SOFF readiness phase: Meteo Rwanda concludes Country Hydromet Diagnostics

Rwanda Meteorology Agency (METEO RWANDA) in collaboration with Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) have concluded a three days Country Hydromet Diagnostics workshop that was held from 7^th to 9^th August 2023 at Serena Hotels, Rubavu. The workshop put together experts from FMI, Staff from Meteo Rwanda, representatives from Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, Ministry of Environment, Rwanda Water Resources Board, Rwanda Airports Company, Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority and Rwanda Standards Board.

The aim of the country hydromet diagnostics was to gather information that will inform policy and investment decision-making, in particular guiding investments required for METEO RWANDA to provide the needed weather and climate information services to its esteemed stakeholders and end-users. It is one-step of Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF) readiness phase.

Aimable Gahigi, the Director General of METEO RWANDA informed participants that this workshop will serve as an opportunity to hear how meteorological services are useful to their respective sectors and gaps that are still hindering effective production and dissemination of weather and climate services and information.

“This is a very critical stage that will inform the SOFF project investment. I therefore encourage you to share with us experience on how you perceive weather and climate services and existing gaps that have to be addressed to increase uptake and utilization of weather and climate information in face of increasing extreme weather events,” Said Director General. 

METEO RWANDA is now benefiting from the SOFF first funding phase (Readiness Phase) that is at its last stage of implementation. Two steps that have been concluded are: The National Gap Analysis and the National Contribution Plan. This phase will be followed by investment and compliance.

The country hydromet diagnostics covered the following topics:

1. Governance and institutional setting,
2. Effective partnerships to improve service delivery,
3. Observational infrastructure,
4. Data and product sharing and policies,  
5. Numerical weather prediction model and forecasting tool application,
6. Warnings and advisory services,
7. Contribution to climate services,
8. Contribution to hydrology,
9. Use and national value of products and services
10. Product dissemination and outreach.

The SOFF is a new initiative that is led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in collaboration with a wide range of international organizations. Its overall objective is to strengthen climate adaptation and resilient development through data collection, processing and availability that will improve weather forecasts, early warning systems and climate information services. Rwanda is among the first pioneer countries that are benefiting from SOFF. The support will be provided in three phases.

In the Readiness phase, the country’s hydromet status is assessed, the Global Basic Observation Network (GBON) gap defined, and a plan developed to close the gap. The Investment phase will enable beneficiary countries to close the GBON investment and capacity gap. The Compliance phase will support sustained GBON compliance, and enables access to improved weather forecasts and climate analysis products.

For more information about SOFF initiative, click here.