Chapter 17 - The Global Framework for Climate Services Adaptation Programme in Africa

Abstract

This chapter introduces a multiagency collaborative project of the Global Framework for Climate Services Adaptation Programme in Africa under the leadership of the GFCS (Global Framework for Climate Services) Office of WMO (World Meteorological Organization). It gives a brief overview of institutional setup and stakeholder engagements both from the relevant governments and from the partner agencies including the local communities from the project districts. It describes fundamental steps that have helped in research, design, coproduction, dissemination, and uptake of science-informed, sector-specific weather and climate information for adaptation in Tanzania and Malawi. The chapter then explains how the project research has tried to identify user needs of weather and climate information to help TMA (Tanzanian Meteorological Agency) and DCCMS (Malawian Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services) in the design, coproduction, and support the uptake of weather and climate information in decision-making. It analyzes progress and lessons learned from the implementation of Phase I of the project across the five GFCS pillars: (1) UIP (User Interface Platform); (2) CSIS (Climate Service Information System); (3) Observations and monitoring; (4) Research, modeling and prediction; and (5) Capacity building. Finally, the chapter presents the project outcomes and benefits with key points for further consideration in the process of developing weather information and climate services.