gfcs.wmo.int€¦ · Web viewSTATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIORITY NEEDS FOR THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE GFCS FOR THE PERIOD 2016-2018. 4.1.1The Management Committee (hereafter

World Meteorological OrganizationMANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL BOARD ON CLIMATE SERVICESFIFTH SESSIONReading, United Kingdom, 19 to 20 October 2017

IBCS MC-5/INF.4.1Submitted by:

Chair of the IBCS18.X.2017

STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIORITY NEEDS FOR THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE GFCS FOR THE PERIOD 2016-2018

4.1.1 The Management Committee (hereafter Committee) at its second session held in November 2014, formed a Task Team to support the Committee in implementing Resolution 7/1 (IBCS2) to develop an Operational and Resource Plan (ORP) for the GFCS. The Task Team is hereafter referred to as the ORP-TT.

4.1.2 At the ORP-TT meeting in April 2015, representatives of the following member states were present: China, Norway, Russia, Switzerland, UK, and the USA, along with the following PAC members: FAO, UNEP, UNDP, UNISDR, WFP, WHO, WMO; as well as regional climate centers ACMAD, CIIFEN, IGAD, and the WMO technical bodies: CBS, CCl, CHy, and JCOMM. The outcome was a draft document which was revised and presented at the 3rd IBCS Management Committee meeting (MC-3) in October 2015. The IBCS MC-3 decision was for the ORP-TT to further refine, prioritize, and finalize the ORP.

4.1.3 The ORP-TT met again in April 2016. Representatives of the following member states were present: China, Indonesia, Kenya, Niger, Norway, Russia, Samoa, Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, UK, and the USA, along with the following PAC members: FAO, GWP, IFRC, UNEP, UNDP, UNISDR, WFP, WHO, WMO; as well as the WMO technical bodies: CAEM, CAgM, CBS, CCl, CHy, GCOS, JCOMM, WCRP, and others. The outcome was a revised draft document which was presented at the October 2016 IBCS Management Committee meeting. The IBCS MC-4 endorsed the document and changed the name to Priority Needs for the Operationalization of the GFCS (2016-2018) (hereafter referred to as the GFCS Priority Needs).

4.1.4 The GFCS Priority Needs is intended to: (a) focus on key strategic priorities in order to ensure that activities build on earlier successes and make meaningful and sustained progress towards achieving the GFCS vision; (b) communicate the strategic priorities for the development of climate services with governments, donors, academia, general public, and other interested stakeholders; (c) guide necessary investment strategies and decisions to fund the prioritized activities needed for the GFCS to meet its intended goals; and (d) provide a basis for monitoring and evaluating progress on the key elements of the GFCS.

4.1.5 The GFCS Priority Needs is comprised of three Parts: Part I - Implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services, which provides information on the relevance and background of the GFCS, details on the phases of GFCS implementation, and an introduction to the three strategic objectives; Part II - Priority Needs for the Operationalization of the Global Framework for Climate Services (2016-2018); and Part III - Resource Requirements for 2016-2018.

4.1.6 There are three strategic objectives within the GFCS Priority Needs. The first is ‘Priority Applications’ to improve decision-making in climate-sensitive areas through the development and application of climate services in the five climate-sensitive GFCS priority areas. These priority areas are agriculture and food security, water, health, disaster risk reduction, and energy. Activities under this objective focus on the GFCS User-Interface Platform pillar and build on the priority needs identified in the GFCS Exemplar documentation (see http://gfcs-climate.org/implementation-plan). These activities will contribute to the desired outcome where decision-making and investments

http://gfcs-climate.org/implementation-plan

IBCS MC-5/INF.4.1, p. 2

in climate-sensitive sectors are improved through the co-development and use of climate services.

4.1.7 The second strategic objective is ‘The Bridge’, which connects user needs with climate services through sustained engagement mechanisms to ensure user-driven service delivery. Particular attention is placed on strengthening and sustaining national, regional, and global coordination to improve the current delivery of services in order to foster effective user engagement and further response. Key implementing entities are the GFCS Office, regional- and national-level organizations, and partners that identify user needs and appropriate stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels. Activities under this objective build upon the priority needs identified in the GFCS User Interface Platform (UIP) documentation, and will contribute to the desired outcome where sustained mechanisms are established or enhanced to support effective user–driven, end-to-end climate services at regional and national levels.

4.1.8 The third strategic objective is the ‘Foundational Pillars’ to enhance core technical and scientific capabilities to support user-driven climate services. This objective aligns with the core foundational Pillars of the GFCS, and emphasizes the scientific and capacity needs required to ensure that the development and delivery of climate services is based on sustained observing systems, cutting edge research and prediction systems, effective platforms for knowledge transfer, and capacity development for climate information providers. This implies a special emphasis on the coordination between different international research programmes and the regional and national scientific efforts, seeking for complementarities to connect the available research with the operational gaps (mostly related with sub-seasonal to interannual prediction) at regional and national scales. Key implementing entities are the WMO and its GFCS partners, WMO constituent bodies, WMO-accredited Regional Climate Centers and NMHSs. Activities under this objective build upon the priority needs identified in the GFCS Annex documentation (see http://gfcs-climate.org/implementation-plan), and will contribute to the desired outcome where national needs are met through enhanced skills, processes, tools and technologies that enable and support climate services delivery.

4.1.9 The GFCS Priority Needs outlines implementation strategies for the three strategic objectives, provides examples of implementation partners, proposed activities and budget estimates for the implementation.

4.1.10 The GFCS Office reconvened the sub objective leads for the GFCS Priority Needs as well as interested PAC members (the list of sub objective leads involved in the discussions is provided in Annex I). The motivation of the meetings was: 1) to review the roles and responsibilities of the GFCS Priority Needs focal points and confirm their interest to remain focal points; 2) to discuss and review progress and remaining/emerging needs; 3) to discuss challenges or blockages around ‘operationalizing’ the GFCS Priority Needs; and 4) to discuss organizations, programs, and governments to approach in order to mobilize the necessary resources to better meet the needs.

Status of the implementation of the GFCS Priority Needs

4.1.11 The following provides a summary of the discussions with the sub objective leads, a review of progress, challenges encountered, and the remaining/emerging needs to operationalize the GFCS. It should be noted that the following tables provide an illustrative overview of progress towards the GFCS Priority Needs. As the methodology for collecting information on progress and challenges was limited to interviews with a subset of the GFCS Priority Needs focal points and interested PAC members, along with a review of the available information within the GFCS Office, the status update is not comprehensive. The Committee and PAC members are invited to submit further progress updates. It should be noted that in discussions with the sub objective leads, the achieved successes and progress were largely due to in-kind contributions of partner organizations and not because resources were provided or mobilized by the GFCS Office. Several of the


sub objective leads noted that expectations were built while drafting the GFCS Priority Needs and these expectations have not been matched with resources. Dialogue around expectations and coordination in next steps is encouraged. While accomplishments are encouraging, members of the IBCS MC and PAC are urged to reflect on the challenges noted in the text and to offer guidance on strategic, goal-oriented, and coordinated action to realize the aspirations of the GFCS.

Within Objective 1: Priority applications – improving decision-making in climate-sensitive areas - Agriculture and food security

4.1.12 During the discussions with the sub objective leads, it was noted that mechanisms to enhance coordination between some partners have advanced and projects have been awarded that would serve as a basis to strengthen and scale up climate services for food security. During discussions challenges were raised regarding the operationalization of the GFCS Priority Needs. The interagency coordination gap in agriculture and food security sector persists. It was noted that sufficient funding had not been secured to support this activity and that without the funding it would be difficult to convene and sustain the required dialogue. All sub objective leads agreed on the need to discuss these challenge at the upcoming PAC meeting, explore why the coordination gap persists, and provide recommendations to the IBCS on coordination mechanisms.

Agriculture and food securityActivity 1: Form a climate services, agriculture and food security inter-agency coordination team to enhance coordination among sector partners and develop joint pilot proposals

Progress achieved in 2016-2017

Gap: There is a lack of coordination between sector partners.Goals: Enhance coordination among sector partners and develop joint pilot proposals.Solutions: Establish a user-led coordination teamto (a) support greater communication between climate scientists, researchers and key stakeholders in the food security and agriculture sectors at national, regional and global levels; (b) implement and coordinate activities under the agriculture and food security priority area of GFCS.

Notable activities include WFP’s organization (with GFCS Office financial support) of a 2-day Dialogue Workshop on Climate Services and Food Security in 2016 to better understand/define the climate service needs of the agriculture and food security sector. The meeting convened a number of sector members and advanced progress on defining the climate service needs. This issue would require further consultations and finalization.

Outputs: (a) understanding of needs of users to

inform the development of new climate products and services;

(b) understanding of what is available and gaps in terms of products needed at different levels and by different actors;

(c) identification of strategic priorities for strengthening climate services within the food security and agriculture sectors;

(d) provision of technical advisory, planning and coordination services for the piloting and scaling up of different initiatives aimed at strengthening resilience and food security.

Summary of discussion of the Dialogue Workshop supported and informed the development of the ORP section on agriculture and food security priority area

An MOU between WMO and FAO was signed in 2017 to enhance coordination on climate services for agriculture.

Estimated Necessary Budget for 2016-2018: CHF 1 880 000.

CHF 20 000 (GFCS paid for WFP workshop)

Agriculture and food securityActivity 2: Strengthen and scale up climate services for food security in selected countries



Gap: There is a lack of efficiency among similar activities and projects in this sector.Goals: Scale up and possibly combine existing activities in selected countries.

Solutions: Strengthen and scale up innovations. This will include both initiatives that have already been piloted and have demonstrated their effectiveness, and innovative practices to be piloted in the field. Specific activities include the WFP R4 Rural Resilience Initiative and climate analysis, FAO farmer field schools, WMO Roving Seminars, and the WFP Food Security Climate Resilience Facility (FoodSECuRe) initiative, among others.

Partners invested time in developing several project proposals. WMO Sub-regional office in Eastern and Southern Africa and FAO developed a project proposal entitled “Agricultural Climate Resilience Enhancement Initiative (ACREI)” that was approved by the Adaptation Fund. WMO-FAO included a component in the Norway Phase II GFCS Programme in Africa for activities in West Africa. However, funding for the program was reduced and the West Africa activities were removed. NORAD is in the process of issuing the Phase II agreement for the Programme, which will see the continuation of IFRC, WFP, WHO, and WMO activities project in Malawi and Tanzania, albeit at a reduced level of funding. WMO and FAO are developing GCF project proposals for several countries in Africa and Latin America. WMO and FAO are working together on implementing FAO project entitled “Agricultural Services and Digital Inclusion in Africa” in Senegal and Rwanda.

Outputs: (a) strengthening of national early warning systems for food security; (b) integration of climate information into insurance, credit provision and crop monitoring; (c) support for context analysis at national level on food security, nutrition and climate change to inform planning; (d) development of new climate products tailored to the needs of vulnerable communities.

WFP has set-up dissemination and communication channels for climate information in Tanzania and Malawi.

WMO, FAO and UNCCD organized Latin America and Caribbean regional conference on drought management and preparedness in August 2017 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Workshop developed a regional strategic framework on drought management for the region.

WMO, FAO, EUMETSAT, and regional NHMSs organized a training course on the use of satellite products for drought monitoring and agricultural meteorology applications for the Eastern European countries in April 2017 in Budapest, Hungary.

WMO, FAO, EUMETSAT, FEWSNET, JRC, ARGHYMET, and SADC organized a training course on the use of satellite products for drought monitoring and agricultural meteorology applications for the Southern African countries in October 2016 in Harare, Zimbabwe.

WMO, FAO, EUMETSAT, UNDP, EU partners, and regional NMHSs organized a training course on the use of satellite products for drought monitoring and agricultural meteorology applications for the Southern Caucasus countries in May 2016 in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Estimated Necessary Budget for 2016-2018: CHF 6 000 000

Norway’s contribution of USD7.2M received in 2014 supported 2016 and 2017 activities in Tanzania and Malawi.


Within Objective 1: Priority applications – improving decision-making in climate-sensitive areas – Disaster risk reduction

4.1.13 Accomplishments during the period are more aligned with the priority activities outlined in the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Exemplar than those in the GFCS Priority Needs, which has a smaller subset of DRR activities. The Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative, which aims to mobilize more than 100 000 000 USD by 2020 to strengthen risk information and early warning systems in the least developed countries and small island developing states, is launching a programme of work for the 2016-2020 period with activities in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, Niger, Papua New Guinea, and with a regional focus on the Pacific SIDS.

4.1.14 During the discussions with the sub objective leads, WMO DRR lead highlighted recent efforts to develop impact-based decision support services through the Global Multi-Hazard Alert System (GMAS). The GMAS is envisioned to provide target users with authoritative hydrometeorological hazard warnings and information. WMO is currently further scoping feasibility and potential benefits in relation to cost of such an undertaking. IFRC noted promising results in their forecast-based financing pilot projects in Bangladesh, Mozambique, and Peru as an emerging priority area not currently captured in the GFCS Priority Needs. The soon-to-be-launched Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation (GCECA) in the Netherlands was highlighted as a strategic partner to advance coordination (opportunities exist to utilize the Center’s funds to convene dialogue sessions).

Disaster risk reductionActivity 1: Developing and implementing climate services to support risk analysis, risk reduction and financial protection at the national level


Gap: There is a need to obtain the maximum benefit from actual and potential climate and weather services to reduce the disaster risk posed by hydrometeorological hazards.Goals: Develop an evidence base for risk management decision-making for risk reduction and transfer, resource allocation and preparedness.

Solutions: (a) training in GFCS priority countries on application of climate services in risk analysis, risk reduction and financial protection; (b) development of climate information products and services for financial protection through a multi-stakeholder United Nations, international finance institution and private sector initiative focused on improved government and private financial planning and investment, risk financing and transfer of disaster risk; (c) provision of inputs into GFCS sector-specific risk reduction projects being undertaken in the other GFCS priority areas of agriculture and food security, health, energy, and water resources.

IFRC trained vulnerable communities in Tanzania and Malawi on the application of climate services for risk reduction. IFRC conducted Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) to identify the vulnerabilities and risks at community level. The results of the VCAs are used to develop micro-projects. Community ownership and understanding of local climate hazards has been enhanced through participatory VCA process.

Outputs: (a) risk analysis reports available to decision-makers and the public; (b) better-informed climate services to meet local needs; (c) evidence-based disaster risk reduction strategies and action plans; (d) implementation of activities to address the causal factors of disasters.

IFRC worked with vulnerable communities in Tanzania and Malawi on the development of disaster contingency plans and established and trained disaster preparedness and response teams in Tanzania and Malawi. The focus is on the application of climate services for risk reduction.


Norway’s contribution of USD 7 200 000 received 2014 supported 2016 and 2017 activities in Tanzania and Malawi.

Disaster risk reduction Progress achieved in 2016-2017


Activity 2: Support for implementation of climate services at regional and country level in line with regional, national and local disaster risk reduction strategies as called for by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030Gap: The Sendai Framework calls for efforts to “substantially increase the availability and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to the people by 2030” (Sendai Framework Seven Global Targets)Goals: Substantially increase the availability of, and access to, multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments for the communities involved. Solutions: Conduct a series of workshops and

training sessions to inform disaster risk reduction stakeholders about GFCS and vice versa, and conduct basic capacity development and training activities, development of targeted promotional materials and consultations.

The WMO held a Multi-Hazard Early Warning Conference in Cancun, Mexico, on 22-23 May 2017 (before the Global Platform), during which the GFCS held a side-event highlighting the role of climate services in disaster risk.

Outputs: (a) development of advocacy and guidance materials on the relevance and applications of climate services; and consultations targeted at the global, regional and national disaster risk reduction platforms and mechanisms; (b) development of effective stakeholder interaction and partnerships in regional, national and local contexts, using mechanisms such as the Resilient Cities initiative and national and regional disaster risk reduction platforms or consultations, and regional intergovernmental processes emphasizing outreach through existing networks, as well as via the standing mechanisms of UNISDR and the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

The GFCS Office has contributed to WMO’s plans to produce a Guide for Integrated Urban Weather, Environment and Climate Services (IUWECS) to enhance urban resilience.

Estimated Necessary Budget for 2016-2018: CHF 500 000

No dedicated resources

Within Objective 1: Priority applications – improving decision-making in climate-sensitive areas – Energy

4.1.15 During the discussions, the sub objective lead highlighted progress in the development of energy proposals to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Adaptation Fund (AF). It was noted that working with the NMHSs in least developed countries (LDCs) in this area can be a challenge as their position within the government can be relatively weak and may have contributed to difficulty in obtaining non-objection letters for the GCF proposals. It was further highlighted that LDC NMHSs have limited capacity and access to resources, which challenges the delivery of high-quality reliable information required by the energy sector. In discussing metrics for success, it was noted that one metric for success could be to have private sector involved and paying for products. The lead highlighted the need to engage more private sector partners in relevant activities.

EnergyActivity 1: Energy Joint Office in support of the energy user interface for climate services.


Gap: Implementation of climate services for the energy sector requires coherent, comprehensive and coordinated support for a core set of partner organizations whose competences, mandates and manageable


interests span the focus areas and activities described in the energy exemplar.Goals: Strengthen partnership mechanisms, increase energy stakeholders’ awareness of available data, tools and policies, address gaps, foster knowledge transfer, and create communities of practice.

Solutions: Develop an Energy Joint Office tomonitor the needs and assess the demands through existing processes developed by the partners, define roles and responsibilities, engage with the energy private sector, mobilize and allocate resources (for example, initiatives related to GCF or to the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), and define monitoring and evaluation methods and disseminate information. Activities will inform the energy sector on improving efficiency, sustainability and risk management practices through the adoption of science-based climate information.

WMO has a dedicated Science Officer overseeing energy activities. This is, however, not a joint position with an energy agency/company.

Outputs: (a) coordination among partners; (b) resource mobilization; (c) effective engagement with energy companies; (d) training courses, development of tools and methodologies.

(a) GFCS / WMO collaboration with the World Energy and Meteorological Council (WEMC) and Copernicus’ European Climatic Energy Mixes (ECEM).

(b) resource mobilization detailed in Activity 2 below.

(c) Effective engagement with energy companies remain a gap.

(d) no reportable outputs (from the GFCS Office).


Salary 1 FTE 2016 – July 2018USD 750 000 (WMO)

EnergyActivity 2: Implementation of climate services for energy in selected countries.


Gap: Implementation of climate services for the energy sector requires coherent, comprehensive and coordinated support for a core set of partner organizations.Goals: Access resources for the development of climate services for the energy sector, as envisioned by GFCS and in support of the Paris Agreement.Solutions: Design and implement projects focusing on developing dedicated climate services in up to eight countries to support two overarching objectives: (a) improved climate-related energy outcomes at country level for mitigation, through facilitating the expansion of renewable energy, and adaptation, through enhancing climate resilience and efficiency; (b) the development of partnerships, tools, methods and processes for implementing climate services at the country level, compiled and consolidated in order to provide technical advisory, planning and coordination services for implementation in other countries.

Outputs: Proposals and support documentation to be submitted to funding agencies and donors.

GCF concept note and preparation funding application (PPF) for energy in Colombia, Moldova, and Tanzania submitted in October 2016. Project PPF was submitted in December 2016. Feedback has been received and is currently being revised going from regional to national submission. USD 49 500 000.

Adaptation Fund submission Water, Energy, and Food Nexus: addressing Adaptation through Climate Services, proposal is under development (Colombia and Chile) USD 6 800 000



Salary 1 FTE 2016 – July 2018USD 750 000 (WMO)

EnergyActivity 3: Effective delivering of decision-support climate information for use in the energy sector.


Gap: There is a lack of adequate coordination and mechanisms for knowledge transfer that is often a barrierto streamlining climate information.Goals: Facilitate the delivery and use of relevant climate information for the energy sector in support of renewable energy generation, transmission and distribution, and help theenergy sector to anticipate significant changes in the demand and production at regional scale.

Solutions: Implement activities to support the generation of custom-made products that fulfil the needs of the users including: (a) interannual forecasting for hydropower operations; (b) climate scenarios for energy mixes; (c) observing systems and climate predictions for solar and wind; (d) seasonal forecasting of energy demand with a focus on high-impact events; (e) multi-year climate projections for anticipating changes in future demand and disruptions in supply.

Outputs: Products include gridded data for engineers, and charts, tables and diagrams that will assist political decision-makers, energy sector managers and other sectors of the economy (for example, farming and water management) in pursuing efficient energy and environmental planning.

GFCS / WMO collaboration with the World Energy and Meteorological Council (WEMC) and Copernicus’ European Climatic Energy Mixes (ECEM).



Within Objective 1: Priority applications – improving decision-making in climate-sensitive areas – Health

4.1.16 During the discussion with the priority focal points, it was noted that the development of guidelines or standard operating procedures outlining steps required for WMO and partner agencies to organize regional consultations would help facilitate engagement of appropriate sectoral focal points and improved outcomes and monitoring from meetings. These would be shared with WMO regional offices and partners. WHO has taken the lead to monitor progress on the health component, but comprehensive tracking has been challenged by insufficient coordination mechanisms with other health partners. It was acknowledged that there could be multiple points of intersection between health sector, WHO, and WMO. However, appropriate coordination mechanisms need to be established to ensure that the activities meet quality standards, are monitored, and that progress is recorded. Discussion was requested on how to better coordinate and share information among the different partners, ensure quality standards are available and followed. Intentions were discussed to map donors and to identify how to target messages for joint resource mobilization.

HealthActivity 1: Technical Support Unit and health user interface for climate services: WHO-WMO Joint Office.


Gap: Implementation of health activities under GFCS requires operational and technical support for the development, coordination, and use of climate services. No technical unit exists at either WHO or WMO to


help coordinate and guide activities to scale up the development and use of health tailored climate service.Goals: To enhance capacity building, technical support, and coordination for climate and health practitioners and researchers to access and use climate information.

Solutions: The WHO-WMO Joint Office provides support to the implementation of the GFCS health activities, at global, regional, and national levels. Staff and activities serve to (1) inform relevant WHO and WMO policy and programming, (2) provide coordination for partners; (3) support development of existing and new programming; and (4) provide communications and technical guidance to implementation, particularly at the national level; (5) inform the long term needs and opportunities for WMO to respond to the climate service needs of the health sector; and (6) help WMO to more directly engage with a broad range of WHO and health sector experts.

Operation of the WHO-WMO Joint Office with 1 staff 2014-2018 (WMO) and 1 consultant in 2017 (WHO) (funding needed for 2018)

WHO-NRC placement to WHO Africa Regional Office (funding needed for 2018)

Full progress report of the Joint Office is available

Outputs: Increased demand for and capacity of health and meteorological professionals to collaborate through an online technical resource portal to make climate knowledge more readily accessible, and increase opportunities for networking experts and users; technical guidance documents; training events and educational products; increased activity of climate service projects and partnerships, such as ClimHealth Africa and the Global Heat Health Information Network.

Resources secured to develop a technical resource portal in 2018

CIPHA Scientific Symposium (2016) and publication on the state of climate services for health (2018)

Sponsored participation in scientific conferences such as CIPHA, ICCS-5, SASCOF Climate Services Forum, ClimHealth Africa network, RCOF engagement

Joint publications: Climate Services for Health Case Studies; ENSO Guidance and SOP; Climate Service Readiness Tool; DHIS-2 partnerships and Integrated Surveillance Prototypes, etc.

Scale up of ClimHealth Africa visibility and coordination in 2016-2017

Launch of the Global Heat Health Info Network


Salary 1 FTE 2016 – July 2018USD 750 000 (WMO)Portal USD 500 000 (Welcome Trust-WHO)Consultant USD 100 000 USD (WHO)WHO in-kind staff timeTravel Costs PSC USD 10,000 (WHO-WMO)

HealthActivity 2: Climate and health working groups in developing countries.


Gap: The absence of effective national institutional arrangements and enabling environments to facilitate successful co-development and delivery of climate services hinder climate service collaboration.Goals: To improve coordination and capacity building of climate and health professionals by encouraging a structured working environment for developing and using health-tailored climate products and services.

Solutions: to establish task focused national working groups whereby the research and operational sections of the climate sector can interact with health actor clients, to jointly build capacity to identify, implement and evaluate the use of climate information services for improved health protection. A modeled approach will help

Malawi and Tanzania groups supported through the GFCS Programme

West Africa CHWGs supported by AEMET-Spain

Mozambique supported by WHO Madagascar through partnerships with WHO, NCAR, and the WB


to create standard tools and references for scale up in other countries and regions.

Outputs: National scale joint projects and research; technical training, improved data exchange and use, institutional agreements and working arrangements between NHMS and Ministries of Health.

Review of global working groups status/progress

WHO/GIZ Training and Activity Support to 10 African Countries for V&A assessments and cultivation of working groups.

Technical training provided to Madagascar CHWG by US-NCAR

MOU signed between Ministry of Health and NMHS in Mozambique, drafted in Malawi/Tanzania.



HealthActivity 3: Multi-hazard risk monitoring and early warning for health protection


Gap: Health is a key element of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Yet, the global health community is not sufficiently benefiting from available information and technology for risk monitoring and early warning of the full spectrum of hazards with health consequences. This is in part due to gaps in existing Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) models to integrate a full range of hazards, including conflict, biological hazards such as epidemics and pandemics, hazardous air quality, and extreme temperatures. These are key areas for both climate and disaster risk management.Goals: Support researchers, decision makers and practitioners to establish policies and practices that strengthen the use of accurate and timely data to inform early warning and response to hazards with health consequences; particularly extreme weather and climate events, and poor air quality in cities.Solutions: Proposed activities will help to improve the collection, management, analysis and dissemination of early warning data and related information products by the global public health community.

Outputs: Efforts will support (a) the definition of an action plan for HEWS of biological and health threats within multi-hazard EWS frameworks; (b) the design of an action plan to address climate-related health risks within emergency and disaster risk management programmes and Sendai Framework implementation; (c) develop a Climate Risk Management (CRM) Toolkit; including needs based guidelines and good practices for scientific consensus and tool development; (d) develop data integration tools to enhance interoperability of core data sets for risk monitoring; and (e) develop and test integrated forecast and warning products.

(a/b/c)Concept Note for CRM Toolkit Project drafted

(a/b/c) JPO position requested (a) significant WHO engagement on defining

health in WMO Sand Dust Storm Warning Systems

(b) WHO thematic platform for health emergencies and disaster risk management engaged to contribute, building on climate risk management factsheets

(c) global synthesis outline proposed to review state of science/practice for extreme heat forecasting, monitoring, and response

(c) extreme heat health mapping and repository of Heat Action Plans created

(c) partnership created with Heat-Shield to develop evidence base to inform good practices for heat-stress reduction in worker populations

(c)WHO Guidance on Health EWS under development

(d)new WHO indicators for monitoring impacts of extreme events proposed

(d) Monitoring Sendai Implementation for health planned


(d) Partnership and Pilots with GIZ/HDC/IRI to develop climate data-integration tool with DHIS-2 (2017 – in progress)

(d) Global Platform on Air Quality and Health established to strengthen risk monitoring

(e)white paper to define health applications/needs for Hi-Weather -WWRP Research program under development (2017)

(e) analysis of regional/seasonal climate predictability and guidance for vector borne disease control in Africa conducted for publication in 2018



Within Objective 1: Priority applications – improving decision-making in climate-sensitive areas – Water

4.1.17 During the discussion sub objective water leads it was noted that expectations had been raised when the document was discussed in 2016 that there would be a strong push led by the GFCS to mobilize resources for the activities contained in the GFCS Priority Needs document, but that nothing has been raised through this channel (the figures reflected in the document are the additional funding required to advance on the new activities, this would build on the support already provided by WMO and Global Water Partnership through existing WMO Programmes). It was noted that the Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM) and Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP), which represent two of the four existing interagency programmes highlighted in the Water Exemplar as key in global coordination mechanisms of the Water UIP, currently face challenges sustaining their core operations. While these programmes offer good guidance on flood and drought management, additional resources would be required to integrate climate services into their offering. A point stressed is the critical importance of the regional dimension and the connection to the regional climate centers (RCCs). It was discussed to develop a 2-pager around the successes, remaining needs and priorities for fundraising.

4.1.18 During the discussion with UNESCO it was noted that their contributions to the GFCS are more aligned with items outlined in the Water Exemplar. Their activities are currently around mapping of hydroclimate information requirements, users and stakeholder interface mechanisms across the water sector and early warning systems. Citizen science was noted as an emerging area for user engagement and feedback into the refinement of services. Further advocacy and sustained engagement between decision makers and scientists was highlighted. The Global Energy and Water cycle Exchanges project Science Conference May 2018 in Alberta, Canada and the 1st International Conference on Water Security June 2018 in Toronto, Canada were identified as two possible venues. It was noted that UNESCO was recently awarded funding from the Belgium Government to conduct a mapping of the hydroclimate service needs of the Zambezi river basin. This could be leveraged as co-finance in further proposal submissions. There was agreement to coordinate on a joint proposal.

4.1.19 The GFCS Office noted coordination gap between the existing interagency programmes highlighted in the Water Exemplar as key in global coordination mechanisms of the Water UIP. Enhanced coordination is required to harness the existing systems and networks to accelerate hydroclimate service delivery. The division of tasks in next steps around resource mobilization and moving the agenda forward should be clearly defined.


WaterActivity 1: Integrated flood and drought management help desks.


Gap: Support is lacking to develop tailored climate services for water management, including water-related extremes (droughts and floods).Goals: Broaden the existing help-desk utility to form a global UIP for the climate and watercommunities to address climate services needs for the implementation of IWRM in the context of climatevariability and change.

Solutions: Strengthen the existing capacities in flood and drought management, building on the already established help-desk structure of the APFM and IDMP. The technical support units of the two programmes guide the implementation of GFCS water activities and the help desks will be the central tool to accomplish this.

The Flood and Drought HelpDesks are a facility to help countries implement flood and drought management practices - they are facilitated by WMO and GWP and bring together the expertise of over 60 expert institutions on flood and drought management, to support countries move towards an integrated approach - based on the IWRM principles aiming to strengthen resilience to water extremes - for preparing for and mitigating the negative effects of floods and droughts and harnessing the benefits of floodplains. Some examples of recent work on climate services include the development of a drought monitoring system for South Asia, led by IWMI (link) and the Development of a Drought Monitoring, Forecasting and Mitigation System in South America with the competent authorities of the countries (link) as well as knowledge resources on drought indicator and indices (link) as well as guidance on selecting measures and designing strategies for integrated flood management (link) and flood forecasting and early warning (link). The APFM has developed 27 tools on a variety of aspects of flood management (link).

Outputs: (a) provide a platform for coordination for partners; (b) supportdevelopment of existing and new national and regional projects and programmes; (c) develop technical guidance (guidelines and tools); (d) sustain a dialogue between the water and climate community through communication and linking up with existing initiatives active in the water–climate interface.

Proposal for retaining multiple entry points, yet to streamline iconography, terminology and functionality of flood, drought and climate services of the WMO APFM and IDMP help desks developed and implemented.

Help Desk on Integrated Flood Management and tools maintained and support base increased with now 30 expert organizations in the Associated Programme on Flood Management.

Help Desk on Integrated Drought Management launched with now 33 expert organizations in the Integrated Drought Management Programme.

UNESCO and technical partners CAZALAC and the IRI advanced work on the Drought Atlas of Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Maprooms show: 1) the frequency of droughts with return periods associated to drought intensities (precipitation deficits); 2) the minimum expected rainfall amount associated to a certain return period; 3) The maximum expected rainfall amount associated to a certain return

http://www.floodmanagement.info/tools/

http://www.floodmanagement.info/portfolio-item/flood-forecasting-and-early-warning/

http://www.floodmanagement.info/guidance-document/

http://www.droughtmanagement.info/indices/

https://public.wmo.int/en/events/workshops/workshop-developing-drought-monitoring-forecasting-and-mitigation-system-south

http://dms.iwmi.org/


period. UNESCO’s African Flood and Drought

Monitor and Latin American Flood and Drought Monitor an interactive, web-based resource that provides real-time observations for various meteorological and hydrological variables. These variables are summarized into a set of indices, such as a drought index, to facilitate decision-making.

UNESCO's International Flood Management (IFI) leads implementation of Integrated Flood Management (IFM) in the member states. As an example, UNESCO is implementing a project targeting the Indus River Basin by upgrading the flood forecasting and early warning systems of Pakistan, supported financially by the Government of Japan.

GAP: Further broadening of the existing WMO help-desk utility to address climate services needs for the implementation of IWRM in the context of climate variability and change will depend on additional financial resources.



WaterActivity 2: Dialogues and mechanisms for climate services in water-sensitive regions.


Gap: Links between seasonal climate outlooks and hydrological forecasts for informed water management decision making are missing.Goals: Link the output of a sub-seasonal to seasonal (S2S) climate outlook to long-term (a few days to 3 months) hydrological forecasting to advance water resources management for agriculture, household consumption, hydropower generation and emergency response planningSolutions: Pilot projects to achieve the goals described will be developed in river basins in South Asia identified as vulnerable to climate variability and change, as well as for vulnerable groundwater reserves and surface waters, with an emphasis on snow or glacier melt and water scarcity or flooding. The approach includes mechanisms and dialogues between the hydrological and climatological communities. The pilot projects will provide guidance and assistance in the setting up of water UIPs at the national and/or regional levels and provide technical guidance and examples on practices and procedures for their replication and adaptation in other regions facing similar challenges. Outputs: (a) improved delivery and application of

climate services for better water management; (b) improved food security, energy generation, public health, and disaster prevention.

Work by some member states advanced on pilot projects developing mechanisms for climate services in water-sensitive regions (a complete update would need to come from member states). Further involvement of WMO in this work pending mobilization of resources.

The HydroSOS (Hydrological Status and Outlook System) initiative has been launched following CHy-XV. HydroSOS is an initiative that aims to provide an operational WMO system capable of assessing the current hydrological status and its likely near-future outlook for all


areas of the globe. Between 2017 and 2020, a CHy-led Expert Team is expected to develop an operational and governance framework for such a global system and put in place a number of proof-of-concept pilot projects aimed at implementing into practice the underlying science and demonstrating the technological capability. A first meeting of the HydroSOS is going to be during the week starting 25 September 2017 in Entebbe.

UNESCO’s programme for Water and Development Information for Arid Lands – a Global Network (G-WADI) addresses the urgent need for increased regional and international cooperation on sustainable development of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. Over the last decade G-WADI has grown into a worldwide network coordinated by a global secretariat and 5 regional networks, providing a catalyst to leverage relevant scientific knowledge for decision-making and practice.



WaterActivity 3: Preparation of flood, drought and water resources management projects.


Gap: Capacity is lacking for the development of “bankable” projects that address climate services needs for water management at the country and basin level.Goals: To Prepare projects on water and climate services that can leverage funding.

Solutions: Provide technical support for project preparation towards the implementation of IWRM, including Integrated Flood Management and Integrated Drought Management. Activities include (a) instigation of projects that develop and apply tailored climate services accounting for the integrated water risk and vulnerabilities across other priority areas; (b) workshops to prepare flood and drought management projects that can attract funding to implement hard and soft measures with a focus on climate services; (c) development of training manuals and tools that allow for scaling up and application in other regions.

Outputs: Funded projects on the development and application of climate services for water management.

In the framework of the APFM a costing model has been developed to help quantify WMO input in project proposals. This, combined with a donor mapping methodology developed both by IDMP and APFM, has helped the two programs advancing in identifying potential sources of funding and submitting project proposals

WMO Pre-concept for “Integrating Flood and Drought Management and Early Warning for Climate Change Adaptation in the Volta Basin” for USD 7.9M submitted to Adaptation Fund.

WMO workshop on Integrated Flood Management and Project Preparation for the 6 countries in the Volta basin planned for late October 2017.


UNESCO was recently awarded funding from the Belgium Government to conduct a mapping of the hydroclimate service needs of the Zambezi river basin. Under this project, there will be a needs assessment for Climate Services for improved Water Resources Management in vulnerable regions to Southern Africa from 21 - 22 November 2017, Harare, Zimbabwe.



Objective 2: Building and sustaining bridges – investing in mechanisms for user engagement and services delivery

4.1.20 The effective and structured means of engagement of users, user representatives, climate services providers, and researchers is required to advance climate services. Structures and mechanisms are needed at global, regional, and national levels to advance dialogue between users and providers, feedback from users, improve climate literacy in user community and literacy of climate community in user needs, and evaluation to ensure progress. Challenges in establishing effective linkages between the regional and national levels persist in some regions (RCCs and NMHS). Operationalizing Resolution 60, WMO Policy for free and unrestricted international exchange of climate data and products, remains a critical need. Recognizing that the user community requires confidence in climate service products, the development of standards for climate service provision should be considered and monitoring and evaluation of climate services are required.

NationalActivity 1: Establishment and support of national dialogues on climate services and frameworksfor climate services.


Gap: There is a lack of interface or systematic dialogue between users and providers to facilitate addressing the demand for tailored climate services in climate-sensitive sectors; a significant gap exists between the supply of climate services and the needs of users; users’ understanding of climate services is insufficient.Goals: Mainstream the use of climate information in decision-making and the long-term sustainability of climate services development and delivery mechanisms at national levels.

Solutions: GFCS will facilitate the development of national frameworks (providers and public or private users), which could influence national legislation, and policy frameworks in every country implementing GFCS-related projects. Working in close collaboration with the United Nations country teams, country-specific frameworks will clarify the national requirements, roles and responsibilities, and lay the foundation for climate services ranging from the collection, quality control, archive and dissemination of climate observations to products and services.

Outputs: (a) guidance document on theestablishment of an NFCS; (b) NCOFs and national climate forums serving as UIP mechanisms at national level; (c) collection of lessons learnt and knowledge transfer to share experiences with other countries.

(a) The Step-by-Step Guide for Establishing A National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) is available. Twelve countries in Africa and Vanuatu have developed NFCS. In addition, China, Switzerland, Germany, UK, and others have developed NFCS independently. Vietnam and Colombia are initiating the process.

(b) NCOFs and national climate forums are being established to serve as UIP


mechanisms at the national level (complete number not available).

(c) Lessons learnt and knowledge transfer remain a gap.


NORCAP experts on climate service deployments have been critical in advancing the NFCS in West Africa.

RegionalActivity 1: Establishment and strengthening of regional systems for providing climate services.


Gap: Regional support and coordination are lacking to ensure optimal and consistent approaches to climate services in countriesGoals: Improve existing and establish new mechanisms for collaboration, cooperation and knowledge exchange on climate services activities at the regional level, notably focused on enhancing the role of regional coordination mechanisms that will be supported technically through RCCs and other regionalentities with established credentials to routinely provide and coordinate regionalized climate information and facilitate its uptake in climate-sensitive sectors.Solutions: This activity involves a systematic assessment of the existing regional capacities and identification of needs to develop, deliver and use climate services and facilitate regular feedback and dialogue mechanisms to continue exchanging views. A key focus is to facilitate engagement of regional entities in supporting country-level implementation of GFCS. It is also proposed to formalize and coordinate these actions in a consistent and sustainable manner, such as through frameworks at the regional level involving all relevant partners and taking into account the concerned region’s specific needs and priorities. Outputs: (a) regional dialogues and

consultations; (b) sustainable partnerships and long-term commitments; (c) enhanced Regional Climate Outlook Forum (RCOF) processes and climate services user forums including through a global regional outlook forum review; (d) regional frameworks for climate services; (e) identification of core regional requirements for climate services; (f) identification of roles and responsibilities as well as mandates of institutions responsible for regional support, including RCCs; (g) interim arrangements for national-level Climate Services Information System (CSIS) products to be supplied by regional institutions for countries in need.

The Saly Regional Stakeholder Coordination Workshop was held May 1-2, 2017 (Saly, Senegal). A Roadmap for Scaling up the Delivery of Coordinated Weather, Water and Climate Services in Africa was an outcome of the meeting.

WMO Workshop on the Global Review of Regional Climate Outlook Forums (RCOF) 5-7 September 2017 in Guayaquil, Ecuador to examine all aspects of the interpretation, creation and dissemination of regional climate outlooks as handled through the RCOFs and develop recommendations for future RCOFs to best actionable climate information tailored to their needs.

No reportable progress on remaining items.



GlobalActivity 1: Support for and strengthening of the GFCS Office to effectively coordinate GFCSimplementation.


Gap: Successful implementation of the Framework requires coordination and support.Goals: Ensure that coordination and implementation of GFCS processes and procedures are being effectively coordinated and implemented.

Solutions: The GFCS Office will play a pivotal coordination role towards the following: (a) supporting sessions of GFCS governance and advisory bodies; (b) making connections between the three objectives and associated activities; (c) assisting with coordination and implementation of processes and procedures, including direct support at national, regional and global levels; (d) identifying priority support needs through targeted engagement of technical expertise.


Outputs: (a) efficient governance meetings; (b) identification of opportunities and efficiencies through coordination across the objectives; (c) strengthened activities through the identification and utilization of technical experts.

(a) See monitoring and evaluation. There is a need to establish baseline conditions of current governance meetings and monitor progress.

(b) Stocktake of GFCS Priority Needs initiated. Further work required and staff support needed.

(c) Similar need expressed in the GFCS HelpDesk consultations. Review possibility of NORCAP roster being used for this purpose.


Salary 1 FTE P4 2016 – July 2018USD 750 000 (WMO) (funding expires in 2018)Salary 1 FTE P5 2016 – July 2018USD estimate not available

GlobalActivity 2: Communications and knowledge management for effective climate services.


Gap: There is a clear need for knowledge transfer and management activities. Duplication of efforts at national level and uncoordinated actions of partners are still common practice.Goals: Facilitate partners and members to lead effective awareness-raising campaigns and ensure that activities in support of GFCS operationalization contribute to the global body of knowledge and experience of how to develop and deliver effective user-driven climate services. Solutions: The GFCS Office will provide support

for national- and regional-level stakeholder mapping, and communication plans, and provide communications resources. This includes collating and sharing best practices, tools, documents and materials based on user needs, and utilizing other mechanisms with a proven benefit.

Through the USAID-funded Assessing Sustainability and Effectiveness of Climate Information Services (CIS) in Africa project, the GFCS Office has a full-time Knowledge Manager in West Africa.

WMO is sponsoring up to 30% of a communications staff member’s time to support GFCS communication activities.

Outputs: A GFCS HelpDesk that will consist of a series of tools, including policy documents, case examples and a pool of support-base partners that are ready to contribute by answering or responding to specific questions and demands; outreach and communication materials that promote the scientific and operational understanding of climate services.

A steering committee consisting of the WB, WHO, NOAA, CCAFS, USAID, and others was formed. The steering committee met four times to provide guidance on the development of the GFCS HelpDesk prior to the scoping meeting.

DWD hosted a scoping workshop for the GFCS HelpDesk in Offenbach, Germany 19-20 June 2017.

A German JPO will join the GFCS Office in November 2017 to build out the GFCS HelpDesk.


Salary 1 FTE Knowledge Manager May 2017 – June 2018 USD 67 399 (position hired through NORCAP with USAID funds)Salary JPO 2017 – July 2018USD estimate not available

GlobalActivity 3: Monitoring and evaluation of GFCS


Gap: Tracking the implementation and progress of the GFCS is essential to ensure the vision of the Framework is achieved.Goals: Ensure GFCS monitoring and evaluation methodology is carried out effectively for both the projects and the Framework itself.


Solutions: A dedicated technical officer will implement the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan to ensure high standards of GFCS accountability, including by establishing and maintaining relevant monitoring tools and databases; providing guidance to implementing partners; supporting reporting activities, including coordination of the year five GFCS mid-term review; and coordinating with partners, consultants, donors and others as needed. The monitoring and evaluation methodology will be applied to the overarching GFCS Implementation Plan (including GFCS contributing projects and GFCS projects (see Annex 2 for project designation criteria) that will help achieve the GFCS vision) and will track progress and impacts of the activities specific to the 2016–2018 period.

This is a critical need . Without baseline assessments, establishment of metrics, and adherence to monitoring and evaluation protocols, attribution of GFCS interventions will remain tenuous and difficult to distinguish and communicate.

Outputs: A documented understanding of progress towards GFCS implementation. GFCS Mid-Term Review and status update on

GFCS Priority Needs Estimated Necessary Budget for 2016-2018:

CHF 300 000CHF 58 000 was provided for the GFCS Mid-Term Review

Within Objective 3: Foundational pillars – enhancing core technical and scientific capabilities for user-driven climate services – Climate Services Information System

4.1.21 The Climate Services Information System (CSIS) is the principal GFCS mechanism that will routinely collate, store and process information about past, present and future climate. The CSIS will comprise a physical infrastructure of institutes, centres and computer capabilities that, together with professional human resources, will develop, generate and distribute a wide range of climate information products and services to inform complex decision-making processes across a wide range of climate-sensitive activities and enterprises. The WMO World Climate Services Programme will be the principal mechanism for implementing the CSIS, a substantial part of which already exists. The implementation strategy of the CSIS is based on a three-tiered structure of collaborating institutions that will ensure climate information and products are generated, exchanged and disseminated. Essential linkages will include WIGOS and GOOS, as the principle source for observational data and metadata to feed CSIS, WIS as the principle framework for CSIS information discovery and access. DPFS would serve as the principle framework for CSIS operations with the vision to seamlessly integrating CSIS operational arrangements and practices into DPFS, thereby complementing the current DPFS set up to cover climate timescales (past including historic data, present including climate monitoring, future including climate projections).CSISActivity 1: Defining, building and making available a climate services toolkit at the regional and national levels.


Gap: Many countries lack the technical capacity to produce and deliver climate products and services.Goals: Assess requirements, assemble and distribute a climate services toolkit to all WMOMembers in need, and support deployment and training in the use of the toolkit.

Solutions: Through the collection and enhancement of material and knowledge from many institutions, a climate services toolkit will be developed that will assist all countries, but particularly developing countries, to provide climate services. The toolkit will comprise knowledge products, software tools, public domain datasets and training materials that will enable the latest scientific and technological advances to be applied to the provision of climate services. The toolkit will make training workshops more focused and efficient in imparting operational skills, and will help ensure consistency and quality of products and services made


available through CSIS that are targeted for sectoral applications. The activities will include (a) defining standard procedures and best practices; (b) reviewing existing tools and data; (c) toolkit production and logistics; (d) deployment of the toolkit together with training; (e) establishing a mechanism for maintenance and quality control.

Outputs: (a) standard procedures and best practices for climate data management andmining, monitoring, prediction and projection; (b) a climate service toolkit ready for distribution, deployment of the toolkit and training workshops on its use.

(a) A developers meeting on the GFCS relevant climate data, products and tools for implementation of the Climate Services Information System was convened from 6 to 8 December 2016 in Geneva.

(b) The Climate Services Toolkit launched at the WMO International Workshop on Climate Services Information System Operations and Coordination, 21-24 March 2017 in Nanjing, China.


Exact member contribution details currently not available, but support was provided by NOAA, KNMI, and China as well as all members and experts that contributed their tools to populating the CST.

CSISActivity 2: Regional partnerships and networks for enhancing CSIS capacities


Gap: Many regions do not have sufficient partnerships and networks for CSIS implementationGoals: Establish (where applicable), strengthen and sustain regional partnerships for enhancing the capacities of CSIS structures (especially RCCs) and their linkages to NMHSs in their respective domains of responsibilitySolutions: This activity, through regional partnerships and networks, aims to establish forums for sharing expertise and experiences among professionals, including on how to improve communication and achieve a consistent approach in addressing climate-related hazards. The regional partnerships for capacity development will be built on and expanded from existing regional partnerships for severe weather-forecasting and warning services. The activities will also be aligned with the development of the future integrated and seamless WMO Global Data-processing and Forecasting System.

Outputs: (a) regional frameworks for CSIS implementation; (b) RCC and Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre workshops; (c) climate watch systems; (d) regional management team meetings; (e) regional collaborative platforms; (f) stakeholder engagement.

Work plans were developed for 7 countries (Tanzania, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Dominica, Moldova, Papua New Guinea, and Peru) to test the CST. WMO secretariat is seeking twinning arrangements through existing projects and development of new proposals to support activities.



CSISActivity 3: Facilitating implementation and coordination of the CSIS pillar.


Gap: There is a lack of a systems approach for full implementation of CSIS; its implementation needs to be coordinated across all levels and its credibility and authenticity ensured.Goals: Elaborate core functions of CSIS; assure the networking of the WMO community of climate services


providers; bring other partners into the CSIS framework; develop guidance on implementation of climate services at the national level; integrate the climate services toolkit into CSIS operations; develop best practices for tailoring of climate products.Solutions: The main component of this activity is to conduct an international workshop on “Defining Climate Service Information System architecture for effective climate service delivery” and prototype aspects of successful implementation in coordination with key stakeholders. The CCl Implementation Coordination Team on the CSIS is proposed to coordinate this workshop and its follow-up activities.

Outputs: (a) organization of an international workshop; (b) a strategy for deployment of the climate services toolkit; (c) technical reference manuals on CSIS operations; (d) a guidance document on NFCSs.

(a) The Climate Services Toolkit launched at the WMO International Workshop on Climate Services Information System Operations and Coordination, 21-24 March 2017 in Nanjing, China.

(b) Work plans were developed for 7 countries.

(c) reference manuals in progress. (d) guidance document on NFCS

complete (noted in Objective 2 above)



CSISActivity 4: CDMSs.


Gap: There are insufficient basic climate data management capabilities in almost 80 member countries.Goals: Significantly improve data management to enhance climate services provision atnational, regional and global levels.

Solutions: CDMS implementation at country level; ensure basic maintenance and evolution of existing open-source CDMSs used by WMO Members and develop the architecture for a future single-reference open-source CDMS.

Outputs: Consistent national, regional and global climate datasets and related data products and services.

Status update not available and would require further consultation. This is a critical piece to operationalize Resolution 60 (open access to data)

Estimated Necessary Budget for 2016-2018: CHF 3 320 000 KMA funds support activities in East Africa.

CREWS funding is earmarked for West Africa CDMS.

CSISActivity 5: Development and demonstration of a national climate services concept, includingenhancement of national CSIS capacities.


Gap: The use of existing climate data, products and knowledge is suboptimal or even absent in many developing countries and there is a need to fast track implementation to achieve quick results.Goals: Develop a national climate services concept with a developing-country perspective and fast track its implementation by providing access to existing data and products and enabling less capable NMHSs to quickly attain the capacities to meet the needs of their user sectors through twinning arrangements with advanced NMHSs.

Solutions: This activity involves the development of a national climate services concept with a major focus on the implementation of CSIS at national level and its linkages with the UIP, with a developing-country perspective and the demonstration of the implementation of this concept in a


few pilot countries using the already available data and products through suitable twinning arrangements between advanced and less capable NMHSs. This activity will also address the provision of education and training opportunities to NMHS staff to support CSIS, and explore approaches to develop and deliver these opportunities on an ongoing basis.

Outputs: Consistent national, regional and global climate datasets and related data products and services. (a) a template for a national climate services concept suitable for implementation in developing countries; (b) access to high-resolution climate data and products through twinning arrangements between advanced and less capable NMHSs; (c) deployment of mentor scientists in developing countries; (d) exchange of experts and on-the-job training.

Twinning arrangements have continued between advanced and less capable NMHS. An assessment of these efforts is requested.

Mentor scientists have been deployed through NORCAP secondments in Africa RCCs and NMHSs.


Twinning arrangements and NORCAP experts on climate service deployments have supported capacity development.

Within Objective 3: Foundational pillars – enhancing core technical and scientific capabilities for user-driven climate services – Observations and monitoring

4.1.22 Observations are a fundamental requirement for forecast generation at any timescale. During discussions with the priority focal points, the following priorities were highlighted in operationalizing the observations section of the document; 1) develop a strategy piece on operationalizing the observations pillar through GFCS, which would include WIGOS, WIS, GOOS, GCOS and enhanced coordination with partners (e.g. EUMETSAT); 2) capacity building and advocacy required to in partner organizations investing in observation infrastructure, national staff, and donor community to raise awareness on how the different elements weave together to provide service delivery; 3) draft a position piece on operationalizing the WB / WMO MOU to rehabilitate dormant observations infrastructure and bring these investments online to fill critical observation gaps in the global system; and 5) consider in a next iteration moving data rescue and database management systems section into CSIS.

Observations and monitoringActivity 1: Identification of data needs and design of observational systemsin data-poor regions.


Gap: To enable the overall observing system to meet observing requirements forthe priority GFCS sectors across all geographical scales, local circumstances, capabilities and needs atregional and local levels should be considered.Goals: Design the required observational networks and produce implementation plans.

Solutions: Identify data needs and design observational systems in data-poor regions (for example, selected regions in Africa, SIDS, LDCs, South-East Asia and South America). For each region selected, the state of the existing observing networks will be assessed against GCOS requirements, the GCOS implementation plan, and WIGOS network design principles and observational requirements. Local needs should also be evaluated with the locally specific risks identified along with the required climate services that would allow observational requirements to be identified – these may be traditional meteorological parameters such as precipitation, ocean variables such as sea-level change, or terrestrial parameters such as above-ground biomass. A plan will be developed on how best to meet these needs, including upgrading existing networks and providing capacity development where needed. Priority will be given to those stations from which data are needed to meet observational requirements derived from the five priority areas. The networks must respect standard observing practices and must be managed according to agreed quality management systems and the GCOS climate monitoring principles to ensure that data are suitable for climate assessment purposes.

Outputs: Detailed data requirements


and plans to deliver these needs. Assessment reports for Observing capabilities conducted in PNG, Senegal, Niger, Saudi Arabia, and Canada.

It was noted that through the Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review Tool (OSCAR) regional requirements are well defined for meteorology (perhaps not hydrology). The national assessments are critical as capacity and infrastructure needs at the national level vary widely by country.

Estimated Necessary Budget for 2016-2018: CHF 500 000 (per region)

Funds for Senegal and Niger observing capabilities assessment reports were through the GFCS Office..

Observations and monitoringActivity 2: Large-scale data recovery and digitization.


Gap: Invaluable data to underpin robust climate services is lost if not rescued from paper and managed properly.Goals: Enable access to and use of high-quality long-term climate and hydrological data with daily time resolution, to reconstitute and assess the changing behaviour of climate- and water-related extremes affecting water management, agriculture and health, and provide adequate databases on climate- and water-related hazards to support disaster risk reduction.

Solutions: The project will provide support to data rescue, digitization, quality control and homogenization initiatives, and develop new initiatives as required. The target initiatives are those using modern techniques, procedures and tools to safeguard climate records at the risk of damage or loss, and to recover, digitize and properly manage them. The project will promote the use of these techniques in developing countries and LDCs, including through provision of training, software, an online supporting information resource facility and, when needed, equipment. The target beneficiaries are NMHSs and other organizations working in climate data collection. Ensuring appropriate CDMS capabilities to integrate rescued data into the national climate record is an integral part of the activity.

Outputs: Consolidated paper archives and high-quality computer-readable datasets from rescued data.

Climate data rescue activities in Uzbekistan, Tanzania, and Uganda.


Uzbekistan CHF 562,541.82 (KMA) Uganda CHF 130,000 (KMA – project

total of which data rescue is one component)

Tanzania USD 68,929 (Norway, 2018)

Observations and monitoringActivity 3: Demonstration of efficient improvements to ground-based and space-based networks for measurement of changes in the water cycle in pilot area(s).


Gap: There is a lack of integrated monitoring of climate for covering multiple risk factors.Goals: Demonstrate the benefits of integrated observations of the impacts of changes to the water cycle to the delivery of climate services.

Solutions: Measurement across the water cycle – for example, soil moisture, precipitation, lakes, groundwater, river flow and sea-level change – will be improved by filling gaps and enhancing surface based networks and combining them with satellite products in a pilot catchment area. Measurements of other relevant factors such as land-use change together with socioeconomic


data (for example, population, industry, and the like) will also be needed. The impact of these improvements, together with the density of measurements needed to monitor changes in water availability and impacts of changes on the water cycle, will be evaluated in order to respond to users’ needs, including those expressed in the exemplars. In addition to filling gaps by establishing new stations, this work will leverage the important objective of WIGOS to integrate observing systems from a multitude of partners that operate separate networks with similar or identical observing capabilities for related purposes

Outputs: Operational water-cycle monitoring in selected catchment areas. The South-East European Multi-Hazard

Early Warning Advisory System awarded and includes the following objectives:

Strengthened regional cooperation through leveraging of national, regional and global capacities to develop improved hydrometeorological forecasts, advisories and warnings, which will contribute to saving lives and reducing economic losses and damage

Strengthened national MHEWS systems by making regional and sub-regional observing, monitoring and forecasting tools and data available to the participating countries and other beneficiaries

To implement impact-based forecasts and risk-based warning capacities that contribute to better informed decision-making by national governments, disaster management authorities, humanitarian agencies, and NGOs

Harmonized forecasts and warnings among the NMHSs especially in transboundary areas of the region

Increased operational forecasting capabilities of NMHSs staff

Estimated Necessary Budget for 2016-2018: CHF 1 000 000 (per pilot region selected)

No dedicated resources through the GFCS Office, but USAID funded 565,000 USD over two 2017-2018.

Observations and monitoringActivity 4: Establishment of modern, timely climate system monitoring in support of multi-hazard early warning and disaster risk reduction.


Gap: There is a suboptimal user- and sector-oriented aggregation of available observational data.Goals: Increase capacities in climate services provision to sectors by making available and exchanging a new generation of climate products that will inform in a consistent way on observed climate anomalies and extremes at country level.

Solutions: The establishment of databases on high-impact hydrometeorological extremes and hazards at regional and national levels is an integral part of this activity. The products will be generated by NMHSs and aggregated and integrated at regional and global levels. This work will be based on optimal use of recent and historical

records from observations, gridded datasets and model outputs. Capacity development will be


provided by assisting developing countries and LDCs with provision of suitable software, training and guidelines for computing, and analysing and using standards for quasi-real time exchange of these products. The activity contributes to the risk communication initiative of the disaster risk reduction exemplar and adaptation measures, and enhances user awareness of ongoing or foreseeable climate anomalies, along with their associated health consequences, as highlighted by the health exemplar. National products will be disseminated using standard templates and exchange protocols that will enable rapid aggregation of information on regional and global scales

Outputs: (a) development and provision of software, guidelines and training for climate monitoring, including analysis of extremes; (b) climate assessment reports and reviews (for example, climate statements, state-of-the-climate reports and reviews, reports and advisories on extreme weather and climate events) that have improved content and coverage with a reduced time delay.

(a) software and guidelines for climate monitoring and analysis of extremes developed and available on the climate services toolkit.

(b) Climate Watch and the WMO Statement on the Status of the Global Climate (annual issue)


No dedicated resources through GFCS, in-kind contributions from WMO regular budget

Within Objective 3: Foundational pillars – enhancing core technical and scientific capabilities for user-driven climate services – Research, modelling and prediction

4.1.23 In the meeting with the sub-objective leads on research, it was noted that their department is facing funding constraints and have difficulty to sustain their core operations. It was stressed that the funding levels they had provided in the GFCS Priority Needs document were very modest in hopes that some resources would be realized. There was an element of frustration with the GFCS Priority Needs process as the exercise generated expectations and to date has not resulted in any resources. It was noted that the activities put forward from research in the GFCS Priority Needs document are new areas and if resources are not mobilized these activities will not happen given the nominal budgets of CORDEX and S2S. It was noted that there is increasing demand for S2S sectoral applications from the user community and further developing this area this remains a high priority. Discussed the opportunity and critical need to operationalize research to enhance climate information in support of National Adaptation Plans (NAP). As there isn't consensus in the models on the sign change for precipitation in some regions -- wetter? drier? -- and as precipitation is one of the most important climate variables when considering adaptation investments, there is a need to provide guidance on addressing uncertainty in the NAP. This will involve a better understanding of the underlying physical processes at hand, including the oceanic lens of influence. The ink to Objective 2 will be important, the RCCs and RCOFs would support a consistent approach to the inclusion of climate information in the NAP process. This is also a key area for the RCCs to support NMHSs and add value. Agreement to work together through Norway funds to build a guidance document while developing information for the NAP process in Tanzania and Malawi.

4.1.24 It was stressed that operational research serves as a means to enhance project innovation. There are a growing number of examples where development organizations are supporting this approach. The DFID funded High impact weather lake system (HIGHWAY) project was recently awarded he programme is £ 3.2 M over three years and aims to increase the use of weather information to improve resilience and reduce the loss of life and damage to property in the East African region, specifically within the Lake Victoria area. There is an S2S component. Another example is WMO’s forward aspiration to provide future seamless global data-processing and forecasting systems (GDPFS). This provides the core operational prediction capabilities and systems across timescales from nowcasting through to long-range forecasting (subseasonal to longer time scales). Research and observations data exchange are fundamental inputs to the system. Agreement to work together to develop a proposal.


Research, modelling and predictionActivity 1: Research on climate predictability and improving prognostic skills: sub-seasonal to seasonal timescales.


Gap: There is increased demand for predictions at timescalesrelevant to the risk of extreme weather, including tropical cyclones, droughts, floods, heatwaves and thewaxing and waning of monsoon precipitation.Goals: Improve forecast skill and understanding on S2S timescales and promote S2S product uptake by operational centres and exploitation by the applications community.

Solutions: The WCRP, in close partnership with WWRP, established the S2S Prediction project to improve forecast skill and understanding on S2S timescales and to promote product uptake by operational centres and exploitation by the applications community. Specific attention in this area will be paid to the risk of extreme weather, including tropical cyclones, droughts, floods, heatwaves and the waxing and waning of monsoon precipitation. As a fundamental step towards these goals, S2S advocates the establishment and maintenance of an extensive database of sub-seasonal (up to 60 days) forecasts and reforecasts (sometimes known as hindcasts). Developing this database will require collaborative research and experimentation on how to produce these forecasts (start dates, length of the forecasts, averaging periods, update frequency of the forecasts). An extensive reforecast set spanning several years will allow calculation of model bias and evaluation of model skill. The S2S Prediction project will also address calibration and combination of ensembles of forecasts from different models into a larger ensemble that can potentially provide higher skill than a forecast from any single model. Extensive multi-model reforecast sets will also be used to build statistical models that can be used to tailor climate forecasts for use in sector-specific applications on the seasonal scale.

Outputs: (a) increased utilization of improved forecast products and understanding of their uncertainty estimates by the applications community; (b) demonstration projects based on recent extreme events and their impacts, often in conjunction with WCRP Frontiers of Climate Information projects.

Unmet need.



Research, modelling and predictionActivity 2: Research on climate predictability and improving prognostic skills: decadal timescales.


Gap: World climate modelling centres have been seeking to harness global coupled climate models to explore the potential of initialized, multi-year to decadal climate prediction.Goals: Stimulate research and development to improve multi-year to decadal climate predictions and theutility of the associated information, and develop organizational and technical processes to underpin thefuture routine provision of scientifically sound prediction services that can assist stakeholders and decision makers.

Solutions: This activity will contribute to the new WCRP Grand Challenge on Near-term Climate Prediction. This includes a synthesis of real-time prediction information from multiple existing, initialized prediction systems, an assessment of the confidence the scientific community has in the information, and the development of criteria that would allow WMO to implement climate services to use the operational prototype services developed through the Grand Challenge. Specific activities include the following: (a)

improve the quality of initialized decadal climate information and prediction, (b) collect, collate and synthesize the prediction output and tailor information to form the basis of a service that addresses stakeholders’ needs; (c) develop processes to assess and communicate the degree of confidence and uncertainty in the predictions.

Outputs: (a) The Grand Challenge on Near-term Climate Prediction expects to initiate Unmet need.


and issue a real-time Global Decadal Climate Outlook once each year (2016 onwards, with two years of dry running before issue) following the template of the Global Seasonal Climate Update for seasonal predictions. This Grand Challenge on Near-term Climate Prediction thus fills an important gap in the provision of seamless climate information, complemented by seasonal-to-interannual climate predictions on the one hand, and multi-decadal and longer-term climate change projections on the other. This Grand Challenge will represent an important contribution to the provision of seamless climate services.



Research, modelling and predictionActivity 3: Development of specific focused interdisciplinary and international partner projects on regional climate information.


Gap: There is a need for fundamental information on climate dynamics to inform regional decision-making at a useful scale.Goals: Identify and co-develop foundational research on relevant climate processes needed for robust, scale-relevant information for regional decision-making.

Solutions: In conjunction with GFCS and other partners, WCRP will develop and implement a series of Frontiers of Climate Information projects. These projects will pursue “information for regions”, as distinct from “regional information”. The concept of “information for regions” infers consideration of scales of processes ranging from local to global that enhance understanding of regional climate dynamics and the local response to climate forcing. Each Frontiers of Climate Information project seeks to engage with the inherent research challenge presented by multiple threads of information available from a range of observational global climate models, regional climate models, and empirical statistical downscaled data.

Outputs: Research deliverables leading to the development of tailored climate information for the urban scale as a mechanism to promote urban-focused climate services.

The GFCS Office has contributed to WMO’s plans to produce a Guide for Integrated Urban Weather, Environment and Climate Services (IUWECS) to enhance urban resilience.

The actual work to tailor climate information to the urban scale remains an unmet need. The research department worked to develop a GCF proposal for Jakarta in this area, but Indonesia have put the concept on hold.



Research, modelling and predictionActivity 4.1: Underpinning research on regional climate services development: Advancing flood early warning on S2S timescales in India with



coupled hydrologic and atmospheric modelling.Gap: Improving water-forecasting services and especially early flood-warningsystems is a permanent challenge and motivation for the protection of billions of people all over the world.Goals: Accelerate improvements in prediction and services through an inclusive approach to Earth-system sciences, requiring a suite of diagnostic and prediction models integrated over all spatial and temporal scales; support India’s improvement of its water-cycle forecasts through a demonstration research project to extend the water-cycle forecast range to the sub-seasonal scale and evaluate the benefits of the early warning system.

Solutions: To develop a seamless coupled hydrology atmospheric modelling platformfor South Asia and extend the hydrologic forecast range to 30 days, the WCRP–WWRP S2S Prediction project may support research to improve the Indian water-cycle forecast system through the use of S2S forecast information from the project’s multi-model ensemble database of reforecasts. By improving the forecast system it is expected that long-term events, such as monsoon, can be integrated into water management and thus the impacts, strength and frequency of flood events affecting the population may be reduced.

Outputs: Increased utilization of improved coupled forecast products and applications to water management, of forecast products and of the understanding of their uncertainty estimates by the applications community. The following catchments could be considered for improved modelling outputs: basin 1 – Tungabhadra river–Krishna river; basin 2 – Godavari river; basin 3 – Ganges–Brahmaputra. The development of this “ready-set-go” system (see activity 4.2, below, for more details) for early warning and early action to mitigate flood events can then be used to inform related efforts in other countries or regions.

Unmet need.



Research, modelling and predictionActivity 4.2: Underpinning research on regional climate services development: Using S2S forecasts to integrate water and energy management in South America.


Gap: The implications of weather and climate for the water–energy–food nexus are particularly important for the countries of the Plata Basin of South America, including northern Argentina, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and there is a need to develop advanced climate servicesfor the region. Hydropower is the largest energy source across this agriculturally important river basin andfood production is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change.Goals Develop S2S integrated climate services for the water and energy sectors over south-east South America, based on recent developments in S2S forecasting, with the goal of reducing vulnerability of populations to weather–climate variability and change, and reducing carbon emissions. The project will build scientific capacity in S2S forecasting in the region, build bridges between strong existing institutions in the public and private sectors, and co-develop targeted climate services products for reservoir management and hydropower generation and dispatching.

Solutions: The project will be led by scientists at the Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay, in partnership with the Regional Centre for Climate of Southern South America (http://www.crc.sas.org), theAdministrator of the Electric Energy Market in Uruguay (ADME), and scientists from the international S2S research project (see section 2.3.3). The approach is conceived around the “ready-set-go” concept developed by the International Research Institute for Climate and Society of Columbia University (IRI), and humanitarian aid managers from IFRC, in which seasonal


planning is informed by seasonal forecasts(the “ready” step), with sub-seasonal ones providing weekly updates (“set”), and daily weather forecasts helping to inform the “go” in preparing action for humanitarian aid emergencies.

Outputs: The proposed Uruguay demonstration research project will provide an important prototype of the applicability of S2S forecast-informed energy and water management for both public and private sectors, which will be relevant to energy-sector GFCS development in other parts of South America, as well as other regions.

Unmet need.



Within Objective 3: Foundational pillars – enhancing core technical and scientific capabilities for user-driven climate services – Capacity development

4.1.25 In 2017, the WMO Training Department undertook a survey to Status of Human Resources in National Meteorological and Hydrological Services. The development of Climate services was identified as the third top training priority for NMHS staff. In discussions with all of the other subobjective leads, the need for training and capacity building was highlighted to support operationalizing elements within their planned activities. The criteria for designating an individual as a subject expert in climate services (within pillars) should be considered and a roster developed (explore potential synergy with NORCAP roster of experts). During the meeting with the sub-objective leads we noted that strategic partners identified to develop and deliver training materials (START, for example).

Capacity developmentActivity 1: Develop education and training resources for an international competency framework for climate services.


Gap: The GFCS partners, including funding and implementing agencies (for example, the World Bank Consultation Group, which includes government aid departments), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and NMHSs would benefit from having the confidence that organizations designing and implementing GFCS projects have the necessary competencies and experience to deliver effective and sustainable outcomes.Goals Establish a mechanism for effective implementation of the competency framework for climate services and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the framework, including through the feedback function.

Solutions: (a) identify the key skills and competencies required to design and implement GFCS projects at national and regional levels; (b) facilitate the development of guidance material and tools for providers to improve the competencies of their personnel in the provision of quality climate services.

Outputs: Experts with the appropriate competencies providing technical support

for implementation carried out by various entities in a strategic and targeted manner.

No reportable progress



4.1.26 Coordination remains a challenge within sub objective themes and across objectives in the GFCS Priority Needs. A higher order discussion on coordination mechanisms is requested to provide guidance on how the collection of activities in the GFCS Priority Needs document are coherent and synergistic. A realistic fundraising goal


should be set and discussions are encouraged on how different entities would collaborate to submit proposals. A clear division of tasks is requested to better manage expectations.

___________


Annex I: Sub Objective Leads and interested PAC members in Meetings

Objective 1 – Priority applications

‒ Agriculture and food security: o Selvaraju Ramasamy, FAOo Katiuscia Fara, WFP (commented by email)o Bob Stefanski, WMO Agricultural Meteorology Division

‒ Disaster risk reduction:o Alasdair Hainsworth, WMO Disaster Risk Reduction Programmeo Tessa Kelly, IFRC

‒ Energy:o Roberta Boscolo, WMO

‒ Health:o Joy Shumake-Guillemot, WHO/WMO Climate and Health Officeo Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, WHO

‒ Water:o Fredrick Pischke, GWP o Jan Danhelka, WMO Commission for Hydrologyo Roger Pulwarty, NOAA o Anil Mishra, UNESCO

Objective 2 – Building and sustaining bridges

National-level activities:o Filipe Lucio, GFCS Officeo Veronica Grasso, GFCS Office

Regional-level activities:

o Kumar Kolli, WMO

Global-level activities:o Filipe Lucio, GFCS Officeo Veronica Grasso, GFCS Office

Objective 3 – Foundational pillars

Climate Service Information System (CSIS):o Kumar Kolli, WMOo Roger Pulwarty, NOAA, CClo Abdoulaye Harou, WMO CBS

Observations and monitoring:o Peer Hechler, World Climate Data and Monitoring Programmeo Lars Peter, WIGOS

Research, modelling and prediction: o Paolo Ruti, WWRPo Michel Rixen, WCRP

Capacity development:o Yinka Adebayo, WMO Education and Trainingo Rob Masters, WMO Development and Regional Activities

Documents

gfcs.wmo.int€¦ · Web viewSTATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PRIORITY NEEDS FOR THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF THE GFCS FOR THE PERIOD 2016-2018. 4.1.1The Management Committee (hereafter