Knowledge Management as an Enabler of the Paris Agreement Implementation in Africa

Abstract

Numerous ongoing projects are upgrading climate observation networks to plug the climate data gap in Africa. Projects like trans-Africa hydromet observation (TAHMO) and climate for development in Africa (ClimDev-Africa) will avail increased data for early warning, modelling and research in African. In many cases however, historical climate data still remains on paper and thus beyond reach. As cited by IPCC assessments, the level of accessible climate literature from Africa continues to be significantly low, a situation exacerbated by both inadequate Internet connectivity and climate information that is either not captured or packaged for online and offline access. Poor Internet certainly impacts the access and findability of climate knowledge and research produced in Africa. Indigenous knowledge relied upon for generations in addition remains masked because its purveyors lack channels to codify and share the knowledge. Implementation of the Paris Agreement will entail data collection to monitor progress, as well as sharing of good practices, lessons, needs, challenges and opportunities at sub-national, national and regional levels. This paper will provide tested opportunities to facilitate sound knowledge management for implementation of the agreement by mobilizing pan-Africa climate knowledge partners to create a community for co-producing climate knowledge, sharing it and learning.