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GGGI Ethiopia Co-Organizes Climate Information Sharing Forum

The National Climate Information Sharing Forum convened from January 24-25 at  Bishoftu town, Pyramid Resort. The workshop was organized by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in collaboration with National Metrological Institute (NMI). The objective of the workshop was to enhance climate information sharing platforms for the climate change adaptation planning process, which is directly aligned with the National Adaptation Planning (NAP) Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness Project’s second outcome.

The specific objectives of the forum include:

  • Familiarize regional, and local authorities, CSOs, local communities, and the private sector with the NAP Readiness Project.
  • Assessing ‘Bega’ 2021/22 seasonal climate at the national and regional level.
  • Issue ‘Belg’ 2022 climate prediction and advisory at the national and regional level.  ‘Belg’ is a short rainy season normally beginning in February and ending (depending on the area) in late April / May.
  • Bring on board lessons learned by different sectors specially those involved in climate information generation, dissemination, and usage.
  • Awareness creation on NMI’s map room (ENACT) platform at the regional level.

The Forum brought together about 204 (42 female) representatives from the federal sector offices, house of peoples’ representatives, academia, research institutes, media, GGGI Ethiopia, World Metrology Organization (WMO) etc. High ranking government officials including, H.E Dr. Engineer Habtamu Itefa, Minister, Ministry of Water and Energy, Mr. Berhanu Megersa, State Ministers, Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands, Mr. Mitiku Kassa, Commissioner for the National Disaster Risk Management Commission, H.E Mrs. Fetiya Ahmed, member of Parliament and Chairperson for Water, Irrigation and Arid Areas Development Affairs Standing Committee, Institute leaders, directors and others attended the Forum.

In his opening remarks Mr. Fetene Teshome, Director General of NMI noted that his Institute has provided climate information for the past several years, in doing so, it has supported the socio-economic development needs of the country. He further assured that in collaboration with partners, NMI will continue providing climate information services and impact assessment on different NEP-priority sectors so that it contributes for climate change resilience at all levels.

In his keynote speech, Dr. Gemedo Dalle, GGGI Country Representative recalled that climate change adaptation has received adequate treatment and focus in the updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) plan of the country, and thus, addressing climate variability and change plays a pivotal role. He also added that GGGI will continue its support on climate information sharing and utilization developments, and thereby contributing for the climate change adaptation planning process.

Dr. Amos Makararu, Director, WMO Reginal Association on his part commended the timely climate information sharing practices and encouraged coordinated effort to further disseminate the same information at local level so that the community will be aware of the upcoming climatic situations and make informed decisions.

H.E Dr. Eng. Habtamu Itefa, Minister, Ministry of Water and Energy, officially opened the Forum. He underscored the need for each organization to prepare for adaptation and mitigate the debilitating impacts of drought based on the climate information frequently shared by the EMI.

The second session started with a PowerPoint presentation by Mrs. Medhin Fisseha, NAP-GCF Readiness Project Lead. She spoke on “The nexus between NAP-GCF readiness project outcomes and climate information services”. She said that NAP-GCF Readiness project is designed to enhance climate information sharing and utilization mechanism at the national, regional and woreda (district) levels. She added that the Forum is instrumental in  bringing together pertinent  institutions for face-to-face interaction, learning, reviewing, and sharing climate information, among others.  Moreover, she  noted that  climate information prediction and seasonal forecasting is a powerful climate change adaptation planning tool to capacitate communities and decision-makers that directly face the challenges of climatic variability. Mrs. Medhin  expressed her conviction that GGGI will continue supporting NMI and NAP-ETH sectors towards structuring climate information sharing and utilization for adaptation planning process.

The Forum has also reviewed the performance of Bega 2021/22 climate information. Accordingly,  the participants reflected that metrological data quality is improving over time, however, early adaptation measures require additional effort. Correspondingly, Belg 2022 seasonal climate forecast was presented by  the NMI.  For the detail click on this link  http://213.55.84.78/other_forecasts/seasonal_forecast

Finally, GGGI, NDRMC and NMI has led the last session of the Forum and the following concluding remarks were forwarded  by  the NMI Director General.

  • In Ethiopia, ‘Belg’ is characterized by erratic weather conditions, and hence,  the NMI  will keep on delivering a continuous short-range forecast. Accordingly,  all concerned sectors are duty-bound  to regularly follow-up climate information updates.
  • There should be strong coordination among all stakeholders, particularly, the NAP priority sectors and the media should work together on the sharing of  climate-related  information.
  • Community awareness raising and early action measures should be planned by all the concerned government entities.
  • Documenting best practices on climate change adaptation and climate ATLAS preparation will be among the next steps to undertake. And finally, the Chair appreciated  the efforts being exerted by GGGI  for capacitating NMI and NAP priority sector offices to exercise climate change adaptation planning.