The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Meteorological Organization’s Systemic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) have launched a five-year project to modernize Chad’s meteorological network, improve weather forecasts and anticipate the consequences of climate events in the country.
Updating local forecast technology
The US$6.98m project, led by WFP in collaboration with Chad’s National Meteorological Agency (ANAM) with technical support from GeoSphere Austria, involves installing six new surface stations and four upper-air stations, and renovating 27 existing stations across the country. The project prioritizes national capacity-building to enhance synergies between development programs and maximize the SOFF project’s impact.
Upgraded meteorological infrastructure is projected to improve the anticipation and management of climate extremes like droughts and floods while strengthening national capacities through sustainable data management.
Fatima Goukouni Weddeye, Chad’s Minister of Transport, Civil Aviation and National Meteorology, said, “Strengthening ANAM’s capacities through the SOFF project aligns perfectly with the government’s vision and policies, providing users with high-quality forecasts to anticipate climate extremes and mitigate disaster risks affecting populations and natural resources.”
“Collaborating along the meteorological value chain is key to leveraging weather and climate data,” said Markus Repnik, director of the SOFF Secretariat. “Closing Chad’s data gap significantly improves weather and climate forecasts for Chad, Africa and the world, as forecasts beyond three days require global data, including from Chad. SOFF‘s investments support Chad’s objectives of increasing climate resilience, protecting communities and the agricultural sector.”
Promoting Chad’s food security
Sarah Gordon-Gibson, WFP’s country director and representative in Chad, noted, “The people of Chad are among the hardest hit by the current climate crisis and face some of the highest levels of food insecurity globally. Reliable meteorological data is essential to anticipate, alert and respond to crises and their impact on people’s food security.”
The latest Cadre Harmonisé food security analysis indicates that over 2.4 million people in Chad will face food insecurity by 2025, potentially rising to 3.7 million during the June-August lean season. Food insecurity in Chad is primarily driven by conflicts and a decline in agricultural production, particularly due to recent floods in the south, which is the country’s breadbasket.
In related news, SOFF recently launched a US$14m project in Tanzania to enhance the country’s meteorological observation capabilities, strengthen climate data exchange and bolster the country’s resilience to climate-related challenges. Click here to read the full story.