The Intra-ACP ClimSA Programme which is coordinated by the OACPS Secretariat seeks to: span the entire climate services value chain; develop and deliver climate services in the following five priority sectors: agriculture and food security, disaster risk reduction, energy, health, and water; and, align with the WMO Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS).

WMO is providing technical assistance at the regional and national levels to support the implementation of the climate services value chain, while strengthening the provision and use of climate information within Member States of the OACPS. This will improve the quantity and quality of climate services offered by Regional Climate Centres (RCCs) and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in and across the OACPS. 

The East Africa Region (EAR) of the OACPS has a highly variable climate and is prone to climate extremes such as droughts and floods that exacerbate food and water insecurity. Therefore, reliable and timely regional climate information, including current and future climate variability and change, is essential in designing effective strategies for managing risks and adapting to climate variability and change.

OACPS, WMO and ICPAC, recently concluded a joint field monitoring mission to the county of Taita Taveta in Voi, Kenya - to from 24 July 2022 to 30 July 2022. The overall objective of the field monitoring visit was to assess the state of current interactions between the producers of climate products and other, key stakeholders involved in the climate services value chain.  Engagement between providers and users is a critical element to the success and efficacy of providing, developing and using climate information for decision-making. ICPAC, through various initiatives, including the ClimSA Programme is addressing the existing gaps in mainstreaming climate services into policy processes, strategy and development programme at the regional, national, and sub-national levels.

Dr. Faka (Team Leader ClimSA) and Ms. Mazarese (Project Communications Officer WMO) were impressed by local and community media mobilisation, the organisation of awareness-raising activities at community level and the engagement of the local authorities in the climate services value chain. The impacts of climate on the smalholder farmers in Taita Taveta county are illustrated in the imagery that accompanies this news article.