation of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services.

2564. The GFCS has also sought alignment of activities with partners/initiatives engaged in implementation of activities such as the Climate Risk & Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative, the Africa Hydromet Program, the Weather and Climate Information Services for Africa (WISER), etc. For example, the crosscutting activities related to institutional development, human resources and production of basic services, as well as sector-specific priorities related to DRR and agriculture from the Burkina Faso and Mali NFCSs are fully funded from CREWS, GCF and The International Development Association (IDA) (World Bank). Alignment is also strong in Niger, with IDA support to the National Hydrological Service and the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) (African Development Bank) support to the National Meteorological Service as a complement to GFCS projects and the NFCS.

Country support

2665. The GFCS has a regional coordination office based in Dakar, Senegal, through which the GFCS provides technical support to countries in West Africa. This office has been supporting the development of NFCS in the region. To support the activities of the offices two experts are deployed in Burkina Faso and Niger. In Eastern and Southern Africa, the GFCS has deployed experts in Tanzania and Malawi to support the implementation of the Adaptation Programme for Africa being implemented in those counties. Furthermore, the GFCS is supporting ACMAD and ICPAD with the deployment of experts to enable these centres to perform their mandatory functions as WMO Regional Climate Centres.

WMO CONTRIBUTION TO UNFCCC

2766. Every year WMO actively participates in the United Nations climate change conference. The 24th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 24), was held in Katowice, Poland from 2 to 14 December 2018. The Conference included meetings of the three governing bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) and the Paris Agreement (CMA), the 49th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 49) and Implementation (SBI 49). Normally, many delegates from

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NHMSs attend these events. In COP 24, around 24 directors and Permanent Representatives (PRs), mostly from Africa attended COP 24. Furthermore, around 140 delegates from 61 NMHSs accompanied their national delegation to this Conference.

2867. The following decisions are particularly relevant to WMO Members and require their follow up:

National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cop24_auv_nap.pdf

2968. COP 24 noted with appreciation the work of relevant organizations in providing technical support to countries on the process of formulating and implementing NAPs. It further noted that gaps and needs related to the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans remain. COP 24 welcomed the efforts of the WMO and other relevant organizations in providing capacity-building to support developing countries on the analysis of climate data and the development and application of climate change scenarios in vulnerability and risk assessment. COP 24 encouraged relevant organizations to continue coordinating their support and share lessons learned.

Least Developed Countries Work Programme https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cop24_auv_ldcwp.pdf

3069. COP 24 decided to update the elements of the least developed countries work programme. Among other things, this includes continuing to strengthen the capacity of meteorological and hydrological services to collect, analyse, model, interpret and disseminate weather and climate information to support the implementation of adaptation actions.

Report of the Adaptation Committeehttps://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cp24_auv_adap%20cttee.pdf

3170. COP 24 invited relevant institutions under the Convention and non-Party stakeholders to strengthen support (financial, technical, technological and capacity-building) for adaptation planning, including for collecting climate data and information, noting the urgent need for adaptation action to address current and short- and long-term risks of climate change. COP 24 expressed its appreciation to the Parties and organizations that led and participated in the technical expert meetings on adaptation or organized regional technical expert meetings on adaptation in 2018. It encouraged Parties and organizations to build on the outcomes of these meetings when planning and implementing adaptation action and to continue to organize such meetings in 2019 with a view to enhancing adaptation action and its overall coherence.

Conference of the parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA1) 1

Matters referred to Adaptation related issues https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cma_auv_paras%2041%2042%2045.pdf

3271. CMA 1 invited WMO, through its Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), with a view to facilitating the development and application of methodologies for assessing adaptation needs, to regularly inform SBSTA about its activities aimed at improving the availability and accessibility of comprehensive climate information, including observational data, and about how it facilitates the provision and dissemination of the most up-to-date climate model predictions and projections.

3372. CMA 1 requested the Adaptation Committee, in collaboration with the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG), partner organizations of the Nairobi work programme, users and developers of relevant methodologies, including academia and the private sector, to develop by June 2020 and to regularly update an inventory of relevant methodologies for assessing adaptation needs, including needs related to action, finance,

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capacity-building and technological support in the context of national adaptation planning and implementation, and to make the information available on the adaptation knowledge portal.

3473. It is essential for NMHSs to be fully aware of the status of NAP preparation and implementation in their countries and ensure that climate information and data analysis are provided to the NAP planning process and its implementation. WMO is preparing comprehensive guidance under a contract with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for this purpose which will be available to NMHSs for testing in mid-2019.

Matters relating to Article 14 of the Paris Agreement on Global Stocktake https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cp24_auv_GST_L.16.pdf

3574. CMA 1 decided that equity and the best available science will be considered in a Party-driven and cross-cutting manner, throughout the global stocktake. CMA 1 decided to establish a technical dialogue under the auspices of SBSTA, which will:

(a) Undertake its work through a focused exchange of views, information and ideas in in-session round-tables, workshops or other activities;

(b) Organize its work in line with taking stock of the implementation of the Paris Agreement to assess the collective progress towards achieving its purpose and long-term goals.

3675. CMA 1 also recognized that a dialogue between Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) experts and Parties through SBSTA–IPCC special events should be used to enable a focused scientific and technical exchange of information on the findings in IPCC products in an open and transparent manner and that the SBSTA–IPCC Joint Working Group should continue to be used to enhance communication and coordination between the SBSTA and IPCC in the context of the global stocktake. CMA 1 also decided that the sources of input for the global stocktake, among others, include the latest reports of the IPCC and submissions from UNFCCC observer organizations.

3776. Global stocktake is mainly a party-driven process. NMHSs should engage at national level, as appropriate, to coordinate with National Designated Authorities (NDAs), to provide climate data and information for the global stocktake under the Paris Agreement. WMO submissions such as the annual statement on the state of the global climate and greenhouse gas bulletin are also intended to inform the global stocktake, as well.

BACKGROUND ON THE NEED FOR CLIMATE DATA EXCHANGE AND ACCELERATING DATA RESCUE DATA RESCUE FOR RECOVERING MILLIONS OF AFRICAN CLIMATE DATA RECORDS ARCHIVED ON OBSOLETE MICROFICHES AND ENHANCING PROVISION AND EXCHANGE OF SELECTED CLIMATE DATASETS

Data Exchange

16. Resolution 60 (Cg-17) urges Members to provide additional GFCS relevant data and products, including historical data, that are required to support and sustain the operational climate services as the core element of the Framework and WMO initiatives at the global, regional and national levels.

17. In 2018, ten RA I Members submitted the annual update of World Weather Records (13 RA I Members in 2017). Annual calls to Members for submission of World Weather Records are issued by the Secretariat. Further information cf. http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/wcp/wcdmp/GCDS_2.php.

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18. A call to Members to submit 1981 to 2010 Climatological Standard Normals has been issued in August 2018. Further information cf. http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/wcp/wcdmp/GCDS_1.php.

Data Rescue

3819. Resolution 16 (Cg-16), among others, calls for accelerating rescue and digitization of climate records and promoting global and regional initiatives to collaborate on data rescue (DARE).

3920. The Implementation Plan of the Global Framework for Climate Services identified large scale data recovery and digitisation as a priority activity (project 3, Observing and monitoring component).

4021. Decision 19 (EC-69) decided to launch an international Data Rescue initiative, structured around the CCl resource plan as summarized in the Annex of the Decision, with the International Data Rescue portal I-DARE as an integrated platform for monitoring progress of its implementation, to be funded from voluntary contributions, and invites Members to collaborate enthusiastically, including through twinning, and to use the International Data Rescue portal (I-DARE) to streamline information on data rescue needs and decisions on data rescue priorities.

4122. During the WMO Expert Meeting on Climate Data Management Systems Strategy (12-14 December 2018, Geneva, Switzerland) international experts shared their concern regarding the slow progress in rescuing the African microfiche archive held at ACMAD and strongly requested to significantly accelerate rescue of these precious data in order to avoid their irrecoverable loss.

4223. Nearly 2,000,000 pages of historic hydro-meteorological data from 48 African National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) were imaged and transferred to microfiche during the DARE-I effort around 30 years ago. These microfiches, however, are deteriorating. ACMAD began inventorying and scanning the content of the microfiche archive with the help of the International Environmental Data Rescue Organization (IEDRO), which implemented a scanning process and shipped to, and installed at ACMAD premises, scanning equipment. ACMAD scanning of the microfiche images is turning the disappearing data into electronic images before they are gone forever. With the IEDRO assistance it was planned that ACMAD will be keying the data from these images into a digital data base so that these critical data can be used for climate services and research. Due to coordination and resource gaps, however, the current rescue process is much slower than the microfiche deterioration process. Coordinated efforts and creative approaches are needed to significantly accelerate the microfiche rescue process.

Data Exchange

4316. Resolution 60 (Cg-17) urges Members to provide additional GFCS relevant data and products, including historical data, that are required to support and sustain the operational climate services as the core element of the Framework and WMO initiatives at the global, regional and national levels.

4417. In 2018, ten RA I Members submitted the annual update of World Weather Records (13 RA I Members in 2017). Annual calls to Members for submission of World Weather Records are issued by the Secretariat. Further information cf. http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/wcp/wcdmp/GCDS_2.php.

4518. A call to Members to submit 1981 to 2010 Climatological Standard Normals has been issued in August 2018. Further information cf. http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/wcp/wcdmp/GCDS_1.php.

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ACTIVITIES ONREGIONAL AGRICULTURAL METEOROLOGY AND DROUGHT ACTIVITIES

4624. The following meetings or training activities were organized, managed, or funded by WMO through Regular or Extra-budgetary sources. The goal of these activities was to support climate actions and build drought resilient communities by improving the capacity of agricultural meteorological services and increased interaction and feedback between NMHSs and the agricultural community.

Commission for Agrometeorology (CAgM) activities in RA I

4725. Experts from the CAgM Task Team on Soil Moisture Measurements and partners from the George Mason University provided guidance to the South African Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) on the installation of 20 soil moisture sensors at four depths (10, 20, 40, and 60 cm) at each of 18 locations in South Africa. The data were sent to George Mason University (GMU) and input into a database which can be accessed online at http://wamis.gmu.edu/Africa/ and time series plots of soil moisture for each station can be created. Two locations were selected as inter-comparison sites for several different types of soil moisture sensors. In addition, CAgM experts facilitated stakeholder meetings in South Africa where a soil moisture model developed by the University of KwaZulu-Natal was transferred to the ARC Institute of Soil, Climate, and Water. The funds for many of these activities were mainly provided by the Government of Norway. CAgM experts also provided guidance to several Satellite Soil Moisture Validation and Application Workshops held from 2014 to 2017.

Training Activities in Agricultural Meteorology

4826. During the intersessional period, there were requests from countries and regions to conduct training courses on various topics in agricultural meteorology. The following training courses (a-b) were jointly organized by WMO and EUMETSAT and there was support for at least one of the training courses from FAO, FEWSNET, EU-Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Space Agency (ESA), and the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET). Training courses c-d were organized by WMO with support of the Centre AGRHYMET of the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control (CILSS) and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), with support from Climate Risk Early Warning System (CREWS) projects:

(a) Training Course on the Use of Satellite Products for Agrometeorological Applications in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in March 2015, for Eastern and English Speaking Western Africa,

(b) Training Course on the Use of Satellite Products on Drought Monitoring and Applications in Agrometeorology, Harare, Zimbabwe 24 - 28 October 2016, for Eastern and Southern Africa,

(c) National Training Course on SARRA-H crop model for rain-fed cereals. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 12-16 November 2018,

(d) Training Course on SARRA-O. crop model (satellite inputs). Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso , from 19 to 23 November 2018 for Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal.

METAGRI Operational Project

4927. The METAGRI OPERATIONAL project (2012-2015) was developed based on the previous METAGRI project (2009-2011) with new components on training, development of communications skills, evaluation tools and institutional strengthening. The METAGRI Operational project, funded by the government of Norway, covered the following countries: Cabo Verde, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso,

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Niger, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The project was closed in November 2015 after an Evaluation Workshop in Abidjan and Côte d’Ivoire. A project proposal for a follow up METAGRI SERVICES project, covering the same countries plus Cameroon, was developed and the components were approved by Decision 47 (EC-68).

5028. The project organized 269 roving seminars for farmers (including 19 for fishermen), delivered 4 827 plastic rain gauges and trained 12,499 persons, most of them farmers. The fact that only 13% were women, is acknowledged as an area for improvement in future projects. The project also focused on increasing interaction between NMHSs and media. From June 2014 to December 2015, a series of meetings with major media were held in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria. All the meetings were organized by the respective NMHS, with the support of a consultant. The main outcomes were building better relationship between journalists and meteorologists, with a mutual knowledge of each other role, and future plans to collaborate in the following months

5129. Since 2014, the project launched a final evaluation assessment in four pilot countries: Ghana, Mauritania, Côte d’Ivoire and Niger. A methodology for the assessment of climate services impacts at local level was developed. The project evaluation found that a number of significant benefits, including increased value of strategic choices on crop varieties and field sites, improved choice of planting dates avoiding reseeding and additional weeding and avoiding crop losses. In 2016, the evaluation methodology was applied to Mauritania. The project provided a set of communication materials such as posters, brochures, manuals and videos to support national or/and regional activities in agricultural meteorology.

Regional Drought Activities

5230. From 4 to 7 May 2015, 6 Regional Workshops on National Drought Management Policies were held in Accra, Ghana in cooperation with WMO, FAO, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC). The workshops had 30 representatives from 12 countries from NMHSs, and from ministries involved with agriculture, environment, water resources and biodiversity. The workshops also started internal discussions on increasing government’s capacities in drought risk management practices and drought management issues at country level. A summary publication was produced and a synthesis report was completed by the five main organizations. 

5331. In August 2016, the African Drought Conference was held in Windhoek, Namibia gathering 400 delegates from across Africa with the aim to find solutions to the recurring drought events and associated impacts. The conference was organized by the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism with the support of UNCCD, and in partnership with number of international organizations and countries. The Conference agreed to the Windhoek Declaration;

Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP)

5432. The Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP) was established by WMO and Global Water Partnership (GWP) in 2013 and has over 30 partner organizations. The IDMP provides guidelines to communities, countries and regions affected by drought, through the Integrated Drought Management HelpDesk. The IDMP has published the Handbook of Drought Indicators and Indices in 2016 and the National Drought Management Policy Guidelines in 2014. The Advisory and Management Committees of the IDMP meet every year. Representatives from CAgM, CCl, and CHy attend these meetings as well as drought experts from the partner organizations. In September 2016, an IDMP Expert Group Meeting on Action, Inaction for Drought Preparedness, Cost and Benefits was organized and the team approved the publication on Benefits of action and costs of inaction: Drought mitigation and preparedness – a literature review.

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5533. The IDMP has launched several regional projects, two of them in Africa. IDMP in West Africa (IDMP WAF) currently being developed to increase capacity and ability to manage droughts in the region by working in partnership with key drought management institutions and stakeholders, building on the network of the Country Water Partnerships in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. The IDMP in the Horn of Africa (IDMO-HOA) promotes drought resilience, communities and ecosystems in the region. Overall, the project aims to build climate resilience, reduce economic and social losses, and alleviate poverty in drought-affected regions, within the HOA, and through an integrated approach to drought. Specifically, the program operates in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

Relevant regional projects related to agrometeorology

56.34. WMO cooperates with the FAO, World Bank and other international partners on the implementation of the following projects:

57.35 The Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative is a collaboration between the WMO, the World Bank, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) to supports LDCs and SIDS in significantly increase their capacity to generate and communicate effective, impact-based, multi-hazard, gender-informed early warnings data to protect lives, livelihoods, and assets. In 2017, WMO, in cooperation with Météo-France, started the implementation of a project in Burkina Faso to improve hydrometeorological services for early warning for flood-related risks and risk information for agriculture, food security and anticipation of severe weather impacts. WMO is leading a regional project in West Africa Region, with the collaboration of the Royal National Meteorological Institute of the Netherlands (KNMI) and the National Meteorological Service of Germany (DWD), to build support to Regional Climate Centres by transferring expertise and experience from RA VI RCCs. In addition, WMO is working together with the World Bank in Mali, Niger, and Democratic Republic of Congo.

5836. In March 2017, the Adaptation Fund approved a 3 years project “Agricultural Climate Resilience Enhancement Initiative” (ACREI) in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. WMO partners with FAO and ICPAC with the support of NMHS to support community adaptation practices in agriculture, capacity building for extension agents on the use of climate and weather information, and developing improved climate informed decision making in agriculture and pastoralism. In October 2018, the Adaptation Fund approved the project “Integrating Flood and Drought Management and Early Warning for Climate Change Adaptation in the Volta Basin” in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali and Togo to develop community based risks informed decision making for floods and droughts in agricultural rural areas including strengthening policy and institutional capacity for integrated flood and drought management at the local, national and trans-boundary levels. The project is going to be implemented by WMO, the Volta Basin Authority and Global Water Partnership West Africa (GWP-WAD).

59.38. In December 2017, FAO and WMO signed an agreement to implement a project “Developing national agrometeorological and agro-climatological capacity of agencies, in Senegal and Rwanda”. The project was implemented throughout 2018 with the respective NMHS and supporting partners. By combining FAO expertise on agriculture with WMO expert knowledge on climate and capacity development of national meteorological services, the project addressed climate change holistically and increased availability and access to data and technology, as well as, strengthened the capacity of national officers and farmers. The strategic vision following the project is to go beyond country level pilots to develop a business model that can be transferred and scaled up to other countries.

60.39. Through the GFCS, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded “The Climate Services for Increased Resilience in the Sahel” project in Niger, Senegal and Burkina Faso from June 2016 to August 2018. The project supported the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) and the NMHSs to deliver better climate services to final users, with a focus on agriculture and food security.

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61.40. The Global Framework for Climate Services Adaptation Programme in Africa (GFCS APA) Phase I and II, funded by the Government of Norway, was the first multi-agency initiative to be implemented under the GFCS. This flagship programme implemented from 2013-2017 helped develop user-driven climate services for food security, health, as well as disaster risk reduction in Malawi and Tanzania. It engaged climate and social scientists, researchers, development and humanitarian agencies and other key user sectors. The programme, led by WMO, had CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO), Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as international partners and the NMHSs of Malawi and Tanzania as national partners.

62.41 From June 2016 to July 2018, under the USAID-funded project “Learning Agenda on Climate Services in Sub-Saharan Africa”, Winrock International in cooperation with WMO and under GFCS, has implemented the project “Assessing Sustainability and Effectiveness of Climate Information Services in Africa (Sustainable CIS)” in Senegal, Niger, Malawi, Rwanda and Ethiopia. The project aimed to provide timely, accurate information on climate and weather variations to decision-makers within agricultural systems, to enhance agriculture production and mitigate or avoid harvest loss. International partners included the AGRHYMET Regional Centre, the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) at Columbia University, and the Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG) at the University of Cape Town.

GLOBAL CLIMATE OBSERVING SYSTEM

Regional Workshops in light of importance of climate observations for adaptation

6342. GCOS, together with WIGOS and GCFS, is holding regional workshops to identify observational needs and potential regional cooperation particularly in light of the importance of adaptation, as called for in the implementation plan and mandated by the 45th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

6443. The regional work programme envisaged is an ideal forum to discuss observation needs for adaption, promote guidance and best practice and design projects to improve observational networks. These workshops result in regional plans that highlight the greatest needs and benefits of the proposed observational improvements. Donors are encouraged to address these needs, either through the GCOS Coordination Mechanism, other actors or directly. 6544. A joint GCOS / Copernicus / WIGOS / GFCS workshop in collaboration with UNFCCC was held in Entebbe, Uganda, 31 October – 2 November 2018 on improving the value chain from observations to climate services to support climate policy, adaptation and mitigation in East Africa (Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania). The workshop outcomes are summarised in the key messages1, and a regional plan to improve observations in East Africa is being finalised. The main points were:

Recognition that most of the value of sustained, systematic meteorological observations can only be realised at a national level if they are reported and exchanged internationally. International reporting of a basic network of surface and upper air observations leads to improvements in local weather prediction and national seasonal forecasts of temperature and precipitation. Global numerical weather prediction and reanalysis are used to provide the boundary conditions for local models and assessments.

While most of the five countries in the region have operating networks meeting minimum WMO requirements, many of the stations are not fully reporting as needed by international centres for global numerical weather

1 Available from: https://gcos.wmo.int/en/regional-workshops/east-africa-workshop

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prediction and reanalysis. Currently, in RAI, only about 10% of the surface and 20% of the radiosonde stations meet this need.

The accuracy of climate services depends on the quality and quantity of the observations. Observations underpin all climate services, planning climate policy and adaptation. NMHS wish to improve the ways they communicate forecasts, such as the probabilities of extreme events, to the public and decision makers.

The workshop recognised the support of governments in the region for observations, but further and sustained support is needed for the required long-term sustainability of observation. The workshop developed a regional plan to improve the sustainability of observations in East Africa covering:

(i) Planning to ensure the sustainability of systems and staff: recognising the value of life cycle management of equipment and in-house staff training and mentoring;

(ii) Calibration and maintenance policies,(iii) Meeting the observational needs of international centres for global

numerical weather prediction and reanalysis centres,(iv) Building on the benefits of the HIGHWAY project around Lake Victoria to

enable fully functioning regional network of stations,(v) Support for regional collaboration to build technical and operational

capabilities.

GCOS Network Management

GCOS Surface Network

6645. The GCOS Secretariat is reporting regularly on the GCOS Upper-Air Network (GUAN), the GCOS Surface Network (GSN), and the GCOS Cooperation Mechanism, including the station list update, monitoring statistics for past and current years and current and recent observations projects undertaken by the GCOS network management. A key component to report, update and encourage the work and responsibilities of the Lead Centres is the biannual meeting between the Lead Centre Representatives, WMO and GCOS. The last meeting was held in Asheville, USA, in September 2018.

6746. Since January 2016 additional monitoring of the GSN stations has been provided through the EUMETNET Quality Monitoring Portal (QMP). This enhanced QMP not only provides real-time availability and timeliness statistics for surface and upper-air messages received at the German Meteorological Service, DWD in Offenbach, but also measurement quality as compared with NWP background fields (ECMWF). Members are encouraged to monitor the performance of their GSN stations through this portal, and report any issues with the appropriate WMO/GCOS Secretariat.

6847. The following statistics are an annual summary of the monthly CLIMAT messages in the GCOS Climate Archive (National Climate Environmental Information, NCEI, US). According to the GCOS requirements, a fully compliant GSN/RBCN shall have 12 CLIMAT reports. The values represent the 2018 percentage (October 2017 to September 2018) of stations that are compliant and those that are partially or non-compliant. In brackets are the statistics for 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 respectively.

No. 12Monthly CLIMAT

6 - 11Monthly CLIMAT

1 - 5Monthly CLIMAT

0Monthly CLIMAT

155 37%(31,40,29,29,32,28, 23)

23% (34,25,31,33,33,36,39)

5% (3,9,15,10,10,11,14)

35% (32,26,25,28,25,25,24)

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6948. RA I is the poorest performing region, with only 37% of stations meeting the minimum requirement, and 35% not providing any CLIMAT messages, this has not significantly changed, neither better or worse, over the last eight years. Thus whilst this continues to reinforce the need for GCOS to focus its support in this region, it also highlights that recent efforts to improve these statistics have had little impact.

Regional Basic Climatological Network (RBCN, includes the GSN above)

No. 12Monthly CLIMAT

6 - 11Monthly CLIMAT

1 - 5Monthly CLIMAT

0Monthly CLIMAT

723 22% (18,23,16,17,19,13,12)

15% (22,17,22,20,20,23,22)

5% (5,8,11,8,7,12,13)

58% (55,52,51,55,54,52,53)

7049. For the RBCN network, which includes the GSN, the situation is even worse in RA I with only 22% of stations meeting the minimum requirement. Regions I shows a significant increase in the percentage of stations with zero reports (RBCN versus GSN), suggesting that not all countries are sending CLIMAT messages for their RBCN stations, in addition to the GSN stations.

GCOS Upper Air Network

7150. Many actions in the GOCS Implementation Plan are related to the operation and monitoring of the GCOS Upper-Air Network (GUAN). A Task Team was created to review the network requirements, assess and document the benefits of meeting stated requirements and to review how it contributes as a baseline network in the tiered network framework with GRUAN and the comprehensive network. A first meeting of the Task Team took place at the DWD Meteorological Observatory in Lindenberg, Germany from 5 to 6 December 2017. The key message from this meeting was a need to refocus the requirements of the GUAN in provided ‘guaranteed’ high-quality observations and the benefits of its designation as a baseline network. It was also decided that the original data should be retained and archived, and a common format for the raw data should be defined.

7251. The following table is the 2017 summary for the GCOS Upper-Air Network (GUAN) monitoring against the GCOS minimum requirements (25 daily soundings to 30hPa per month) Region I, according to the monthly statistics provided by NCEP. In brackets are the same statistics for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011. For 2012 and 2011 these are based on availability according to NCEI. The 2018 statistics for GUAN are not fully available yet and therefore not included.

Region Number of GUAN stations

% meeting minimum GCOS requirements in 2017(% for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011)

RA I 23 30% (39%, 35%, 39%, 46%, 48%, 57%)

Eleven (11) of the GUAN stations (6%) were ‘Silent’ (zero reported TEMP observations) during 2017, which is the highest since this monitoring was started in 2011. In 2016 and 2015 it was seven (7), 2014 and 2013 it was three (3), four (4) in 2012 and five (5) in 2011.

7352. In Region I, only 30% of the GUAN stations have met the minimum requirement for 2017, compared with 39% for 2016, which continues, by some margin, to be the worst performing region. This poor, and worsening, performance is mainly associated with the necessary funding required to operate and maintain an upper-air station. Communication with the station at a technical level to establish the cause of the poor performance continues to be a challenge and often means that relatively simple issues can go unaddressed for long periods of time. In addition there are an increasing number of stations that have problems and failures with their hydrogen generator systems which has resulted in a period of long-term inactivity. Three (3) stations were in-active during the period; Vacoas, Mauritius (Radiosonde consumables); Khartoum, Sudan (Hydrogen system); and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (Hydrogen

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system). Eight (8) stations had at least 1 month with zero reported TEMP observations; 61641; 62414; 63985; 64910; 67774; 68110; 68592 and 68816.

GCOS Reference Upper Air Network

7453. Several actions in the Implementation Plan are related to the operation of the GCOS Reference Upper-Air Network (GRUAN). GRUAN is an international reference observing network of sites measuring ECVs above the Earth's surface. It is the response to the need of WMO and GCOS for the highest accuracy data possible and is also part of WIGOS. GRUAN measurements provide long-term, high-quality climate data records from the surface, through the troposphere, and into the stratosphere that are being used to determine trends, constrain and calibrate data from more spatially‐comprehensive observing systems (including satellites and current radiosonde networks), as well as providing appropriate data for studying atmospheric processes. GRUAN has currently 26 sites, with the aim to expand to 30 to 40 sites.

GCOS Network Management

7554. The GCM is the system improvement and resource mobilization activity of the GCOS programme. It has been established following a decision by the UNFCCC SBSTA in 2004 (UNFCCC Decision 5/CP.5) in order “to enable developing countries to collect, exchange, and utilize data on a continuing basis in pursuance of the UNFCCC”. Since then, more than 3.5 million USD was raised to accomplish projects dedicated to improve climate observation systems. The following projects in RA-I have been completed in the period since 2015, or are still on-going:

• The repair, service and training for local engineers, on the Hydrogen Generator system at Harare, Zimbabwe (GUAN) was undertaken during February 2015. This station had been non-operational for many months but following the work on the system, operational soundings resumed on 1 March 2015. This project was managed by the GCOS Network Manager, through the GCM, with funding from Germany.

• In 2017 Equipment was provided (Camera’s, copiers and shelving) for a data rescue project in Botswana, managed by GCOS and WMO, using funds kindly provided by Germany.

• Engagement of a consultant based in Harare, Zimbabwe, to work part-time (50%) in the support of GCOS projects in RA-I. The focus of the work is to re-established surface climate stations in Chad and Mali using funds kindly provided by Greece. New Instrumentation, incorporating a non-mercury temperature solution, were delivered and implemented in Chad in 2017.

• Support for the operations of the GUAN station at Nairobi, Kenya was sponsored by Switzerland during 2016-2018, with a new competitive tender for 800 units of radiosondes (including a new supplier, ground-system and local staff training) and 400 balloons, managed by GCOS.

• Through funding provided by the HIGHWAY project (DFID-UK), GCOS and MeteoSwiss, projects are on-going to support or re-establish the radiosonde systems at Lodwar, Nairobi (Kenya); Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania); and Entebbe (Uganda).

GFCS IMPLEMENTATION

National Frameworks for Climate Services.

55. From the initial four countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Senegal), the development of National Frameworks for Climate Services (NFCS) has expanded to additional

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countries taking advantage of the publication of the Step-by-step Guidelines for Establishing a National Framework for Climate Services, now available in all WMO languages (details at http://gfcs.wmo.int/step-by-step-guidelines-nfcs). The Guidelines provides material including templates countries can use in developing their NFCS. The status of NFCS implementation can be accessible at http://www.wmo.int/gfcs/NFCS_status. In developing their NFCS, countries have developed strategic and action plans for the NFCS that can be found at http://gfcs-climate.org/national-action-plans.

56. The implementation of the NFCS is gaining impetus and is facilitating the coordination of the identification and implementation of priorities in the climate services value chain with the involvement of key stakeholders. The Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) is partnering with the GFCS to support its member states in establishing their NFCS. Through funding made available by ECOWAS, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Togo have conducted their national consultation and are formulating their strategic and costed action plans for the NFCS. Benin, Cape Verde, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone are being supported to establish their NFCS.

Projects

57. The European Commission, under European Development Fund (EDF) 11 has approved a EURO 85 million grant for an Intra Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Climate Services and Related Application Programme. The specific objective of the programme is to strengthen the climate services value chain through building the capacities of decision-makers at all levels to make effective use of climate information and services. The programme beneficiaries in Africa are African Union Commission – AUC; Economic Commission of West African Countries – ECOWAS; Economic Commission of Central African States – ECCAS; Southern Africa Development Community – SADC; Indian Ocean Commission – IOC and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development – IGAD) and supporting partner organizations that include the ACP Secretariat; Joint Research Centre – JRC; and WMO. Implementation is scheduled to initiate in the second half of 2019 pending signature of the Grant Agreements between the European Commission with the beneficiary entities and partner organizations. The Programme consists of five outputs that relate to the value chain for the production and application of climate services. These include: Output 1: Establishment of User interface Platforms supported by National and Regional Frameworks for Climate Services; Output 2: Strengthening of the Climate Services Information System at regional and national levels; Output 3: Strengthening observations and monitoring systems, as well as research, modelling and prediction; Output 4: Capacity development to generate and apply climate information and products; Output 5: bridging the gap between science and policy to enhance climate-informed decision-making.

58. The European Commission under Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020, and specifically under the Challenge "Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency & Raw Materials", included a specific action “LC-CLA-05-2019: Human Dynamics of Climate Change (Research and Innovation Action)”, which contains an Action on Climate Services for Africa. The Action includes a budget of a maximum Euro 23 Million for projects to be implemented over a three year period. Applications were open from 14 November 2018 until the deadline of 19 February 2019. The Action should exploit new, relevant climate data made available by Copernicus and other relevant sources (such as GEOSS) and create dedicated climate services for Africa for at least two of the following sectors: water, energy, land use, health and infrastructure. Actions should develop and deliver tools/applications which demonstrate clear end-user engagement, consultation and participation, and which enhance planning and implementation of climate adaptation strategies in Africa. Actions should consider activities addressed by initiatives such as the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), Copernicus, and development cooperation activities, and provide added value. In view of the Action Climate Services for Africa, the GFCS Office has been promoting the information on the call and encouraging relevant stakeholders to submit proposals.

59. Following the successful implementation of the GFCS Adaptation Programme in Africa Phase 1 (2015-2018) in Malawi and Tanzania (see http://gfcs.wmo.int/Norway_2), the

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second phase of the project has been launched in Tanzania and Malawi on 17 and 26 September 2018 , respectively. The project which is to be implemented during 2017 – 2019 is aimed at enabling the development of climate services in support of decision-making in agriculture and food security, disaster risk reduction and health priority areas. The second phase, as the first, is being funded by Norway (NOK 36 000 000) and is being implemented by the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) in Malawi and Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA) in Tanzania with support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

60. The project “Climate Services for Increased Resilience in the Sahel” implemented from June 2016 to August 2018 with a 1 Million US Dollar funding provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been successfully completed. The project covered three countries i.e., Burkina Faso, Niger and Senegal and had a specific stream to support the African Centre for Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) as a Regional Climate Centre (RCC) to enable it to support technically the three beneficiary countries. Main achievements of the project included development of capacities of the NMHSs in data management and rescue; climate diagnostics, monitoring and forecasting; product development, including tailoring of products to specific users. Working groups were developed as user interface platforms which have allowed in Niger the production of climate and health and climate and water bulletins for the first time.

61. The USAID-funded 2-year project ‘Assessing Sustainability and Effectiveness of Climate Information Services in Africa’ (Sustainable CIS) was completed in September 2018. It was co-implemented by Winrock International, WMO/GFCS, International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG), and AGRHYMET. It sought to answer the question ‘What are sustainable and effective models for CIS?’ and developed models and options for sustainable delivery of CIS in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), using Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Rwanda as examples. The outcomes of the project contribute to achieving the broader objective of ensuring effective global weather enterprise for the users’ increased resilience and sustainable development, bridging the funding and investment gap for NMHSs, and consolidating and extending knowledge on the existing CIS. The project delivered: baseline survey and metrics to assess NMHSs capacity in the participating countries to deliver climate information and services; financial planning tool to support NMHSs in sustainably managing financial aspects of their climate information systems; a number of reports and policy briefs that cover cost-effective technologies and approaches to climate information systems, capacity development, and markets and business models. As part of the way forward, efforts are underway to ensure legacy remains embedded in NMHSs’ practices related to CIS, e.g. securing political support for the tools, ensuring streamlining of the tools in the existing global, regional, and national mechanisms, and encouraging capacity-building essential for the successful uptake and effective use of these tools.

62. With support from the Korean Meteorological Agency (KMA) the GFCS has been implementing the project ‘Climate prediction and adaptation’ (USD 410,000) which promotes scientifically sound weather and climate information and capacities to develop and use such information for decision-making at national level. The projects is supporting Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Djibouti and is implemented through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction Applications Center (ICPAC). The main activities consist on the implementation of a Climate Prediction Analysis Systems. The project in Rwanda is being implemented with Rwanda Meteorological Agency (RMA), while in the other countries is being implemented with ICPAC and in collaboration with the National Meteorological Services from both countries (http://www.wmo.int/gfcs/Climate_Prediction_Analysis_System.). This project will cover Tanzania in 2019.

63. The GFCS is partnering with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) for the production of an e-training module titled “Integrating Climate Risk Information into the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Process”. The module is to be administered as part of the regional workshops organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

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Change (UNFCCC) for the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG). The training is being developed as an effort to enable the linkage of climate services to the NAP process through more active participation of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services.

64. The GFCS has also sought alignment of activities with partners/initiatives engaged in implementation of activities such as the Climate Risk & Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative, the Africa Hydromet Program, the Weather and Climate Information Services for Africa (WISER), etc. For example, the crosscutting activities related to institutional development, human resources and production of basic services, as well as sector-specific priorities related to DRR and agriculture from the Burkina Faso and Mali NFCSs are fully funded from CREWS, GCF and The International Development Association (IDA) (World Bank). Alignment is also strong in Niger, with IDA support to the National Hydrological Service and the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR) (African Development Bank) support to the National Meteorological Service as a complement to GFCS projects and the NFCS.

Country support

65. The GFCS has a regional coordination office based in Dakar, Senegal, through which the GFCS provides technical support to countries in West Africa. This office has been supporting the development of NFCS in the region. To support the activities of the offices two experts are deployed in Burkina Faso and Niger. In Eastern and Southern Africa, the GFCS has deployed experts in Tanzania and Malawi to support the implementation of the Adaptation Programme for Africa being implemented in those counties. Furthermore, the GFCS is supporting ACMAD and ICPAD with the deployment of experts to enable these centres to perform their mandatory functions as WMO Regional Climate Centres.

WMO CONTRIBUTION TO UNFCCC

66. Every year WMO actively participates in the United Nations climate change conference. The 24th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 24), was held in Katowice, Poland from 2 to 14 December 2018. The Conference included meetings of the three governing bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) and the Paris Agreement (CMA), the 49th sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 49) and Implementation (SBI 49). Normally, many delegates from NHMSs attend these events. In COP 24, around 24 directors and Permanent Representatives (PRs), mostly from Africa attended COP 24. Furthermore, around 140 delegates from 61 NMHSs accompanied their national delegation to this Conference.

67. The following decisions are particularly relevant to WMO Members and require their follow up:

National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cop24_auv_nap.pdf

68. COP 24 noted with appreciation the work of relevant organizations in providing technical support to countries on the process of formulating and implementing NAPs. It further noted that gaps and needs related to the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans remain. COP 24 welcomed the efforts of the WMO and other relevant organizations in providing capacity-building to support developing countries on the analysis of climate data and the development and application of climate change scenarios in vulnerability and risk assessment. COP 24 encouraged relevant organizations to continue coordinating their support and share lessons learned.

Least Developed Countries Work Programme https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cop24_auv_ldcwp.pdf

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69. COP 24 decided to update the elements of the least developed countries work programme. Among other things, this includes continuing to strengthen the capacity of meteorological and hydrological services to collect, analyse, model, interpret and disseminate weather and climate information to support the implementation of adaptation actions.

Report of the Adaptation Committeehttps://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cp24_auv_adap%20cttee.pdf

70. COP 24 invited relevant institutions under the Convention and non-Party stakeholders to strengthen support (financial, technical, technological and capacity-building) for adaptation planning, including for collecting climate data and information, noting the urgent need for adaptation action to address current and short- and long-term risks of climate change. COP 24 expressed its appreciation to the Parties and organizations that led and participated in the technical expert meetings on adaptation or organized regional technical expert meetings on adaptation in 2018. It encouraged Parties and organizations to build on the outcomes of these meetings when planning and implementing adaptation action and to continue to organize such meetings in 2019 with a view to enhancing adaptation action and its overall coherence.

CMA 1

Matters referred to Adaptation related issues https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cma_auv_paras%2041%2042%2045.pdf

71. CMA 1 invited WMO, through its Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), with a view to facilitating the development and application of methodologies for assessing adaptation needs, to regularly inform SBSTA about its activities aimed at improving the availability and accessibility of comprehensive climate information, including observational data, and about how it facilitates the provision and dissemination of the most up-to-date climate model predictions and projections.

72. CMA 1 requested the Adaptation Committee, in collaboration with the Least Developed Countries Expert Group (LEG), partner organizations of the Nairobi work programme, users and developers of relevant methodologies, including academia and the private sector, to develop by June 2020 and to regularly update an inventory of relevant methodologies for assessing adaptation needs, including needs related to action, finance, capacity-building and technological support in the context of national adaptation planning and implementation, and to make the information available on the adaptation knowledge portal.

73. It is essential for NMHSs to be fully aware of the status of NAP preparation and implementation in their countries and ensure that climate information and data analysis are provided to the NAP planning process and its implementation. WMO is preparing comprehensive guidance under a contract with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for this purpose which will be available to NMHSs for testing in mid-2019.

Matters relating to Article 14 of the Paris Agreement on Global Stocktake https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/cp24_auv_GST_L.16.pdf

74. CMA 1 decided that equity and the best available science will be considered in a Party-driven and cross-cutting manner, throughout the global stocktake. CMA 1 decided to establish a technical dialogue under the auspices of SBSTA, which will:

[(a)] Undertake its work through a focused exchange of views, information and ideas in in-session round-tables, workshops or other activities;

[(b)] Organize its work in line with taking stock of the implementation of the Paris Agreement to assess the collective progress towards achieving its purpose and long-term goals.

75. CMA 1 also recognized that a dialogue between Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) experts and Parties through SBSTA–IPCC special events should be used to

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enable a focused scientific and technical exchange of information on the findings in IPCC products in an open and transparent manner and that the SBSTA–IPCC Joint Working Group should continue to be used to enhance communication and coordination between the SBSTA and IPCC in the context of the global stocktake. CMA 1 also decided that the sources of input for the global stocktake, among others, include the latest reports of the IPCC and submissions from UNFCCC observer organizations.

76. Global stocktake is mainly a party-driven process. NMHSs should engage at national level, as appropriate, to coordinate with National Designated Authorities (NDAs), to provide climate data and information for the global stocktake under the Paris Agreement. WMO submissions such as the annual statement on the state of the global climate and greenhouse gas bulletin are also intended to inform the global stocktake, as well.

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Annex: 1

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ANNEX

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION____________________

Extraordinary Meeting ofPresidents of Regional Associations and

Presidents of Technical Commissions

Mechanism for WMO contributions to the GFCS, with participation by representatives of

WMO and co-sponsored programmes

GENEVA, 19 JUNE 2018

PRA-PTC Ext.-2 2018

DRAFT SUMMARY REPORT

This report summarizes the outcomes of the second 2018 Extraordinary Meeting of presidents of regional associations, presidents of technical commissions, and representatives of WMO and co-sponsored programmes, chaired by the President of WMO, designated by Decision 16 (EC-68) as the mechanism for WMO contributions to the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS). The meeting reviewed follow-up actions from the previous meeting, in January, and identified next steps. All data, presentations and other materials related to the meeting are available at http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/wcp/meetings/wmo-gfcs2018.html.

The meeting reviewed presentations on the status of climate services implementation in each regional association based on checklists completed by 109 Members. The presentations identified priority needs within each region, how such needs can be addressed, and areas for further support from the technical commissions and co-sponsored programmes. Relevant information in this regard was provided via a presentation by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) as well as by presidents and representatives of WMO technical commissions.

Main findings

Areas of need across regions

Frequently-cited needs across regions include: (a) Relatively low percentages of completed checklists in some regions, despite the

great efforts of the regional associations to date, and a continued need for obtaining completed checklists from all Members;

(b) Evening out heterogeneity in the levels of climate services capacity both within and across regions, especially in climate-sensitive sub-regions where capacities are still low in relation to demand;

(c) Strengthening the user interface at country-level, with more emphasis on identifying precisely who the user stakeholders are, their specific needs and how to meet them, and documenting the socio-economic benefits of climate services;

(d) Improvements, and greater diversity, in tailored products to support specific services, including strengthening of specific service areas that need further development, such as ocean and marine services;

(e) Strengthening the global-regional-national operational climate services information system, including;(i) Strengthened data management and exchange, including through registration

of data and products in WIS;

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(ii) Support in acquiring and using outputs from the Global Producing Centres of Long-Range Forecasts (GPCLRFs) and C3S;

(f) Systematic efforts to address frequently-occurring needs, such as WIS and WIGOS implementation; data rescue; data management; constructing and accessing gridded datasets on the Essential Climate Variables; accessing and using GPCLRF outputs; Regional and National Climate Outlook Forum strengthening and enhancement; National Frameworks for Climate Services (NFCSs); national plans for climate services; tailored products and services for high-demand areas such as for DRR, agriculture, water, health and energy; and documenting associated socio-economic benefits.

Additional and region-specific needs are identified in the presentations accessible through the link provided above.

Climate-water synergies

Many analogues were noted between the climate needs and those in hydrology. Needs in hydrology revolve around the same basic issues: data management and exchange, service delivery, and capacity development. CHy is currently updating guidelines on managing National Hydrological Services addressing these areas. The hydrological community has also established facilities, such as the Global Hydrometry Facility, to address such needs. Although there are currently no regional water centres, experimentation is underway with some national services to potentially play this role. Regional Climate Centres could also conceivably take on a wider range of water-related functions. There could be value, therefore, in simultaneously pursuing a joint climate services <-> hydrological services analogue approach.

Recommended resources and measures

In general, two complementary strategies were identified for addressing the needs emanating from the regional association analyses. One of these is to address frequently occurring functional weak points – such as for data rescue, or implementation of methodologies for documenting socio-economic benefits – more comprehensively and systematically in each region. The other is to address specific needs as they arise in the course of enhancing global-regional-national operational systems and country-level delivery of specific associated services. The latter strategy involves a targeted “problem solving” approach, in which capacities are built in the specific areas needed to enable the delivery of a specific, high-impact/high-demand, service on a case-by-case basis.

(1) Measures to address the first category, of frequently-occurring, cross-cutting, functional needs include:

(a) Completion and regular updating of the climate services checklists, accompanied by periodic audits of regional centre and NMHSs climate services capacities, similar to those done by IATA on aviation (CCl ISO quality management guidelines for climate services, currently in the process of being published, could be useful in this regard);

(b) More systematically documenting the capacity development resources available to meet common functional need areas, and making those resources available through the WMO Global Campus, including through an e-library and calendar of events, so that all regions are not doing it independently (see learn.wmo.int), while targeting region-specific needs;

(c) Making commission capacity development and technical resource materials more available, through training programmes, the climate services toolkit, and twinning between Members;

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(d) Further translation of relevant WMO capacity development and technical resources into more WMO languages;

(e) Greater use of the Regional Climate Forums as planning, organizing and integrating mechanisms for engaging regional centres and NMHSs, regional association working groups, technical commission experts, researchers, and representatives from WMO global centres, in order to strengthen the operational systems needed to support country-level service delivery more systematically;

(f) Incorporating climatological and hydrological data and products, and the exchange thereof, into the design and implementation of the Future Seamless GDPFS:(i) ECMWF is already a partner; the C3S Climate Data Store could be the platform

for distribution of data and products, and more digital data platforms (C3S and other WMO centres) should begin to interact operationally;

(ii) Scale-up of existing sound data management approaches (e.g. those of NOAA);

(iii) Greater emphasis on Regional Climate Centres as operational centres within the GDPFS in support of NMHS service delivery, as well as of sources for knowledge exchange and capacity development within regions, and use of the upcoming CCl-led review of Regional Climate Centre mandatory and recommended functions as an opportunity to introduce more flexibility into how RCCs operate and support NMHSs, including potentially with respect to their operational role in hydrology.

(2) Measures to identify and address specific needs in the second category, for strengthening full value-chain operational systems with country-level service delivery, include:

(a) Identification of high-priority/high-impact services in high demand across countries in each region, e.g. as reflected in Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement, National Adaptation Plans, and other national policies and plans;

(b) Identification of measures, processes and resources for systematically strengthening operational systems (i.e. involving routine operational exchange of climate/water data and products among NMHSs, regional and global centres) and the country-level provision of high-priority associated services, and for documenting the benefits of such services;

(c) Establishment of a joint plan on climate services identifying the measures to be taken at national and regional levels (RCCs/NMHSs/end users), including establishment of NFCSs where necessary;

(d) Regional and global upscaling of existing demonstrations of tailored products and associated services which have already been shown to deliver societal benefits.

Next steps

The draft WMO Strategic Plan 2020-2023, and the need to prepare an update and plan to the Eighteenth Congress on WMO contributions to the GFCS as part of the implementation of the Strategic Plan, are further reasons that preparation of action plans incorporating the above elements is now needed. Such plans should include intended outcomes to be achieved by the end of 2023 and the critical path and core actions for achieving them.

As outlined above, there are two main lines of action. The first is to more systematically address frequently-occurring cross-cutting needs. The second is to promote and strengthen integrated national-regional-global full value-chain operational systems and country-level delivery of associated high-priority/high-impact services and documentation of the results and benefits. These two lines of intervention each entail both regional- and global-level actions.

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Regional plans

Presidents of Regional Associations are requested to prepare a five-year plan for each region, irrespective of resources. These should be ready for discussion in the next meeting PRA-PTC meeting in January 2019. These plans should identify:(a) A set of high-impact/high-priority services in specific countries within each region

and the measures needed to establish or strengthen such services with regional and global support;

(b) The highest-priority cross-cutting functional needs in the region, relevant capacity development and technical resources available for addressing those needs, and how to make such resources readily accessible to Members.

The Secretariat is requested to work with regional associations and Members to seek to mobilize extra-budgetary resources in order to implement the regional plans. Regional Climate Forums, regional association sessions and meetings, and project meetings can be used as planning and implementation vehicles and Secretariat facilitation in this regard is also requested.

Global plans

The presidents of CBS, CCl and CHy are requested to prepare a plan for providing the core support for implementation of the national-regional-global operational systems needed to support country-level service delivery as part of the overall plan for implementation of the Future Seamless GDPFS, with linkages to C3S as appropriate. This global plan will subsequently be adapted to fit regional circumstances, through the Regional Climate Forums, the RCC functional review, and other mechanisms.

The presidents of technical commissions are also requested to reflect on some of the needs identified above that could be addressed in their areas, and any relevant technical resources and mechanisms for their delivery which could be drawn upon, bearing in mind that services are generically defined at this point and that specific support for implementation of specific services addressing health, disasters, water resources, agriculture, energy and other national priorities will be identified through the regional planning process.

The Secretariat is requested to provide consolidated support on access to training and other capacity development resources. The Secretariat, specifically the GFCSO, is further requested to facilitate access to and engagement with partner organizations. A particular area that needs to be further addressed for which such engagement could be beneficial is on strengthening Members’ capacity to document socio-economic benefits. Finally, the Secretariat is requested to facilitate on-going monitoring of the results of these efforts through the climate services checklist and presentation of the status of climate services, and the above plans, highlighting any necessary decisions that need to be made, for the Eighteenth World Meteorological Congress.

Strengthening the information base for planning and results monitoring

Members who have not done so already are requested to complete the climate services checklist. Regional associations are requested to continue their efforts to encourage Members to provide this information, and to continue analysis thereof, with continued support from the Secretariat.

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