Regional Analysis of Weather, Climate, Water and Early Warning Services in Southern Africa : Status Quo and Proposed Actions (English)

Southern Africa is highly vulnerable to extreme weather, climate, and water-related events. The region is home to approximately 345 million people whose lives and livelihoods are directly affected by the impacts of extreme weather and climate events. The southern African nations are organized through the Southern African Development Community (SADC) which comprises of sixteen Member States. In 2021, the SADC, together with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), World Bank, European Union (EU) and other partners, hosted the first Hydromet forum. The purpose was to discuss and set priorities to strengthen weather, water, and climate information as well as disaster risk management strategies and services for sustainable development and reducing regional disaster and climate risks. The study's objective is to take stock of the state of hydromet services and early warning systems in SADC Member States, to identify opportunities for regional collaboration and to inform investment planning in those services. The analysis was based on an online questionnaire with responses from organizations, online workshops, many bilateral phone calls and expert judgment. The study was carried out in a fully virtual manner during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.