21 September 2012: The African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC) held the first of a planned series of workshops on meteorological data in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 20-21 September 2012, with future workshops planned for four other African countries.

The workshop, which focused on the topic of upgrading hydro-meteorological networks and rescuing historical hydro-meteorological data, drew approximately 80 participants. Attendees included national and international representatives from, among others: the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE); the Ministry of Agriculture; the National Meteorological Agency (NMA); the African Union Commission (AUC); the World Food Programme (WFP); and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

In his opening remarks, Josué Dioné, Director for the Division of Food Security and Sustainable Development of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), welcomed Ethiopia’s decision to host the “novel initiative,” which he said the ECA plans to extend to Gambia, Mali, Mozambique and Rwanda.

Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy Alemayehu Tegenu stressed the importance of adequate meteorological information for effective decision-making for disaster prevention, preparedness and warning.

The ACPC, based at UNECA, is part of the Climate for Development of Africa programme (ClimDev-Africa), a joint programme of the AUC, UNECA, and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Its aims include improving climate-related data and observation, information services, policies and risk-management practices, by scaling up the capacities of key institutions and stakeholders. [ACPC Press Release] [ACPC Website]