1. JOINT AMCOMET AND RA I REGIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE
Regional Climate Centers and RCOFs: Repositioning ACMAD as a Pan-African RCC and other sub - regional RCCs
Fetene TESHOME
Chair Person, ACMAD Board & PR of Ethiopia

2. OUTLINE Back ground Status of RCOFs in Africa Status of RCCs in Africa
PROPOSED FUTURE ROLE of ACMAD as Pan African RCC AND OTHER SUB REGIOBNAL RCCs
CONCLUDING REMARKS

3. Back ground
ACMAD, having been formed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), became operational in Niamey, Niger in 1992
The mandate of ACMAD is continental.
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4. The. implementation. of. the. functions. of. the. Pan. African. RCC
The implementation of the functions of the Pan African RCC status accorded ACMAD by WMO, is steering effort in the desired direction.
Its governance and management structure requires an umbrella body that links it to AU, as a Pan-African institution and connects it with WMO as a multi-functional RCC.
ACMAD should coordinate continental programs, some of which may be led by particular countries with the support of the others.
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5. ACMAD should coordinate technical activities such as forecasting using dynamical models (NWP, Medium Range Weather Forecasting and Long Range),
ACMAD has been performing the technical (weather and climate) activities at the continental level (continental functions).
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6. Status of RCOFs in Africa 21 Years of RCOFs operations
7 RCOFS OUT OF 19 in Africa

7. Challenges//Recommendations on future RCOFs in Africa
Heavy reliance on donors funding after 20 years of operation
Rec 1: Develop partnerships with public and private users towards a innovative business model (ESSO) including expansion of RCOFs products portfolio
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8. Challenge 2: Quality , consistency and coordination in RCOFs products across Africa
Rec 2.1: ACMAD to include activities in emerging climate services projects formulation and future RCOFs that ensure standards and good practices are shared on objective methodologies, tools , data and products format
Rec2.2: integrate RCOFSs to ensure consistency, prepare sustainability and support interregional collaboration (PRESAGG, PRESAC and GHACOF into an Equatorial Africa Regional Climate Forum for MAMJ, PRESASS and GHACOF into a Sahel ( from Dakar to Djibouti) RCOF for JJAS and SARFCOF/PRESAC/GHACOF for SOND).
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9. Challenge 3: Weak infrastructure, competencies and capabilities
Rec 3.1: develop WIS and prioritize partnerships for remote storage and processing
Rec 3.2 : structure and integrate training mixing on the job training, twinning with advanced centers and workshops, organize training for Directors and Senior NMHSs officers on innovative business model development
Rec 3.3: develop WIS and prioritize partnerships for remote storage and processing
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10. Challenge 4: Sub optimal mainstreaming of RCOFs products in decisions , practices and policies
Rec 4: establish and strengthen Public, Private , civil society and academia partnerships, consultations, platforms or other interface mechanisms for valuation of RCOFs/RCC products
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11. Status of RCCs in Africa
RCCs provide regional climate products in support of regional and national climate activities
Mandatory Functions:
- Long Range Forecasting
Climate Monitoring
Data Services,
Training
Coordination of RCCs ( Additional Role for ACMAD)
Highly Recommended Functions:
Climate prediction and projection
Non-operational data services
Coordination functions
Training and capacity building
Research and development
Two modes of Implementation: fully self- contained RCCs or distributed-function RCC-Networks
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12. Challenges//Recommendations for African RCCs
Challenge 5: Sustainability of RCC operations
Rec 5.1 : Institutionalization of RCCs/NCCs as visible elements on the organizational structure of RCCs and NMHSs in Africa
Rec 5.2: invest in web presence and high speed internet to benefit from big data, remote processing power and reduce capital investments on infrastructure with high recurrent costs for developing nations
Challenge 6: Competition on the use of Climate funding leading to support of non climate activities based on climate information of low quality
Rec 6: Support the leadership of climate funding partners and their task managers with technical assistance to project formulation that balance funding to operate RCCs functions and provide non climate development assistance

13. Challenges//Recommendations for African RCCs to Improve NMHSs Visibility and sustain Government Commitments
Challenge 7: Formulation of regional projects put emphasis on the regional institutions strengthening with limited support for NMHSs
Rec 7.!: Establish projects monitoring indicators to ensure that part of budgets in Regional projects are spent to strengthen and institutionalize NCCs and related activities in NMHSs
Rec 7.2 : Prioritize investment on National Climate Outlook Fora and demonstration to become National Climate Centres
Rec 7.3: Establish NFCSs under leadership on NMHSs and sustain NCOFSs and NFCS implementation by integrating this framework as an essential element of National Development Planning and Action

14. OUR PURPOSE!!! MOVE MORE AFRICAN NMHSs to CATEGORIES 2 AND 3
IN THE WMO TABLE BELOW
Level of Service
Weather Services
Climate Services
Category 1 - Basic
Weather observations
Weather Data Management
Interaction with weather data
and product users
Climate observations
Climate Data Management
Interaction with climate
data and product users
Category 2 - Essential
Medium-range (synoptic scale) forecasts and warnings
Established links with media and DRR communities
Seasonal Climate outlooks
Climate monitoring
Category 3 – Full
Specialized weather products for wide range of sectors
Well integrated into DRR communities and mature links with media
Specialized climate products
Decadal climate prediction
Long-term climate projections
Category 4 - Advanced
Customized weather products
Weather application tools.
Customized climate products
Climate application tools
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15. ACMAD STRATEGIC GOALS
Fill gaps and weaknesses targeting NMHSs and RCCs in Africa
Improve quality of services for resilience and adaptation
Strengthen research, access and exchange of data
Improve ACMAD governance and management systems

16. Resolve the ACMAD tutelage issue
Strengthen departments with the qualified minimum staff required (Weather, Climate, ICT)
Upgrade the Finance and Administration Section to Departmental status (Including an Internal Audit unit)
Revisit the resource Mobilization mechanism
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17. CONCLUDING REMARKS
A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT IS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOENDATIONS PROPOSED;
1- A DRAFT STRATEGY FOR ACMAD IS AVAILABLE AND WILL BE EXAMINED BY ITS BOARD VERY SOON
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS PREPARED WITH UNECA BUREAU IN NIAMEY TO PROCEED WITH MODERNIZATION OF ACMAD’S MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS AVAILABLE AND WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD.
3- DECISIONS, REQUESTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PAST ACMAD BOARD AND AMCOMET BUREAU SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE CREATING THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION .

18. THANK YOU
MERCI