Zimbabwe to host SADC Climate forum

The Government of Zimbabwe through its Meteorological Services Department will on 26-27 August in collaboration with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Famines Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET), and other partners host the Thirteenth Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-13) writes Simba Nembaware

SARCOF-13 will be preceded by a seven-day Climate Experts Meeting of SADC national Meteorological/Hydrological Services (NMHSs) for the purposes of developing inputs for the Forum.

"Applying Climate Prediction Information, for Sustainable Socio-economic Development and Disaster Risk Reduction" will be the theme for the two day event whose participants will include climate prediction experts from the national Meteorological/Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in the SADC region and climate scientists from universities, research institutions, as well as regional and international organizations engaged in climate modelling, prediction and applications for the region.

Various regional and international governmental and non-governmental organizations and development partners are also expected to attend the forum whose core objective is to "develop to a consensus climate outlook for October 2009 to March 2010 rainfall season within SADC Member States."

It will also discuss the potential impacts of the consensus seasonal climate outlook on other socio-economic sectors including food security, health, disaster risk management, water resources and hydropower management, among others. The forum will also review the October 2008 to March 2009 rainy season over the SADC region.

The SADC Secretariat notes that "proper interpretation of seasonal forecasts and their application across various socio-economic decision-making processes still remain a challenge in the region. It is from this background that stakeholder participation in the SARCOF process with involvement of the climate information and prediction services practitioners and the user-community is always regarded as a priority at these forums.

SARCOF is transforming into an effective and reliable source for climate information and prediction services in order for the multi-sectoral user community to benefit fully from the process.