Competencies based innovative learning solutions for co-development of climate services in West Africa

Vieri Tarchiani,Massimiliano Pasqui,Maurizio Bacci,Elena Rapisardi,Edmondo Di Giuseppe,Patrick Parrish,Marina Baldi

doi:10.5194/asr-17-47-2020

Abstract

Abstract. In developing countries, and particularly in West Africa, the role of Climate Services (CS) for sustainable development is growing thanks to wide spreading collaboration among European institutions, including National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) research centers, universities, and homologue local institutions. Operationally, the implementation of CSs in developing countries is mainly pivoted on NMHS, which, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), are dramatically affected by unmet learning demand. The global scale of learning needs for co-development of CSs calls for innovative solutions and a range of flexible modalities to reach learners in a variety of ways, and for sharing resources and successful strategies within the global education and training community. In order to harmonize expected learning outcomes, WMO defined a competency framework (CF) for CSs to be used in the implementation of training initiatives and knowledge sharing tools. This paper presents the strategic and methodological approach adopted in the implementation of the TOPaCS, a new knowledge-based distance learning initiative, aiming to provide a flexible learning environment within the CSs CF of WMO ensuring coherence with other WMO education initiatives (Global Campus, other RTCs, etc.). The methodological approach adopted is based on the competency-based approach to training, where competencies are composed by elements of knowledge and skill. TOPaCS integrates the WMO CF for CSs into a taxonomy co-designed with stakeholders at different levels, and allows the definition of learning paths, which are a further interactive opportunity for co-development of CSs within the TOPaCS learning ecosystem. Indeed, the approach aims also to guide further instructional strategies and assessments and becomes a starting point to build a common language enabling a better cooperation and exchange between the different CSs training initiatives.

Highlights

Since the establishment by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the Global Framework for Climate Services (CSs) in 2011 (WMO, 2011), many initiatives have been implemented to support developing and emerging countries, vulnerable to meteorological and hydrological extreme events, in the establishment of weather and CSs (Vincent et al, 2018)
This paper presents the strategic and methodological approach adopted in the implementation of the TOPaCS, a new knowledge-based distance learning initiative, aiming to provide a flexible learning environment within the CSs competency framework (CF) of WMO ensuring coherence with other WMO education initiatives (Global Campus, other Regional Training Centers (RTC), etc.)
In West Africa (WA), the role of CSs for sustainable development is growing but with a slower rate compared to other regions

Summary

Introduction

Since the establishment by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the Global Framework for Climate Services (CSs) in 2011 (WMO, 2011), many initiatives have been implemented to support developing and emerging countries, vulnerable to meteorological and hydrological extreme events, in the establishment of weather and CSs (Vincent et al, 2018). The operational implementation of CSs is a two-fold challenge: on one side developing approaches/methodologies to transform meteo-climatic information into useful “information products” tailored on users’ needs (Vincent et al, 2018) on the other hand building local capacities through training initiatives and knowledge-sharing tools allowing key users to hone their skills and competences (Nkiaka et al, 2019). This paper is not conceived as a classical research paper but it aims to present the strategic and methodological approach adopted in the implementation of a new knowledge-based distance learning initiative originated from the recommendation of the Directors of Meteorological Services of 17 CILSS/ECOWAS Countries at the International Conference on CSs for WA in Rome, Italy, early 2019 (WMO, 2019b). The initiative addresses the need for increased sharing of training resources and approaches, increasing the access to learning opportunities in a lifelong perspective, and developing common accreditation, certification, evaluation and assessment systems on the topic of CSs

The approach

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