Integrating all the Components of the Value Chain in one System

At the heart of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions' response to climate challenges, the ClimSA Programme is redefining how stakeholders collect, store, process and deliver climate information. Far from being a technical exercise, ClimSA is a bold, strategic response to a global challenge. By strengthening a comprehensive network of data, tools, infrastructure and people, it is supporting countries and regions to turn climate risks into climate-smart decisions. Grounded in the Climate Services Information System (CSIS) approach, ClimSA empowers Regional Climate Centres (RCCs) and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) to provide timely, tailored and trustworthy climate intelligence.

At the core of ClimSA’s implementation is a strong partnership with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). As a global authority, WMO provides the structured guidance needed to synchronise all components of the climate services chain (data collection, modelling, product development and dissemination) into one cohesive system, the Global Framework for Climate Services. In Africa, additional support has been provided by the African Union Commission (AUC), which has proved critical to upgrade capacity at regional and national level.

As of May 2025, ClimSA’s efforts along this approach have enabled 25+ climate services providers across ACP regions to better deliver consistent and quality-assured insights across climate-sensitive sectors.

Scaling Infrastructure for Resilience: from Observation Stations to Supercomputers and Satellite Receivers

ClimSA’s infrastructure investments are reshaping the climate services landscape. Working alongside the AUC, the European Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the Programme has installed PUMA Stations and ClimSA Stations across 49 African countries and two Caribbean organisations. These investments include High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems, enabling faster simulations and more precise forecasting—tools that are already guiding crucial decisions in sectors like agriculture, water management, health and disaster risk reduction. A major milestone was the AUC’s contract with Tecnavia SA to install and upgrade infrastructure in 59 national and regional institutions. This initiative successfully passed its final technical inspection in May 2024.

At the country level, ClimSA has delivered essential IT infrastructure and related training. In East Africa, the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) has equipped eight countries with modern technology. The AGRHYMET Regional Climate Centre has supported 17 NMHSs with over 20 servers and computing tools in West Africa. In Southern Africa, the SADC Climate Services Centre (SADC-CSC) has procured and installed equipment in 15 Member States. In Central Africa, the recently established team at the CAPC-AC [Centre d’Application et de Prévision Climatologique de l’Afrique Centrale] has been equipped, as has the pilot country Cameroon. In the Caribbean, the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) is supporting countries like Guyana to enhance their climate and hydrometeorological observation and early warning station networks. SPREP supported the regional training on the ClimSA Station in Samoa.

Climate Data as a Strategic Asset

Reliable climate data underpins everything ClimSA delivers. Robust Climate Data Management Systems (CDMSs) are essential for managing records from regional and national networks.

The open-source CDMS CLIMSOFT is widely used to archive and access vital climate information. As part of ClimSA’s supported efforts, the WMO is actively promoting the use and customisation of CLIMSOFT through regional support and international training workshops, ensuring partners can efficiently manage and utilise climate data. In West Africa, AGRHYMET supported the installation of the CLIMSOFT in 17 Member States. In East Africa, upgraded CDMS using CLIMSOFT are now operational in Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda. In Southern Africa, capacity building support has been provided to 14 SADC Member States.

Meanwhile, in the Caribbean and most regions in Africa, CLIMSOFT is complemented in its function to incorporate basic regional climate data and information into climate products by the International Climate Assessment & Dataset (ICA&D) data portal, offering long-term accessibility to regional datasets.

Data rescue efforts are also being supported as part of ClimSA in several countries, including Dominica and Jamaica by CIMH, Nigeria by AGRHYMET, and all SADC Member States by the SADC-CSC. Preserving historical climate records remains vital for accurate analysis, modelling and decision-making in climate adaptation and risk management.

Modelling and Forecasting: Precision for Resilience

Modelling and forecasting is where ClimSA’s scientific engine comes to life. This reflects the core functions of a RCC, including climate monitoring, analysis, prediction (monthly to decadal), long-term projections, and the management and exchange of climate information across past, present and future timescales.

ACMAD, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development, continues to lead in providing long-range forecasting, climate monitoring, data services and training across all the African continent. Methods, tools, products and operational procedures were provided by ACMAD to support CAPC-CA climate services. Targeted on the job trainings approach, AGRHYMET organised internship programme for countries’ staff in climate monitoring, crop modelling, seasonal forecasting and numerical weather prediction. In Southern Africa, SADC-CSC has enhanced its capacity to deliver tailored climate services through the CSIS framework, supporting regional climate-informed decision-making.

In East Africa, ICPAC and JRC have co-developed a regional quality assurance system to ensure the consistency and reliability of climate outlooks. ICPAC develops on a regular basis targeted products for key sectors such as agriculture and food security, in partnership with the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group (FSNWG). These efforts include collaborative scenario development with FEWS NET, technical training and support for drought monitoring initiatives such as the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative. ICPAC also engages with the Regional Water Resources and Climate Working Group (RWCWG) and gathers feedback through regional events like the Great Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forums (GHACOFs).

In the Caribbean, to improve climate information use in sectors such as agriculture, water and health, CIMH has delivered training through initiatives such as R-INSTAT and PICSA. The ClimSA Caribbean team is also upgrading the CAROGEN climate prediction tools to a modern Python-based tool, PyCPT, with enhanced integration capabilities.

In the Pacific, Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) is advancing national climate service systems in Samoa and Kiribati through the development and demonstration of a National Climate Services production chain. National technical services in both countries are fully engaged, with Samoa in the implementation phase.

From Data to Decisions: Empowering Product Generation

ClimSA is bridging the gap between technical data and real-world impact. Since 2019, the JRC has been at the forefront of developing the ClimSA Station, a powerful, climate-focused evolution of the environmental eStation workstation designed during the African Monitoring of the Environment for Sustainable Development (AMESD), which has been rigorously upgraded and tested for the ClimSA Programme. This open-source tool enables users to access, process and visualise climate data, including local station data, forecasts, projections and advanced features like Jupyter Notebooks for dynamic data analysis.

ClimSA supported a strategic partnership between the JRC and EUMETSAT for the installation and operationalization of the ClimSA Stations in ACP regions. In March 2023, the JRC hosted a milestone workshop in Ispra, Italy, bringing together 18 experts and IT specialists from the eight ACP RCCs to build capacity and explore custom solutions. With RCCs’ actions and additional support by the AUC and JRC, ClimSA Stations are now installed and fully operational and technical staff are on boarded in 49 African countries. CIMH and SPREP are leading efforts to install ClimSA Stations respectively in the Caribbean and the Pacific, with experts empowered to deliver user-oriented forecasts. Follow-up training sessions have been rolled out across all ACP regions.

The JRC has also supported RCCs by mirroring the full functionality of its advanced climate tools on regional platforms, enabling direct management and use by the RCCs. Through complete knowledge and technology transfer, JRC has strengthened regional climate services. ICPAC, for example, has received the ASAP platform to monitor early signs of agricultural stress and identify productivity hotspots, featuring the High Resolution Viewer with Sentinel-2 imagery (20m x 20m). The Global Drought Observatory (GDO) has also been successfully transferred to ICPAC and ACMAD, enhancing their ability to deliver timely, data-driven climate insights across regions.

Key to the ClimSA effort on climate product generation is the WMO-led development and rollout of the Climate Services Toolkit (CST), which includes a training manual, objective seasonal forecasting tools, WMO-compliant verification systems and streamlined access to forecast data. By providing national meteorological services with practical tools and knowledge, this initiative enhances operational efficiency and reduces reliance on costly training, enabling countries to deliver reliable and timely climate information more effectively.

Regional institutions are complementing these efforts with targeted initiatives. ACMAD supports public health through regular meningitis vigilance products, while ICPAC operates digital platforms for hazard monitoring and agricultural resilience in East Africa. In the Caribbean, CIMH is pioneering climate-health research, focusing on heat stress and vector-borne diseases such as dengue.

Connecting Forecasts with People: Delivering Actionable Intelligence

The dissemination and delivery of climate products across the ACP regions have seen remarkable advancements under the ClimSA Programme, with regional institutions leading efforts to ensure that vital climate information reaches those who need it most.

ACMAD has played a central role, notably through its contribution to the Annual Africa State of Climate Report and the regular production of tailored climate products focused on agriculture, disaster risk reduction, health and water sectors. ACMAD also facilitates the co-production of climate services such as the Start of Agricultural Season Service.

In Eastern Africa, ICPAC has established a dynamic and multi-platform approach to communication. Throughout 2023, ICPAC generated and disseminated 36 dekadal, 12 monthly, and 12 rolling seasonal forecasts, as well as an annual state of climate report, all made accessible via its official website and widely shared through Meta platforms, LinkedIn and targeted email campaigns. The impact of these efforts is evident also in the grassroots engagement documented during field visits, such as in Kenya’s Taita Taveta County, where community radio and local media were successfully mobilised to extend climate knowledge to smallholder farmers.

West Africa has also made significant strides. Between 2021 and 2024, contracts were established with mobile communication providers and radio stations to deliver timely climate information directly to farmers—an innovation brought about by ClimSA. The AGRHYMET Centre has also enhanced its digital presence through the upgraded AGRHYMET web portal, ensuring that updated climate services are readily available to a broad audience. In the Southern African region, the finalisation and implementation of a Standard Operating Procedure for Climate Experts Meetings, first tested during SARCOF-27, further institutionalises the delivery process and strengthens regional outreach.

Way Forward: Keeping the Momentum

Guided by WMO’s integrated frameworks, ClimSA is embedding a globally consistent yet locally adaptable model. ACP nations are no longer just users of climate forecasts; they are becoming architects of climate-smart futures. As the Programme concludes, the challenge and opportunity lie in sustaining this momentum. Together with its broader efforts to engage stakeholders, expand access to climate data, build capacity, and integrate climate considerations into policies and programmes, ClimSA is also supporting RCCs in becoming WMO-designated centres. These combined actions are helping to embed climate services into national and regional planning—strengthening resilience and promoting sustainable development across the ACP regions.

Climate Services Generation and Delivery