EMS Annual Meeting Abstracts
Vol. 18, EMS2021-393, 2021
https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2021-393
EMS Annual Meeting 2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

The Africa weather enterprise : filling a large gap

Tom Copping
Tom Copping
  • Varysian Ltd, United Kingdom

The study focuses on the role of the private sector in the development and delivery of hydromet and early warning services (EWS) in sub-Saharan Africa, within the current landscape of the Africa Regional Weather Enterprise (ARWE).

The study was sponsored by the World Bank and conducted through interviews with 28 National Hydro­Meteorological Services (NMHS) and 87 participating companies who either work in or have interest in the region’s hydromet market, varying in size from single-person entities to large multinationals. Less than 4% of companies have their headquarters (and solely operate) in Africa. 157 projects were identified from the 65 most active donors financing hydromet projects in sub-Saharan Africa, and classified by sector and complexity, from niche to “full-chain” solutions.

The study analyses which and how private sector actors operate within the framework of national, regional and international hydromet projects, in which countries, which products and services they provide and in which end-user categories, from research and development, to innovation and capacity building initiatives.

The study further analyses the success rates of international companies winning tenders in sub-Saharan Africa , and the patterns leading to success.

The report concludes by drawing on lessons from the positive dynamics and gaps in partnerships and engagements between public and private actors. The results of the study create the need for sixteen recommendations to further improve the ARWE, with a key emphasis on PPE, to successfully complete African hydromet programs, and in turn satisfy end-user needs, to protect lives, property, and to support their national economies for the prosperity of all.

How to cite: Copping, T.: The Africa weather enterprise : filling a large gap, EMS Annual Meeting 2021, online, 6–10 Sep 2021, EMS2021-393, https://doi.org/10.5194/ems2021-393, 2021.

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